On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 22:59:23 -0500, Automatic digest processor
wrote:

>Date:    Sat, 20 Mar 2004 22:29:09 -0500
>From:    Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
>Subject: Re: vanagon Digest - 20 Mar 2004 - Special issue (#2004-247)
>
>><snip>
>>Within the last year there was a short discussion on this list
>>of the merits of adding gas struts help lift the pop top.
>><snip>
>
>Are you sure you didn't find this on another list?  I just spent a good deal
>of time searching the archives without success.  I found questions without
>answers.  I did, however, find posts about springs being inside the struts
>that seemed to make popping the top almost effortless ... when the vans were
>new.  There were entries about the failure of these springs saying that they
>were not repairable.
>
>Mike
>Houlton, Maine
>'84 GL 7 pass
>'85 GL Westy

I did a little more digging, and found the following references.
 I am sure there were more photos, but at least now I know I
didn't imagine the whole thing.  I will see what else I can
find, but alas, I think the info is too late to help Joy.  Good
luck.

**This is the message on this list that refers to the
struts:
http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0309A&L=vanagon&P=R
12392

**This is the website with the photo of the struts and
poptop:
http://www.westfaliacampers.com/eng/My_Westi/more_pictures/P90700
33.JPG

**This is his westy page:
http://www.westfaliacampers.com/eng/index.html

As another note, I found a review of the Eurovan MV Weekender
package vehicle sold in Canada here
(http://www.bcaa.com/auto/buysell/VWeurovan.asp).  It talks
about a gas strut assisted pop-top.  It may be possible to retro
fit the Eurovan pop-top struts to the Vanagon?

Seth

'80 Westy
Galleons Lap Photography
glphoto@attglobal.net

Tel: (604) 298-0186