The Moldy Manner-71 High Roof Westy

We had sold our T25 Syncro Westy a couple of years ago and really missed camping in a VW. With this said we wnt on a seach for a Westy and a high roof. With a family of 4 the pop top did not offer enough storage or standing room.

So we found a 71 Westy with a motor.







....and we found this roof from the same guy.

The next step was to strip it down and see what we had. I knew there was some rust in th floors and under the windield, but what we were not prepared for was the amount of mold and rat nests and rat pee and shite.
We could have filled a large bag of nasty-ness. It was really bad.



...we had also removed the pop top and set the high roof up on top to get it out of the way.





After cleaning the floor I used a 2 part epoxy paint to seal it up.



figured I'd remove the spare tire off of the nose and pop the dent out of the front corner.

Cleaned the outside paint and gave it a little bit of wax and while I was at it installed a rear safari window from Wolfgang International.



Cut the stock roof back to make standing roof and a place for the upper bed and front upper storage cabinet.





The fiberglass top was so moldy that the mold was eating into the top. I sanded it all out and painted it with the same 2 part epoxy used on the floors.



found this under the paint. the original Safare Camper logo.

Time to start on the interior. A lot of the orginal westfalia wood was rotted away and there was nothing backing the laminate and the mold was 5-10mm thick. Lots of cleaning, sanding and clear coating.









making a new bed

Windows in



fitting the upper bunk



The worst of the cabinets

It's ready to head over to http://www.latenightaircooled.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for the mechanical stuff like brakes, suspension motor and transmission.

Wagenswest 4" narrowed beem with drop spindles



Junk yard motor. It had on the fan shroud 'low compression". the folks at Light Night their majical tune up on the the engine test stand and it pures like a kitten with plenty of power. So much for needing a rebuild. The wife pisstriped the air cleaner. I figured thta would make it go fast.


Well she's ready to take home


Here is the almost finished product






Tired helper


Here is link of over 500 pictures of the build http://www.flickr.com/photos/canterburyfour/sets/72157617071629339/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and us enjoying it http://www.flickr.com/photos/canterburyfour/sets/72157619679672111/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Decided to tub the front 2".





More pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/canterburyfour/sets/72157620187328012/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

nice work! 8)

loving it - haven't seen many high tops and didn't really like those I did but this one looks ace! nice work

High tops are like alloys - on a stock height bus they look awful - but with a bit of slammage they look amazing 8)
Top work.

really nice work, spottedyour van in yor sig on another thread, so great to see a thread devoted to it

i have never liked either pop tops or high tops, but you've proved that, like most things, when done well, it really works :mrgreen:

how i would love some US forests to visit in my van

Hi Chris, welcome! 8) I PM'd you about your wheels trough the Samba some time ago. I really dig your van. Great job! 8) 8)

Loxy said:

High tops are like alloys - on a stock height bus they look awful - but with a bit of slammage they look amazing 8)
Top work.

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whs 8)





..... cool looking bus there fella

Loxy said:

High tops are like alloys - on a stock height bus they look awful - but with a bit of slammage they look amazing 8)
Top work.

Click to expand...

Absolutely agree - that's a great looking bus!!! 8)

Nice and Different 8) .

Thanks everyone. It's sometimes hard to build something pratical and cool.

I just love this bus, looked at your Flickr thread with the roof bunk pics and it looks great on the inside as well as the outside, now where can I get a high top EB from :lol: :lol: :lol:

Graham L said:

now where can I get a high top EB from :lol: :lol: :lol:

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At the cool VW offcourse! :mrgreen:

Thanks. I might know where there is a 68 EB HT.

Graham L said:

I just love this bus, looked at your Flickr thread with the roof bunk pics and it looks great on the inside as well as the outside, now where can I get a high top EB from :lol: :lol: :lol:

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