> One of the first things i'd want to do is get the pop top put on.
> anyone have any ideas, dos and don'ts, heads ups, etc?

This should get you started:

http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/poptop

There are pics there along with some text files that I posted to the
Vanagon list last year.

-Karl, writing from the road in our '85 Westy

Karl & Kristina Bloss - bloss@enter.net
'85 Westfalia Camper "Fred"
US West Trip 2000: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vwtrek