Does your pop top have belly pans?

[squareweave]

I am thinking about wacking a hole in my tintop to install a small pop top, but I am not sure if I have to have bellypans to do this safely. Just wondering if any of the aftermarket (non-westy) pop tops had belly pans or not. My other concern is am I crazy for cutting my og paint tintop. Let me know what you think!!!!

 

[easy]

yes :wink:

 

[Guest]

Yes, my Devon had full belly and side pans from the showroom/factory, still in place and in good nick. I dont care what anyone says, and unless someone can produce some scientific evidence the belly pans were put there just because the bus has a poptop i wont believe it :|

They would add strength, i can't deny that, but they would also improve aerodynamics and protect the buses floor and chassis from the elements. I woudn't be that concerned about keeping them off either, as unless your handbraking round corners your windows wont pop out or the doors fly open

I think if there was a dangerous amount of flex (poptop or no poptop) the VW engineers would have fixed them to every bus leaving the factory.

yes i too think your crazy

 

[Airtime]

First: Yes, you are crazy! :wink: Seen your bus and don't do it.

Second: I have a small poptop and no bellypans.

 

[Araon]

 

[Ands1]

:shock: DO NOT CUT A HOLE IN A TINTOP. :shock:
it,s a crime in my opinion..
Andy

 

[AGC]

Its yours.........cut if you want

 

[AGC]

......But I would NEVER cut mine! :lol:

 

[baybus70]

Buy a late bay and cut a hole in that! No one cares what you do to them! :wink:

 

[Fortunate Son]

My Dormobile D4/6 has belly pans and I havent peeled them back yet to see what lies beneath though when thumped very hard there is no "rattling" noises to indicate crumbling steel cornflakes floating around inside!!

I agree with the majority call - dont cut a tin top, they are a thing of pure beauty!!

FS

 

[Guest]

Buy a late bay and cut a hole in that! No one cares what you do to them! :wink:

good advice :lol:

 

[sparkywig]

Belly pans were added as part of the M code options package for UK buses, they're not fitted for structural reasons.

P.S. please don't cut a hole in a tintop bus.

 

[Araon]

As I was led to understand and its supported in many publications and on line....

From 68-72 VW used the Sunroof model as the body that was given to Westfalia to covert into campers (The 73 model was a transition year and just had a hole cut in the roof which meant more headroom because there was no sheet metal to hide the sunroof). In 74 when the poptop roof changed direction a special body was created and the roof was braced above to reduce flex in the body.

To increase the structural ridigity of the earlier models, VW welded a bellypan to the bottom of the frame.

215 703 715 C underfloor plate, center used on models 215, 216, 225, 228, 235, 241, 244, M60, M520. This means:

- double sliding door buses (model 215, 216, 235 or M520)

- buses with a sunroof (model 225, 228, 241, 244)

- buses with Eberspaecher BA6 (M60)

Some Westfalia's have a bolted on belly pan but it has no strength and it not to be confused with the earlier version. It will flex under it's own weight and is mainly to keep the BA6 gas heater safe from road debris.

The English Dormobile buses (and possible other conversions) usually had M191 on their m-plate which means the same thing. These were regular buses with the extra belly pan to give them more strength, so afterwards that British camper conversion company could install a pop-up roof.

The welded part is 215 703 715 C and the bolted part is 215 703 715.

If a Westfalia was equipped with an air conditioner then the belly pan was not installed because there was no BA6.

 

[creationblue]

I personally say its your bus and if you need the extra space to suit your lifestyle/family needs then do it, dont matter what everyone else says...

CB

 

[Tofufi]

:shock: DO NOT CUT A HOLE IN A TINTOP. :shock:
it,s a crime in my opinion..
Andy

Gotta agree - the amount of time I spent converting my leaky factory Dormobile into a nice warm, dry tintop makes me shudder to think of someone doing the reverse.

If you want a poptop, it's gotta be easier to just buy one?

I spent ages looking for a cheap tintop project, and couldn't find a single thing suitable - hence my buying the Dormy.

 

[clyde]

My findings tend to match Araons post and my 68-69 Westy pop top has got the belly pans (its a sunroof bus)

I think its up to you mate when it comes to cutting the hole. If needs must and all that, but i would consider swapping it if you really need the pop top that way you get a proper job and somebody who wants a tintop gets what they want aswell.

At the end of the day its up to you. I never really ask for opinions on site. If you want it you do it.

 

[dubberdaz]

Why not sell your tin top and buy a pop top? Maybe even swap with someone? You never know :?

Edit...OK Clyde beat me to saying this!

 

[squareweave]

I believe in the fact of do what you want to your own vehicle but I also respect others opinion. You know just in case I missing something and apparently I was. I wasn't partial to a tintop but needed a bus that would fit under my old skool garage door and a pop top wouldn't fit. But I came across a small poptop parts bus and it sits lower than a westy top and it would fit. but after the consensus and aspecially the leaking factor (something I didn't think about) the top will stay the way it is with a small hole for the sink vent thats it. 8) I love this site, no time at all and tons of replies from REAL bay guys.

 

[halfpint_fighter]

I love my Danbury pop top, no leaks and gives loads of space for camping.
Yes my M code means (and you can see them!!!) the bus is fitted with Belly Pans.

 

[AGC]

What small hole for sink vent????