Popping my top

[Justgosurfin]

Thanks.

Did you use that 3m spray in the green can?

[boywonder]

I used hi temperature spray headliner adhesive from A1 Foam and Fabric.


yourautotrim.com also sells a high temp spray headliner adhesive.


For the brush on high temp contact cement I used DAP Landau top adhesive.


The Landau top adhesive is also sprayable if you have the equipment.


I used high temp rated contact adhesives everywhere in the van..it gets hot in there.

[Justgosurfin]

Thanks you!

[Justgosurfin]

Originally Posted by boywonder

I used hi temperature spray headliner adhesive from A1 Foam and Fabric.


yourautotrim.com also sells a high temp spray headliner adhesive.


For the brush on high temp contact cement I used DAP Landau top adhesive.


The Landau top adhesive is also sprayable if you have the equipment.


I used high temp rated contact adhesives everywhere in the van..it gets hot in there.

Hello again!

Can you remind me what width butyl I should purchase for sealing the canvas to the van roof? I know it’s in someone’s threat but I couldn’t seem to find it just now.

[boywonder]

Originally Posted by Justgosurfin

Hello again!

Can you remind me what width butyl I should purchase for sealing the canvas to the van roof? I know it’s in someone’s threat but I couldn’t seem to find it just now.

It's been years...but i think 2" is the width you need. Unforch McMaster sells only 1.5" and 2.5" width rolls. I think I used 1.5" since it will squish out a bit when you screw the canvas down to the roof. I've had no leaks for the last 7+ years.


......pretty sure I used 2 50' rolls.......I did three layers on the long sides since it's in the roof groove.

[boywonder]

Justgosurfin: Post #57 here has some relevant information. It looks like I used 4 layers of butyl tape on the sides......you'll need 2 rolls.

[Justgosurfin]

Ah man. You’re the best!

[Justgosurfin]

Originally Posted by boywonder

Justgosurfin: Post #57 here has some relevant information. It looks like I used 4 layers of butyl tape on the sides......you'll need 2 rolls.

Does this seem like a good option?

LLPT Sealant RV Repair Butyl Tape White 2” x 50 Feet Roof Patch RV Rubber Sealing Tape Weatherproof Strong Curling Resistance for Window RV Repair Boat Vent Camper Leaks (SV502) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089W9L5H1...ing=UTF8&psc=1

[Justgosurfin]

Originally Posted by boywonder

No, we don't. The donor van's owner said that he bought it from an elderly couple (with the PH already installed). It was a 2003 E150. I'm assuming that the PH is a 2003 but that's purely a guess.



A few more things accomplished today.......I installed M12x1.75 x 12mm long set screws in the threaded floor holes where the seat brackets used to live (passenger van). The set screws were 14 cents each in qty 25 at my local fastener supply house. I applied RTV to the threads to seal them and hold them in place. I left a few threaded holes unplugged so that I can fasten down the new floor. The ones that got plugged are not accessible from under the van.








The canvas is now attached to the roof; we used 4 layers of 1/8" thick butyl tape on the sides since it lays in the roof channels and must be built up above the surface of the roof. Probably could have stopped at 3 layers now that we are done but it worked out fine. The toughest part was drilling holes in the very corners of the ply strips holding the canvas. There is about a 3/16" thick layer of butyl below the bulb seals on both sides. The layers were 2 1/2" wide strips top and bottom, with 2x 1 1/2" wide in the middle.

Here is all 4 layers of tape in the channel before the screwing began.





The SMB plastic bulb seals on the ends of the penthouse top were replaced with rubber (EPDM) bulb seals sourced from McMaster Carr.




And finally, we got the Avery UHA heavy plastic tape stuck to the roof to protect the paint when the PH is down.

Found it. Thanks. And does that bulb seal go between the canvas and the van roof? I don’t believe my top came with that.

Did you source from McMaster Carr? https://www.mcmaster.com/butyl-rubber-tape/

[boywonder]

Yes the bulb seal is from Mcmaster. It's rubber. SMB bulb seal is plastic.

The bulb seal goes on both ends of the roof

The tape you linked to above appears to be really thin; the butyl tape you need is like thick taffy.

The 1.5" Mcmaster tape works great.