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Samaleshi
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
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 Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 6:40 pm Post subject: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab |
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Long time lurker, first time poster. Follow along while I do it all wrong. My better half and I traded our non-running '72 Riviera for an '87 Wolfsburg. We're going to swap on a Westy top, MB Metris 17's, and DIY some bigger and better brakes. It will eventually get a Subaru transplant too.
I'd like to give a shout out to msewalson and CrazyVanMan for their write-ups on Westy top swaps. Helped so much I decided to "give back".
No warranty expressed or implied!
Here's the candidate:
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Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man
1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Last edited by Samaleshi on Tue May 15, 2018 4:10 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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WestfaliaMike
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2017
Posts: 257
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 6:48 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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Good looking rig! Welcome aboard!
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1981 Vanagon Westfalia
1983 Vanagon Passanger (Parts Vehicle)
2016 Passat TSI |
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Samaleshi
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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On the way back from finalizing the trade, my better half sent me a craigs ad for a Westy top assembly. It was about 4 hours away, so I called and committed with a paypal down payment. During the call, the seller informed me that the best way to transport a Westy top was on, wait for it..., a Vanagon! A Vanagon I knew nothing about and had driven a grand total of 2 miles. So I grabbed the mystery to me van, scrubbed it down, put a new cat on it, breezed through DEQ, loaded up the 6 year old, and headed to get the top. The seller and I loaded it up and held it down with some ratchet straps, complete with custom gutter hooks that a buddy of mine fabbed up! The whole trip was trouble free, other than pissing off the ferry man.
Custom clamps:
Finished product; no issues all the way home, all kinds of roads, and a few hours of interstate:
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man
1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Last edited by Samaleshi on Sat Mar 31, 2018 11:36 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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sanchius 
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1451
Location: IN
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Samaleshi
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 7:09 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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Sun came out just in time for spring break here in Oregon, so I dove into the roof conversion. Didn't have a Westy to look at, so I figured it out as I went along. Take your own measurements, sure there's a lot of different ways to do this, and all kinds of dimensional creepiness over the years!
Mounted the rear hinges using Riv-Nuts:
Used the screws in the top for reference.
Riv-Nuts installed, no custom install tool needed.
ALL HAIL THE NIBBLER! DEATH TO FALSE METAL CUTTERS!
Nibbled. Front supports are temporarily screwed down until I'm ready to trim the roof in that area.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man
1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 |
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WestfaliaMike
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2017
Posts: 257
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 7:20 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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Sam I have a second Tin Top.. your making me think if I should do the same with it. Going to follow this thread..
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1981 Vanagon Westfalia
1983 Vanagon Passanger (Parts Vehicle)
2016 Passat TSI |
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Samaleshi
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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The luggage carrier was a real joy. I got the top and the seal where I wanted it, then marked the rear hole location of the carrier on the roof with a sharpie so I could tell where I'd been. Mounted the brackets on the carrier, ran a bolt through the weld-nut from the top(wrong-way), dabbed some fingernail polish on the ends, lined up the rear holes with my sharpie marks, and tapped on the bracket locations. Wa-f'n-la. Instant hole locations.
Pink for the poking:
Top on, going to be a while before my next update, questions/comments welcome.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man
1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 |
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Bills85Westy
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2009
Posts: 423
Location: Napa CA
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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Wow! Nice progress! Lucky break to find a top that is almost a perfect match to your van!
Keep the posts coming!
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89 Tristar Syncro Doka - White
85 Westfalia Syncro (conversion)
SAH 1.8T Conversion - 2005 AWP
Engine Conversion Thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=612144&highlight=
85 Doka L345 Grey - 1.9L |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6542
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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Yeah, Welcome here, too!
Nice to see a newbie jump right in, well done!
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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Samaleshi
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 11:23 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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Full disclosure, not our first Vanagon, that honor belongs to ol' blue, an '86 GL that we swapped an EJ25 Subaru into with Smallcar parts. Super cool, but rough as hell, sold it and bought a Honda, decided to go back to the Wolfsburg before we lost both our souls...
