Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all, I've got serious rot around the whole gutters (on my t25 camper) to the point that I've broken a couple of bits off by hand. (somoeone has put a hightop on it stripped all the paint around the whole roof to bond it on and basically condensation has rotted it all out from the inside) think my only option is a complet roof cut. my question is:- i've heard that there are small and large gutter types (early/late?), does that change any other alighnments? I guess i'd need a roof from a RHD but do I need to worry about the year of the donor, for the pillars to align?
any help, advice or pictures of roof cut jobs appreciated
cheers Jim.

What roof s it?and what size gutters?

the van is 81/82, everything from the gutters up is beyond repair, plus over the windscreen & either side of the rear door, it had a high top covering most of the damage. rest of the van is sound
cheers

forgot to say, not sure what size gutters it has as i have no refrence point, the high top sat in the gutters with room to spare

Am i being dumb? - I can take it! I've experience of beetles & a split from years ago (the welding that goes with them) I have no experience of t25's so don't know of any subtle changes that may have happen'd to the shape over the years, before i bite the bullet & buy a roof cut I would like to be sure that it will fit/line up everywhere.
has anyone done one & can anyone help with large/small gutters? is it a late/early mod? were vans destined for conversion built with larger gutters? these may seem like dumb questions but i've little knowledge of the versions/models. the actual work required wouldn't be a problem for me.
any help appreciated. cheers

The deep gutter are about 3/4 inch on the outer faces, shallow only 3/8s maybe...I believe the early vans all have deep gutters..I have heard them called air cooled gutters but I don't dabble with that sort of junk..however I have a 1987 vw hitop van and it has deep gutters and I think the westys do as well so your theory about comversion vans holds water but only factory ones, many panel vans were born not knowing they were soon to be ruined by the uk conversion bodgers.

Any help?

got a complete big sunroof roof from an early shell with the big gutters (+ 3"+ of pillars) would likely make a good donor if you wanted the hole as the hole for a high top, the operating mechanism for the sunroof has been removed, call me during working hours if you are interested I can take pics of it and send on, and take a look on bodywork at youthleygiblets thread (about 12 months ago) on swapping his tin top for the sunroof roof to see how the layers can be seperated

And before i find something to add, can we have some pertinent pickies pleas
mm

The quality is unbelievably poor, paint stripped in a six inch band around the tin of the roof to bond the top on but any bare metal not treated post fitting, cut out for high top cut with gilbows some of it vearing into one of the strengtheners flanges then abandonded & re-alighned No treatment of bare edge). all covered with a fair degree of quality coach building but awfull metal working.
pics will follow

Aiden, thanks for the option of buying the roof, the hi top currently on the van has a low luggage rack moulded in so sunroof too far forward.
cheers Jim

metalmick8y wrote:And before i find something to add, can we have some pertinent pickies pleas
mm

Have photo's but bit of a luddite, tried to attatch but no go, anyone care to talk me through it in return for rust porn?

upload them to photobucket or simmilar,
then copy the bottom of the 4 options (IMG code) and paste into your message.
mm

got the hightop of with the use of a bottle jack, found this. picking up a roof cut this weekend!

Oh and thanks Micky

I'll work out how to add more than one at a time & post a few more if you feel you can stomach it! then hopefully some progress shots.