POP TOP QUESTION

[ground hugger]

Hi
was wondering if this top is interchangable with mine

the one above is what i have at the mo,but would like to fit the one below

 

[Justin & Muttley]

You'd need to get your tape measure out to be sure - but it looks like the one you want to fit doesn't go quite as far back!!! Yours is a Devon, is the other one a Danbury?

 

[Tofufi]

I think J&M is correct, there is about 12" in it.

Consider reading here:

http://www.justkampers.co.uk/interactive/kamperchat/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1062&highlight=dormobile+devon

And:

http://www.justkampers.co.uk/interactive/kamperchat/showthread.php?s=&threadid=164

Zedbed did it to his Devon. He has a website somewhere if you can find it.

 

[ground hugger]

Hi
I dont have the other roof to take measures off and was just wondering if anyone had done this to there van .I was thinking if the elevating part was the same dimensions inside it would fit the hole in my van and I could move it back or forwards to cover the hole .I do prefer the roof on the second van it doesnt look as bulky.Also when I bought mine the previous owner said it was a devon but when the log book came back it says microbus :? and having no interior in the first place I bought some seats for the rear so im not realy bothered if it doesnt elevate just cosmetic realy to cover the hole. thanks for your replies as you can see this is going to be the least of my problems for a while :lol: :lol: but im sure i will get there in the end some how

 

[kempy]

Why not just get the roof welded up or replace with a whole one ??

Could be cheaper that a new pop top that you don't intend to use anyway.

Mike

 

[currylager]

I was wondering if the later devon roof cap would be an option too??, ok they might not be quite original but they are more watertight than the early one and are easier to come by. When i bought my first bus (74 caravette) it had a piece of plywood screwed over the missing original pop top, it did leak a bit so had to keep painting it with pitch until i found a pop top to replace it with.

 

[Tofufi]

I had a Dormobile, like the 2nd roof style (the one you like)

The roof fell off before I bought it, so I converted it into a tintop, which looks even less bulky than the poptop I figure any reduction in drag has to be a good thing!

 

[ground hugger]

Think replacing the whole roof is going to be my only option
and the cheapest,not looking forward to it at all

 

[Tofufi]

Have to say, the gutters in your picture do look like they are past their best

Is it just surface rust or proper holey?

 

[Araon]

Is it just surface rust or proper holey?

Looking full on John the baptist to me...

 

[ground hugger]

The rear corner i cut off but ive made a corner out of a straight gutter repair piece by chopping and welding it
The rest is just rust but its solid honest
Drivers side Chassis the bit that forks off is shot
2 Doors not that much of a problem
Front lower inner and outer valance gone ,chopped out
Rear valance,chopped out
Rear jacking point on d/s top hat section,chopped out
Front and rear chassis cross rails gone,chopped out
Rear wheelarch backs want replacing
Both front steps want replacing,chopped out
drivers side floor where i chopped it out
Got all panels just got to get two doors may need a engine lid
All in all not that bad :roll: Should have got a better one but
you know how it is if you want one you dont see the problems
you just see a van,and i have wanted one for 25 years.
Saved two beetles that were in a worse state in the late 80s
just hope I havent lost it :lol:

 

[Tofufi]

Hats off to you sir, it looks to be a big job :lol:

Best of luck with it, keep us updated

I know the feeling of wanting a bus badly, it's all worth it when you drive it on the road (legally with MOT) for the first time

 

[ground hugger]

Will do .Thinking about doing a rest thread when the weather picks up
Cheers

 

[ground hugger]

Heres on I did on a mg not a VW I know but just to show you how dedicated i am when it comes to restoring old cars
The before

The after

AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

 

[Tofufi]

Nice work

Wasn't knocking your dedication, but I've done some roof work and know what a pain it can be :lol:

Here is my before:

During:

And, erm, now.

Currently my daily driver
I'm still working on the bodywork :lol:

 

[currylager]

What is wrong with the pop top thats on the van at the moment??, i know you can get some repair/sealing kits for that type. If the rest of the guttering is ok then perhaps its worth patching that pop top up until you get the bus on the road and have a bit of fun in it first. A roof change plus all the other work you've got to do might be a bit daunting to undertake in one go :roll:

 

[ground hugger]

Done one hell of a job there :shock: now I can see whats involved
looks scary
"NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AT ALL"

 

[ground hugger]

currylager
All the seals have rotted ,there is no vinyl on the top
and the vent hole is covered by a piece of ply wood :lol:

 

[currylager]

Those pop tops do turn up for sale now and again tho :wink: so you might find a reasonable replacement. I know tin top busses are lighter and look nicer but its nice being able to get dressed in the morning and not bang you head on the roof after sampling the loopy juice. The hammocks on mine also make great clothes storage too, leaving more space for doing other stuff :wink:

 

[Tofufi]

Done one hell of a job there :shock: now I can see whats involved
looks scary
"NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AT ALL"

I've never seen anyone else do it the way I did before. Mine turned out OK, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone! Quite good fun to do actually. I needed 5 people to help lift the roof on (and off, and on, and off, and on, and off etc)

If I didn't want to change it from a pop to a tintop, I wouldn't have cut the whole roof off like that I think.