Poptop Removal - Autosleeper

[bmouthboyo]

bump*

[DavidPallister]

If you are going to be getting welding done, it may be a good idea to strip out the entire interior anyway, this may then reveal hidden fixings for the roof, as well as other hidden rot that needs sorting out.
When I first bought my autohomes, i did just that, can of worms springs to mind, wound up plating 5 holes in the floor and the o/s outer sill and floor panel

Dave

[jimpainter]

The minimum you should remove would be the headlining. If that catches your in a world of trouble.

[bmouthboyo]

OK so I will be commencing stripping out the interior this week.

Does anyone know of any guides, or tips regarding removing the interior? I will try and take lots of photos of fixings and what went where and bag up all the screws etc with the parts they secure.

I was just wondering what order to remove things? Also are there any parts that cannot be removed in tact? i.e. the vinyl material that surrounds the 2 rear side windows and the headlining above the drivers area. I also have no idea how to remove the carpeted autosleeper fixings around the zig unit and the area around the roof / poptop join sections.



Any links or advice much appreciated. Thanks

[jimpainter]

I think its just a case of being methodical. Keep things labeled so you know where they go etc. Just take it steady and think before you rip anything off.

[Plasticman]

have a look
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 7&start=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
same scenario, not found a screw but loads of spuriouse rivits, the front and rear will surely be gone. scrap the rubbers they will cause you years of grief, when the roof is detatched you shopuld find the timber work remains on the van, I beleive they were built by doing the metal cuts , then sticking a wood frame in and then dropping a roof on.
No need to remove the roof, lift support on boards across the van and slide back and forth,
if your undoing the roof then just hoiyk a strop round for the journey to the painter/welder whatever.
Oh a cut for the front upper roof should be about £50 ish to 75.
the repair bits for the bottoms etc are not worth using if your fabricator is any good as he can make better.
any more help just ask
mm

[bmouthboyo]

Thanks metal. I cannot find any rivets are they in the inside kit outside? The screw securing the front are shot as they are what caused the rust holes and leaks in first place.

Any good sources for the rubbers?

So it sounds like its a case of on the outside using a blade to go around the entire seem and then gently try prying the roof up until its all free? The inside I'm unsure of as I cannot get the the bit above the cab as its flat to allow for the folded roof when the pop tops down.

Nightmare hey lol

[Plasticman]

riivits could be through the rubber as well, if they bent it back far enough ! use a couple of props to very GENTLY keep an upwards pressure on the roof whilst you cut the sealant, Ive not had one of your roofs off before but as springs and all sorts are invilved then there should/might be some form of fixture to solid metal, where were the screws?
At the front I would remove the headcloth as you will be welding above there. I think you have to look at this from the perspective of;
it has to come of and so I will remove/strip/cut whatever to acheive that.
I would also look at how Im securing Kevs at the front and rear and maybe think about that method, I have Kevs front and rear seals spare so give him a shout if you want to make use of them
mm

[bmouthboyo]

The screws were all along the top of the window screen:



and as of yet not pulled all the rubber off the back but I know the corners are leaking

As you can see the gutter / roof join is at a bit of an angle due to some brittle plastic that seems to lip up?!?





Not entirely sure what the best tool for getting at the sealant from that angle is?

[bmouthboyo]

OK so interior now stripped out and found all the fixings / screws for the wooden frame in the pop top roof.







I removed all the upper trim as carefully as possible so I can use them as templates when replacing.

I removed all the upper trim as carefully as possible so I can use them as templates when replacing. Unfortunately I could not get the roof up separately from the wooden bed frame etc. as others have, somehow its still secured. So off will all the screws pictured above and hey presto...

Upon inspection the rust underneath is not as bad as I was expecting and with my front repair section hopefully the welders will go easy on me:

FOS Corner



FNS Corner


ROS Corner



RNS Corner



getting there