On Dec 28, 2010, at 11:27 AM, Alistair Bell wrote:

> Apart from maybe some specialised models (ambulance perhaps?), the only vanagons i know of that had extra stiffening in the walls and also frame rails, were the 14" syncro with the "bad road package", and the 16" syncro.

Could be?  Did they make sunroof/double door vanagons?  If they did, those were probably beefed up?

Mr. BZ- I want one
> 
> I'd say both of those models are in the running for the stiffest body structure.
> 
> 
> alistair
> 
> 
> On 28-Dec-10, at 10:00 AM, Tom Buese wrote:
> 
> On Dec 28, 2010, at 10:42 AM, mark drillock wrote:
> 
>> That C pillar cross brace IS welded in, both hardtop and Westy.
> 
> Thanks for the clarification Mark. Then there is some torsional strength added at the C pillar.
>> 
>> As for the sunroof vans, those have MORE roof structure than standard roofs, a lot more. I'd say the sunroof is the strongest roof, followed by the the hardtop, Westy last.
> 
> The hardtop is probably the strongest, then the sunroof, then the westy, which is why the cross bracing around the openings was added to compensate for the hole cut in the "shear diaphram" that the solid metal roof contains.
> Consider the box sections around the openings to be transfer beams that transfer the torsional loads around the opening instead of thru it.  Rule of thumb in structural engineering is that for every joist cut out for an opening, you must add 1 on each side of the opening.
> 
> In split window buses w/ sunroofs, double doors & walk thru,  stiffener panels were added below the floor to compensate for the removal of the stiffeners above- I bet something like this was done on Sunroof & westy models also, unless they were able to get the needed moment resisting stiffness in the  body/roof  by thickening/stiffening the pillars/roof floor w/o the panels below the floor?
> 
> YMMV,
> 
> Mr. BZ-
>