80's westy interior into L300?

[after oil]

a good friend is considering a delica. he wonders if the '80s westfalia camper goods will fit into the L300. there is a sink, a fridge and stove, and a bench that folds down into a bed.

another way to ask this is what is the distance from the back of a front seat to the tailgate in a VW van?

[jessef]

I was thinking of doing the same thing.

Just need time to do all the measuring.

[zissou]

Hey, this ad has been in usedvictoria.com for a while now. He is selling a pop top from a 78 westy as a 'delica pop-top'. Anybody want to cut up their van? I saw Bruce's post on the subject and I don't think it's as simple as bolting on the new roof.

DELICA CAMPER POP TOP
Price $195

Description 78 WESTFALIA POP TOP SAME WIDTH AS DELICA; COMPLETE UNIT ;NICE CONVERSION;DOUBLE BED IN ROOF.
Oak Bay (Where is this?)
Ad Id: 5921434

Phone 857-2232

Here is the link. http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/5921434

[jessef]

def not a simple job.

lots of cutting/hacking.

[loki]

aren't some of those pop tops basically just a tent on the roof? as in the roof stays intact and you climb up the outside to get in? From the ad it says that there is a "DOUBLE BED IN ROOF" so sounds a bit like that type? I've never been in a westy though so as usual I could be out in left field.

[delicat]

Loki,

Westi's access the roof top from the inside via a wide opening from behind front seats to mid/rear of middle row seats.

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Best candidate for modification would be a low roof with the big sunroof (just like the one that I've bought from Japan and should hop on the ship today or tomorrow )

With that model you wouldn't necessary require any cutting. Might be a tighter fit to climb up than on the original VW set up but it might work.
Only problem is that low roof is quite "flat" on the top while VW is more rounded. I'd be more concern with the fitting between the van's top and the bottom of the VW pop-up roof. I don't think they'd align that great but nothing like a little determination to make it fit...

I've been long thinking about this one as the sleeping space in those are great and I know from experience...

The price for that unit is quite cheap. You might need a new canvass, they sell for a couple hundred $.

Also, there's a difference of size between the 70's model (smaller and rounder base) and the 80's (larger and flatter bottom).

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The 90's might be the best donor as they are much slimmer and more flat at the bottom...

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Also, up to 74 they opened the "wrong" way (see pic of orange bus) as in that set up it was only a 1 person bed vs the post 74 where it opened the other way and provided room for 2. Some models also had the straight up design but these don't offer as much head room...

It will be a great world when Delica and Westi become one! (the best of both at any rate!)
David

[jessef]

There is another thing to consider.

Width/curvature.

I saw the detailed post of a fellow who did it in the UK.

A LOT of hacking and cutting the roof. Also making a bracket to follow the shape of the pop top. Welding in support arches and a crossmember.

It's not a simple job.

I was seriously considering it until I actually sat down and planned it out.

I added everything up and I ended up with roughly 60 hours of labor time alone in a shop with a good fabricator as a friend.

If you have the time and can put your Delica aside for a week or two or however long it will take, I say go for it.

Now, I'm just going with a roof rack and camperized inside.

Jesse

[loki]

cool, I thought is was most likely accessed from inside but didn't have any idea.

[after oil]

nice one! this is what im talking about. but not the poptop, more specifically the camperized interior of the van. the fridge sink stove, and most importantly the fold down bed with cabinets and all.
how well would that fit into a delica ?
its pretty clear that the engine compartment of the delica takes up some space where the sink etc is.

[jessef]

I'm going to have the sink/stove on a sliding cabinet that will extend out from the sliding door and a pair of legs drop down to support it.

Reason is because I 'test' fitting an old VM sink/stove box and it's a) too big and b) I'll have to be on my knees to cook inside.