Poptop - Tintop

[andys71]

I have a 71 early bay with a poptop roof, I am thinking of removing this and going for a tintop.

I have 2 questions,

Will a roof from a late bay fit/are the roofs the same shape/dimensions?

How much work is involved in grafting in the new metal, roughly how much should I budget for??

Any advice will be greatfully received.

 

[uber cool]

You have 3 options I can think of, cheapest is fit a paris fabric sunroof over the hole.

2nd fit a section of a tintop roof over over the hole, ie inside of the gutter line. You'll need a respray of the roof and new headlining so i'd say £500 to £1k depending on how much work you do yourself.

3rd option and maybe the best is a complete roof cut down to the window posts, to graft this on you'll need to be carefully with window gaps and need all new window seals, costs probably £1k up.

 

[AxlFoley]

personaly i would think the paris sunroof is the easiest and best as it would allow you to revert back to a pop top at a later date should you wish to. there could be another way, i have seen gutters folded out to allow the roof skin to come appart, and then another roof skin fitted.

either way its not a small job.

 

[Tofufi]

3rd option and maybe the best is a complete roof cut down to the window posts, to graft this on you'll need to be carefully with window gaps and need all new window seals, costs probably £1k up.

I did mine this way.

I'd not do it this way if your gutters and surrounding metalwork are good. If mine had been usable, I'd have preferred to drill out all the spotwelds in the roof structure and replace only the top roof skin.

Its a bit daunting when you get to this stage

Total cost of roof swap about £100, plus petrol to collect the replacement roof and welding materials.

The roof is different from '72 onwards IIRC.

 

[andys71]

The roof is different from '72 onwards IIRC.

Sorry for being a ******* but what is "IIRC"

 

[AxlFoley]

If I Remember Correctly

 

[andys71]

Cheers dude

 

[Tofufi]

Sorry, I should be more careful when using abbreviations

I am not sure if there are any great visual differences, but the fit is a little different.

I can confirm that a van roof fits on the top of a passat estate, too. DId over 400 miles like this...

 

[Tofufi]

Forgot to add... this job is quite a lot of man hours.

If you are paying someone to do it, it won't be cheap. The parts cost me £100, and I spent quite a long time measuring and checking everything fitted.