Posted: 06 Oct 2006, 07:49
Hi Graham,
I've been researching this myself as I have a Westy pop top that I will probably be fitting to my Syncro Velle.
It looks like you have several options - all with varying degrees of complexity.
1. Easiest (You don't want to put the westy fold out bed up there) - Fit the West pop and cut a small hole, without having to weld in any reinforement. This means that although it'll look like a Westy, you won't be able to put a bed up there as you haven't cut the full length hole, and the Westy bed cannot sit ontop of the roof. To do this you just need the donor pop top. You won't find a better description (with pics) than on this web site:
http://homepage.mac.com/mwsnow/PhotoAlbum5.html
2. Moderate - (You do want to use the Westy fold out bed up there) Cut the full length hole, weld in the strengthening member from the donor roof, and use welded in angle iron as the supporting recess. Described quite well here: You'll need the donor roof's Westy specific strengthening crossmemeber as well as the pop top (and the bed bits and bobs)
http://www.elpel.org/vw_westfalia.htm
3. Hard (You want to replicate as closely as possible the original Westy fitting). Basically you need to cut out from the donor roof as much of the original westy specific metal as possible, and refit into your van. A lot of measuring, cutting, and welding...... I'm considering this option as I've got an entire Donor Roof section cut from the pilars upwards. So I'll try to photograph and document this process if I do it. (and I don't decide to swap for Futbus's HiTop)
Good luck!
Rich
I've been researching this myself as I have a Westy pop top that I will probably be fitting to my Syncro Velle.
It looks like you have several options - all with varying degrees of complexity.
1. Easiest (You don't want to put the westy fold out bed up there) - Fit the West pop and cut a small hole, without having to weld in any reinforement. This means that although it'll look like a Westy, you won't be able to put a bed up there as you haven't cut the full length hole, and the Westy bed cannot sit ontop of the roof. To do this you just need the donor pop top. You won't find a better description (with pics) than on this web site:
http://homepage.mac.com/mwsnow/PhotoAlbum5.html
2. Moderate - (You do want to use the Westy fold out bed up there) Cut the full length hole, weld in the strengthening member from the donor roof, and use welded in angle iron as the supporting recess. Described quite well here: You'll need the donor roof's Westy specific strengthening crossmemeber as well as the pop top (and the bed bits and bobs)
http://www.elpel.org/vw_westfalia.htm
3. Hard (You want to replicate as closely as possible the original Westy fitting). Basically you need to cut out from the donor roof as much of the original westy specific metal as possible, and refit into your van. A lot of measuring, cutting, and welding...... I'm considering this option as I've got an entire Donor Roof section cut from the pilars upwards. So I'll try to photograph and document this process if I do it. (and I don't decide to swap for Futbus's HiTop)
Good luck!
Rich