1978 Viscount Grand Tourer poptop - 81649

Hi Gav,
Welcome to the forum, mate just about everyone on this forum has either fully restored or are in the process
You will find lot's of advice here and many a person willing to offer.
Never argue with the War Office, as by the sounds of it you may also wish to add the title Minister For Economic Spending ha ha
Good Luck and keep the pictures coming
Regards
Steve

hi all. just fully finished the interior side of the poptop & fliped it over. came up great !! boss happy. Went to have a go on the main roof & found thatit seem to have been sealed/repaired with, what looks like 25mm wide putty strips & sealed over with stop leak. Any ideas how to get it off,its like concrete

Hi Gav,

Having just been through what you're about to experience - (Hell by the way) - I found a blunt chisel useful for the initial 'aged crust' removal.

Then... well, a paint scraper then a rotary wire brush on a drill once you get so pissed off with it you want to hurt something, then turps and a rag - the fumes will calm you down - - then a slab of beer! ;D ;D ;D

It takes time - but it's worth it in the end

Regards
Bobbie

i think the interior side of the poptop came out ok.!! got my hands on the 1977 vfl/afl cup. the won the pies should have won. a mate of mine has to clean it .

Gav, Many ways to skin a cat, but I found a flap disk on an angle grinder works wonders. If the putty is hard this is better as soft stuff just gunks up sanders and wire wheels. One day of concentrated work with earmuffs on and its done. Tada!
Also skins a cat nicely.
I was advised to prime with Penetrol as it flows easily into recesses and then I am using two coats of Therma shield .

one thing i do like about roof of the viscount, is that under the j mold the roof sheets have been left long & knocked down over the side cladding by 5mm. they got that wright!! thanks Gav

Ahh, so you haven't done the roof yet Gav? I think Solarguard in a spray gun or brushed works pretty well from what I have read. Thats what I'm going to use. You do have to thin it a bit with water to spray, but on the roof I think brushing would be just fine, (whos going to see it?)

Gav
Am following your resto with much interest as mine is exactly the same - double front bunks and lime green. Always looking for ideas to improve
Cheers
Murray

hi guys. big win today the boss has agreed to the new lay out of the van . after reading heap &heaps of posts,with great info from this site (thanks everyone). it is time to get cracking , as i have been told ! it will be ready for xmas!!!! yes dear. this van has to have two functions . as it is to be stored at eppalock most of the time, as a spare room & 4or 5 times a year camped on the Murray. with this in mind in will go 2 ,1900mm couches/ beds & the main bed turned east/west ( boss gets wall side ).the kitchen will stay . with the new layout this will give me a chance to build in roof support for the poptop & take out the sag with little fuss. as with most early poptops the constant pulling down of the roof caused the main roof to sag. at the moment i have 4 sticks of timber propping the roof & a lot of tape, showing the boss the layout.i am cheers gav p.s any input welcome

G'day gav,

Looks like you've been a busy, busy boy!

When you guys are using these wire wheels in the grinder to remove the sealant, are you also removing the paintwork under the sealant? I'm trying to picture how the job is done without affecting the original paint.

New windows won't come cheap. Any chance of refurbishing the old ones somehow? Even if you changed the glass for tinted perspex, it'd come out a lot cheaper than new windows.

I can't see you having any problems with the layout you're thinking about, as long as you work out how to support the roof opening adequately. The only fixture in my poptop that was actually supporting the poptop roof opening was the wardrobe on one side, which meant the framework at the front and rear ends was critical to take the load. There's not a lot of room between the opening and the poptop roof when it's closed, so it's a heck of a job to work out how to make sure any framework is sufficient and strong enough.

cheers,
Al.

G'day Gav,

You're certainly putting the hours into this one sport.

The worst bit - getting all the goo off the roof - feel for you!

It rained all day Saturday in the Highlands - no leaks in mine - what a great feeling after all that work!

Regards

Bobbie