tin top to poptop

[jim potter]

hi, happy christmas .

ok, so whilst the camper is parked up over the winter, ive been thinking.
im already going to undertake a diy refit of the frankly basic interior . it will include a elec fridge, 2 stove cooker, zig unit , lesuire battery etc. infact it already has most of this just not in a hugely useable format.

whilst im at it , the long term plan is now to ditch the 2.1dj engine ( runs fine, nothing wrong with it ) , and retro fit a 1.8t from a passat / or vag model. id like a bit more poke/economy , and tbh derv's are not my thing .

but one thing it does need to make it truely versatile is a pop top ( the cheese wedge shape kind ). me and the wife have been looking at different types of roof and decided that this best fits ours and the kids needs.

so big question is , are there any suppliers that sell the kits ? or am i better off buying a rotten bus , perhaps a non runner , transfering over what i need and perhaps selling the rest to recoup some money .

id like to fit it myslef to keep costs down, and im not adverse to a bit of diy, i also have access to a unit , and tools that go with it, plus some good freinds who would love to give a hand ( in return for use of the bus )

thanks

jim

[Ian Hulley]

and retro fit a 1.8t from a passat / or vag model.

These are thisty in a Passat which only weighs 1200kg

1.8-ltr. 5V Turbo Engine AEB
Displacement - 1781cc
Compression ratio - 9.3 : 1
Max. torque - 210 Nm @1750-4600 rpm
Max. power output - 110kW @5700 rpm
Engine management - Motronic M 3.8.2
Fuel - 95 RON unleaded premium

If you're going to jump in that direction at least fit something worth having in the back.

[jim potter]

you can get a reliable 180-240 bhp ( infact a fair bit more if need be ) plus around the same in trq ,and a a decent 35 - 38 mpg on a run , from any 1.8t variant.

my only requirement is that it must be vag , not subaru for example, and run off th standard ecu . im not intrested in a aftermrket unit, when a correctly modified ecu can do the job.

tbh the 2.1 dj fitted works perfectly well.. does not smoke, nor leak any fluids.. im just after something a bit newer , as i plan not to get rid of the bus .

1 other option was to fit a mk3 16v unit from a golf, but tbh , i like engines that are not that common in transplants .

at the moment , ive stumped with a supplier for a good priced roof. its lookign like buying a bus for the roof and perhaps interior is a good option.

[kevtherev]

the long term plan is now to ditch the 2.1dj engine ( runs fine, nothing wrong with it ) , and retro fit a 1.8t from a passat / or vag model. id like a bit more poke/economy ,

personally I would suggest bthe same money would get an lpg conversion.... win win... not ridding yourself of a good working vw motor, and saving money thereafter, eventually paying for itself... even fitting it to the new motor when the 2.1 gives up in twenty years time
the pop top would be off a scrap van

[jim potter]

scrap van it is then.. ill look into the lpg, but even though im in deepest essex, i've never seen a huge amount of filling pumps around .

[Plasticman]

oh theyre everywhere, often not with the other pumps though
mm

[CovKid]

Just to throw one extra thought into the mix, I too have a tin top and have been thinking about a roof for the last six years. However, as others constantly point out to me, there are less tin tops about these days. I can also whizz into almost every car park with a height restriction. Weigh up whether it may not be better to just buy another with the work already done. You also get people very willing to do partial swaps. I know at least one T25 owner who wants to go back to a tin top.

[weimarbus]

you could try 'Blaze motorsport' near Maidstone, the bumpers I bought from them were good quality and they were half way through preparing a mould for a 'Westy' type roof May 2010, should come up on google, hope that helps.

[jim potter]

mmm good point covkid.. its only the lack of height in certain circumstances that makes me think itas the way to go. but when i went camping for the first time last year with me and the kids + wife , tbh it wasnt that bad.. we stuck up the massive driveaway awning we brought and it all worked well.. the bigger problem was a lack of 240v , as we had a 8 month old baby .

perhaps ill rethink , try a few more trips in the spring/summer and go from there .

'weimarbus ' ill give them a look if i decide to go ahead , maidstone isn't a million miles from me .

thanks for all the input . ill have a good think over the next few weeks

[CovKid]

If its any help, I made a small buddy seat from ply, inset with a liftout centre for storage and to take a foam cushion. This means I can cook seated. The roof issue (for me) is similar to the fridge one. I don't have a fridge as I felt it took up useful space and I can live with powdered milk and/or buy fresh butter and milk. Didn't fancy carting it around more than I'm using it. As for standing up, I'm seated more than I ever stand up - unless you really need the top space for beds. Lots get by with an awning.

Then theres the additional weight and drag of a roof and fittings. Tricky decision I know, but so far I've resisted a roof.

[boatbuilder]

I've gone back to tintop from pop-top (specifically the leisuredrive pop-top)

The reasons are:
- I plan to use the van every day to drive to and from work, with only occasional camping.
- The pop-top adds a good bit of weight to the van (fuel economy, speed especially with a 1.6d engine)
- The poptop adds height to the van so it wouldn't fit in my garage or in some car parks.
- The pop-top was causing rust in the roof around the edges, also rusted at the many many self tapper screw holes going through the roof.
- The overall quality of the camper conversion was really bad in the first place, so I reckon I'm saving it's life by removing the bad bits.

[dirtygertie]

I've gone back to tintop from pop-top (specifically the leisuredrive pop-top)

The reasons are:
- I plan to use the van every day to drive to and from work, with only occasional camping.
- The pop-top adds a good bit of weight to the van (fuel economy, speed especially with a 1.6d engine)
- The poptop adds height to the van so it wouldn't fit in my garage or in some car parks.
- The pop-top was causing rust in the roof around the edges, also rusted at the many many self tapper screw holes going through the roof.
- The overall quality of the camper conversion was really bad in the first place, so I reckon I'm saving it's life by removing the bad bits.

you forgot to add

- it looks waaaay cooler

[jim potter]

perhaps ill stick as is , and use the suggestion of a buddy seat.. i do have a massive awning

i also need to stash a porta loo thing, so perhaps the buddy seat would work for that

[Plasticman]

thats where our lives
mm

[big red bus]

enigne wise, have you looked into 2.0ltr vw golf/passat engine (agg/2e) cam and filter around 120bhp. cheap/relaible and push a t3 along really well.
20vt has a different bell housing pattern and require alot more 1 off items to be fabricated. you can make a 2e fit using all gen vw parts.