In a message dated 04/03/2004 7:37:43 PM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

This  unfortunately misses the point of what i was
describing - the seal between  the pop top and the
luggage rack.  This is what did not even touch  down
(ie. seal to the luggage rack - would cause the canvas
to get wet,  catch air, etc.).  When i installed this,
i had a good inch and a half  of air space between the
rack and the rubber lip.  I installed it both  ways
(upside down and right side up) with no  appreciable
difference.

Either your not installing  it correctly, have gotten a piece not like the
ones I've gotten from the Bus  Depot or your pop top is different from others.
As I said previously I  have one on my '87 and have installed quite a few of
them on customers vans and  they all work perfectly, better than the original.
The perceived problem  of the two pieces meeting at the corner is not.  Just
make a nice clean cut  so the two pieces meet perfectly and add some black
silicone if you want a nice  continuos joint.  Not really necessary though.
Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2004
'87 Westy & Lionel  Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com