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ddye Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2010 Posts: 357 Location: Dallas, TX
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:14 pm Post subject: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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Here's the situation. Our beloved Nelly-kiki hit a dear and was totaled. However, the only things that are really wrong with her is the front end is busted up. We have the option of finding an old van and cutting off the front of it and putting it on Nelly OR finding a Pop top with a shabby interior and cruddy engine and moving all our good stuff over to it. The problem is Pop tops tend to be a bit harder to come by and tend to be a bit more expensive. BUT I am seeing nice tin tops for a fraction of the cost. Thinking that maybe we could get a tin top and cut a hole in the top and install our Pop top but have no idea if that would work.
NOTE: while I feel pretty competent when it comes to working on these old beast, body work is not my forte.
Thoughts? _________________ 1988 Westy
2.1 Boston Bob Rebuild
"Nelly" |
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sanchius Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007 Posts: 1451 Location: IN
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6243 Location: Portland OR
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Bleyseng Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2005 Posts: 4752 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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Not that hard to do and lots of Syncro Westys are conversions from Tin Top to Westy’s. _________________ 70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles |
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mdub Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2020 Posts: 48 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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The Reimo pop top kit is an option to consider as well:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
They aren’t very common in North America, but they are available. The installation is very DIY possible, and a lot less involved than a “proper” Westfalia top. Any of the High top conversions are also something to look into. _________________ '86 Syncro / Reimo Poptop / EJ22 |
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Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3274 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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I converted my tin-top Syncro to a Westfalia in a way that looks mostly factory. I enjoyed the process, but I genuinely believe that installing a "front clip" on your van would be less work than doing the pop-top conversion, unless your van requires frame-straightening.
Just as an example of pop-top-swap frustrations, it was truly amazing to see how much trial-and-error adjustment was involved in getting the pop-top to deploy smoothly and getting the "luggage rack" adjusted to avoid wind noise. It's all these little things that add up to the time difference in the work involved. You can plan to spend a day getting the pop-top tent installed if you replace the (likely damaged) tent you get from a pop-top donor.
There's another bonus in doing the "front clip" approach. You will gain access to all those things we all have to do to our Westys at some point anyway:
1. Replace the Clutch clevis pin and/or the worn-out hole in the clutch pedal lever end.
2. Replace or service the heater blower motor;
3. Service and lubricate the windshield wiper assembly;
4. Fix windshield pinch-weld rust.
5. Replace the radiator.
Either way you decide to go, document your steps with pics so you can show a future buyer that the job was done right. _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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skills@eurocarsplus Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007 Posts: 16859 Location: sticksville, ct.
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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Howesight wrote: |
but I genuinely believe that installing a "front clip" on your van would be less work than doing the pop-top conversion, unless your van requires frame-straightening.
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i 1000% agree. i haven't done a vanagon roof but have done roof swaps in the past. they kind of suck to do.
there is like 4 trillion spot welds. it's a daunting task doing 50 feet worth of spot welds _________________
gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
Jake Raby wrote: |
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
Brian wrote: |
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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charleslabri Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019 Posts: 615 Location: Nashville/Yosemite
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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3091 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 4:43 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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front clip for sure....there is a post on here where the front was fixed as an insurance job at a shop with Ferraris. _________________ 83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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OzzieJo Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2015 Posts: 251 Location: NSW, Australia
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2795 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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How much do you use your upper bunk for sleeping?
Many people, including me, have converted tin tops to pop tops using the “hole only” method. Here’s one of many threads on this.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8783068&highlight=#8783068
I love it. But, because the tin top exterior roof is taller than a factory Westy, you can’t just move the bed platform over. Crazyvwvanman kind of introduced this method to the forum and says you can just keep the mattress downstairs. I can’t speak to that I just built a platform, store stuff up there when camping, and use my full width tintop bed. It works great!
It’s also not even close to pretending to be factory. My van runs great and has very little rust for the east coast. If I were to sell it, I’d ask at least 5k less then I would if it was a factory weekender, probably even 7-8k less . Don’t really know as I haven’t given it serious thought, again, LOVE IT
As you can see in that thread and others, no previous body work skills required and great time/labor balance. It took about 30 hours of my work once I got the top home with a very handy friend helping for 5 or so of those. _________________ 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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Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3274 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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OzzieJo did a very nice pop-top-swap and documented it beautifully (unlike my swap with zero photos). His thread shows all the work involved. For many without OzzieJo's skills and patience, the project could die the "Death of a thousand (spot-weld) cuts". Kudos! _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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hdenter Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2008 Posts: 2753 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:16 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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I'm going to go against the grain here. While a roof clip is larger and more awkward to deal with, I would say that the body work involved with cutting and pasting one in is less complicated and/or involved than redoing a front clip. The westy equipment swap over adds a second level of work, but I think the roof swap is easier than a front clip.
Hans
Hans _________________ '79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender |
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DuncanS Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013 Posts: 4583 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 8:02 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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Front clip easier?
Just imagine trying to get the A pillars in the right spot so the doors close properly. And the 50,000 wires? Shift linkage being touchy, getting that in the right spot? And what about the seam across the top? Unless you lap it and fair it all in with bondo, sounds like a nightmare to me. The frame and all the cooling stuff? Fugedaboudit.
It could be done, but at what expense in terms of time not enjoying a different T3?
Agree about the Reimo being far easier from all I've read on the forums.
Duncan |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7462 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 9:06 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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Agreed. While there are many pop-top conversion threads, OzzieJo's is packed with information and inspiration. Recommended.
Howesight wrote: |
OzzieJo did a very nice pop-top-swap and documented it beautifully (unlike my swap with zero photos). His thread shows all the work involved. For many without OzzieJo's skills and patience, the project could die the "Death of a thousand (spot-weld) cuts". Kudos! |
_________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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leecat Samba Member
Joined: September 13, 2012 Posts: 773 Location: Regina
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 9:14 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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If the OP's forte is not body work, perhaps consider the 'adding a pop top' route by starting with a sunroof Vanagon.
I believe there are a couple threads on here regarding that build - especially if you don't really use the upstairs bed except for a storage area. Looks like a lot less work if I recall correctly, mostly mucking around with the hinge mounting area. Much more doable than chopping big holes in the roof or doing a full roof swap. |
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ZsZ Samba Member
Joined: December 11, 2010 Posts: 1645 Location: Budapest Hungary, Europe
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 12:25 am Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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Yes a lot of people did that including me.
The easiest route is by the Mosaik Joker style. You have to cut a hole only in the middle section.
The original Mosaik kit had a strenghtening frame around that hole which can be remade or just use some angle iron on the side beams for the H bar and some wooden slats around the perimeter of the sheet metal like on the Reimo kit. _________________ Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008 |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32574 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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campism Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 4491 Location: Richmond VA
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 4:03 am Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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ddye wrote: |
Here's the situation. Our beloved Nelly-kiki hit a dear and was totaled. However, the only things that are really wrong with her is the front end is busted up. |
We need pix, both to evaluate the damage for recommendations and for the cringe factor.
You might also want to post here:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=440675&start=740
Good luck with whatever way you choose to go. _________________ '87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic |
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rmcd Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2010 Posts: 1348 Location: PNW - its a dry rain.
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