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Captain Pike
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2003
Posts: 3341
Location: Talos IV, Piedmont Arizona
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 Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 10:44 am Post subject: Where to find a pop-top? |
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Trying to locate a used camper pop top, any ideas where to look?
Dont need the roof. Just the top and trim.
I like to cut holes.
Southeastern Pa
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59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16863
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 11:01 am Post subject: Re: l00kin fer a pop top |
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the roof is structurally different compared to a tin top. i mean, very different from what i can see.
that said, they are kinda hard to come by
if you want to drive:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2462470
and that's pretty cheap imho
if you were going this way, i'd do a whole roof clip. i don't see bolting one on working out too well.
i have a roof section from a camper but no pop top
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my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
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RoryGirl
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2016
Posts: 784
Location: WestWorld Nanaimo BC
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Captain Pike
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2003
Posts: 3341
Location: Talos IV, Piedmont Arizona
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 11:48 am Post subject: Re: l00kin fer a pop top |
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I have done 3. I now move the C Pillar/change from bowed to flat back 16". Need to put support rails on both sides from B to D. Attach C uppers to support rail then flat crossmember above rear pass seat. bigger hole and no more hitting your head. 
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59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current....................... |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6244
Location: Portland OR
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10371
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 11:59 am Post subject: Re: l00kin fer a pop top |
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| Captain Pike wrote: |
| I have done 3. |
Could an ASI or Riviera type top be "easily" adapted to the Westy pop top configuration?
Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2795
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 12:24 pm Post subject: Re: l00kin fer a pop top |
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the "hole-only" method of installing the pop-top is the same method Mosaik sold aftermarket kits for. It's also "endorsed" by crazyvwvanman who, well, isn't crazy when it comes to van knowledge.
I did mine three years ago and it has been absolutely bomb-proof, including surviving me driving up to about 25-30 mph before I realized why it seemed to be extra loud and accelerating slowly.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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Captain Pike
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2003
Posts: 3341
Location: Talos IV, Piedmont Arizona
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: l00kin fer a pop top |
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Prolly, I'm up fer that too......
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59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current....................... |
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Howesight
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008
Posts: 3274
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10371
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: l00kin fer a pop top |
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| Vanagon Nut wrote: |
Could an ASI or Riviera type top be "easily" adapted to the Westy pop top configuration?
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=530902
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
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charleslabri
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019
Posts: 615
Location: Nashville/Yosemite
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2795
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 1:11 pm Post subject: Re: l00kin fer a pop top |
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I trust Captain Pike knows his business. He has been doing this way longer than most of us, he just took a break for a long time.
(I've spent way too much time reading older threads).
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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WestyWanter
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2017
Posts: 459
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 1:28 pm Post subject: Re: l00kin fer a pop top |
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| Don't post a wanted thread.... come on man |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32592
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Captain Pike
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2003
Posts: 3341
Location: Talos IV, Piedmont Arizona
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: Where to find a pop top |
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I did
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59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current....................... |
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Smurf
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2004
Posts: 914
Location: Colmar, PA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 3:56 pm Post subject: Re: l00kin fer a pop top |
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| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
i have a roof section from a camper but no pop top |
You don’t hear that too often…selling?
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1962 Beetle
1977 Westfalia (Subaru Conversion)
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On a hippie trail head full of zombie"
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CanStan
Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2005
Posts: 1037
Location: Calgary, AB
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: Where to find a pop-top? |
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I've parted out 3 Vanagon Westfalias over the past 5 or 6 years, all with decent, complete pop tops. I was able to sell 2 of them for around $100 each, but it took about 6 months for them to sell. The third top went to the dump. I live in a decent sized city with a pretty good Vanagon scene, and apparently nobody is interested in them.
In theory, there should be lots around considering how many of these vans rotted into oblivion and got parted out. But I think most people don't want to hang on to a part that big, which takes up so much storage space and has such low value. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16503
Location: Brookeville, MD
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Captain Pike
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2003
Posts: 3341
Location: Talos IV, Piedmont Arizona
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: Where to find a pop-top? |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| Actually has lots of value. I see $1000 to $1500 regularly. |
yup
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LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current....................... |
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CanStan
Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2005
Posts: 1037
Location: Calgary, AB
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: Where to find a pop-top? |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| Actually has lots of value. I see $1000 to $1500 regularly. |
I agree that it has lots of value. But only to the guy looking for it. If someone doesn’t need it, they’re unlikely to even take it for free. For the average person with an average home, there’s lots of room to store boxes of spare parts. But where would most people store a chunk of fibreglass the size of a van?
I know I’ve seen lots of tops listed for $1000 or $1500, but I don’t know if they’re steadily selling at those prices? I guess if you have the only top for sale within 1000 miles, and someone is desperate for one, they will pay whatever they have to.
One of the tops I sold for $100 was back up for sale a year later because I assume he abandoned the project. He had it listed for well over a year (maybe even 2 years) before I lost track of it. |
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