POP TOP TO HIGH TOP

[1664]

where the original cross member was connected pre conversion.

These roofs were factory fitted by VW so Holdsworth will have bought the vans with this bit fitted I'd have thought. I must admit though, I'd have thought VW would have formed the entire thing from metal rather than using fibreglass. The only other explanation is that VW did use metal and this is a fibreglass reproduction fitted by Holdsworth, but that really does seem pointless when you could simply buy a van with one factory fitted.

Need someone with an original panel van or microbus with one of the original VW fitted items to be sure...

[Ian Hulley]

where the original cross member was connected pre conversion.

These roofs were factory fitted by VW so Holdsworth will have bought the vans with this bit fitted I'd have thought. I must admit though, I'd have thought VW would have formed the entire thing from metal rather than using fibreglass.

I believe this is a genuine VW hightop ... plug fugly if you ask me but hey. Like you I thought they would've been made of mekal

[DavidPallister]

Mine's a factory high top, which i have taken off to get the beast in my garage to do a resto on it.

I can confirm that the structure is totally different to a conventional steel roofed van. There are 2 steel cross braces that run around the inside of the fibreglass roof, which are bolted to the recepticles above B and C pillars, which are in turn welded to the top of the van structure.

In place of the normal roof and gutter single pressing there is a separate gutter pressing fabricated into place down each side, and one across the front, meaning that the van is open along its entire length inside, with a wooden shelf above the cab bolted into place on 5 brackets fabricated into place.
The fibreglass roof is very thick, and very heavy, (and very ugly), it took 4 of us to lift it off.

The roof then has a flange (ooh err!) moulded around the base at the front and sides, and a galvanised pressed rear 'skirt' laminated into it at the rear. The front edge fits under a lip across the front gutter, the sides fit under retaining strips spot welded into the gutters along the side, and the reat skirt is pop riveted to the structure across the back, with the tailgate bolted on over the top. Sealant then covers all of the joins to make it all water tight.

However, the sealant has a tendency to break down over time, and come away, leading to major rusting around the join. Go on, ask me how i know

If you had a good donor van, lots of spare time, lots of spot weld drills and a lot of patience, you could probably swap all of the parts over, but personally, I think it would be far easier to fit a conventional after market hightop.

Regards

Dave

[1664]

so now we know. Cheers for that

[BALDY3260]

david p. many thanks for that, looks like i will keep the poptop, or look for a factory hightop van. thanks again all for your insights.