Those are one year only 16x8 forged Audi Fuchs mounted using T3Techniques hub centric spacers and fasteners and wrapped in 215/70/16 TA's.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man
1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 |
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Steve Arndt
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2005
Posts: 1780
Location: Boise, Idaho
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| Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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| Did you flatten or shape the roof in the back to hold and mate up with the hinges at all? I've read about that step. I have an 84 westy top that I am going to put on my 87 Syncro. |
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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1153
Location: Central Washington
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| Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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Are you going to add any interior roof support?
I wondered how many people have done top retrofits without all the interior/ metal support stuff.
A friend of mine has done a great 100% authentic westy build but he basically cut the entire roof off. If you disassembled it you'd never know he put that roof on. Or you might because of the EXTRA braces he built. But anyway, doesn't seem heavy enough to worry about for the most part?
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| hitest wrote: |
| Had a girlfriend once who shall we say, nearly arrived at the mere sight of a semaphore in action- easy to please she was... |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4777
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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i can see this isn't your first rodeo... a Nibbler, BMW lurking in the background, popup garage. yup. this project is gonna finish.
-dan |
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Samaleshi
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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| Bub wrote: |
Are you going to add any interior roof support?
I wondered how many people have done top retrofits without all the interior/ metal support stuff.
A friend of mine has done a great 100% authentic westy build but he basically cut the entire roof off. If you disassembled it you'd never know he put that roof on. Or you might because of the EXTRA braces he built. But anyway, doesn't seem heavy enough to worry about for the most part? |
Haven't removed any yet!, left the factory supports, there weren't any where I cut it. I'll deal with the lack of room for a mattress by using foam pads and air mattresses.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man
1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 |
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Samaleshi
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2018 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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| Steve Arndt wrote: |
| Did you flatten or shape the roof in the back to hold and mate up with the hinges at all? I've read about that step. I have an 84 westy top that I am going to put on my 87 Syncro. |
You got me, I read a few builds where they didn't flatten it and said it wasn't an issue. Maybe that was true in their case. In mine, I couldn't get the top to sit correctly so I took my favorite maul and "deep tissue massaged" the area around the hinges until it sat right. I'm not taking any photos of that. Once it's on the internet you can never take it back.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man
1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 |
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Steve Arndt
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2005
Posts: 1780
Location: Boise, Idaho
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| Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 7:21 am Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project |
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| I completely understand. I will probably do it exactly as you describe. This is exciting. I picked up my 84 westy parts van last fall. I've had my Syncro since 2004. |
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Steve Arndt
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2005
Posts: 1780
Location: Boise, Idaho
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| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 10:13 am Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Top Install Thread |
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| Any upgrades on this project? |
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Samaleshi
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Top Install Thread |
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| Steve Arndt wrote: |
| Any upgrades on this project? |
How'd you know?
Pulled the top back off a while ago to clean the inside and staple in the new canvas. The forecasted rain and giant hole in the roof motivated me to get it done. GoWesty's youtube vids were very helpful. I would highly recommend grabbing a pneumatic stapler, we used stainless staples(which cost a third as much as the stapler), and my better half came up with a cheap tack strip idea...photos below. Almost made up for me blowing money on fancy staples. She's fighting an uphill battle. At least the labor's cheap!
Home Depot vinyl molding in 48" lengths.
Cut Into 3rds. $3.94 Tack Strips!
Seems to Work!
New Favorite Tool
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man
1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 |
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Samaleshi
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2018 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Top Install Thread |
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Lowered the front supports and mounted them using some hardware store aluminum angle:
It's getting real now...used self tappers to screw in the aluminum lower channel
In the process of building up a super simple bed using plywood and 1x2 poplar sides. The top of the tin top roof ribs are damn near exactly 1.5" taller than the sides, so the 1x2 is about perfect, I'll grab some photos soon.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man
1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 |
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OldBlueSyncro
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2018
Posts: 206
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2018 9:35 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Top Install Thread |
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I just picked up a syncro last week. Went with Ol' Blue for the name too since he's, well, old and blue.
I'm wanting to put a pop top or high top on it but I'm confused about your pop top. Yours seems pretty straight forward, but I've looked at other conversions like the one in this link, and it seems like a ton of work.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=502828
I'm guessing your conversion works but it's not considered an "authentic" westy? |
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