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BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER.... A's, G's & E's


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Twinpilot001
diamond dave
6 posters

    travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy?

    diamond dave
    diamond dave


    Number of posts : 565
    Location : canal fulton, ohio
    Registration date : 2012-04-24

    travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy? Empty travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy?

    Post by diamond dave Fri Nov 28, 2014 10:36 pm

    my van was owned by a fire dept. for years, and the roof has some waves to it. it doesn't bother me, but I know it's not straightenable without swapping out the roof for another one.
    my wife and I use it for camping primarily, and I wouldn't mind if it had a pop top.
    my friend just so happened to have a travel wagon roof that he pulled off his parts econoline.
    here's my ???
    did they make a chevy with a travel wagon roof?
    and , will it fit?
    how leaky are they?
    if they didn't make one, it would be cool to make one.
    just looking for some thoughts on it before I cut a massive hole in my roof and stick a possibly leaky pop top in it.
    thanks.
    Twinpilot001
    Twinpilot001


    Number of posts : 6186
    Location : spokane ,Wa.
    Registration date : 2009-09-28

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    Post by Twinpilot001 Fri Nov 28, 2014 10:46 pm

    YES they-DID go to Gallery above & see mine ! You likely will need to reseal & redo the top =prior to mounting. I have all 3 styles roofs & i collect them! cheers The econo one is same as the chev!
    bensbus
    bensbus


    Number of posts : 171
    Location : Strasburg, PA
    Registration date : 2012-09-23

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    Post by bensbus Fri Nov 28, 2014 10:47 pm

    By the time the late model Chevy vans were produced, TEC was mainly producing canvas- sided tops that popped straight up. The all metal ones were much earlier.

    I have seen them (regularly!!) on early Corvair vans, Ford Econoline vans, and Dodge A-100s. I also almost bought an early Chevy van (1965) with an all metal Travel Top, but I am fairly certain the lates did not have the option.

    I cut the big gaping hole you speak of in my 1962 Greenbrier van, and have NEVER had a single regret! The benefit of stand-up room while camping is something you will never think twice about.

    travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy? Bens-b10
    diamond dave
    diamond dave


    Number of posts : 565
    Location : canal fulton, ohio
    Registration date : 2012-04-24

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    Post by diamond dave Fri Nov 28, 2014 10:48 pm

    right on guys!!!! thanks. i'm gonna wheel and deal my buddy out of it, and maybe I will be posting pics this spring.
    diamond dave
    diamond dave


    Number of posts : 565
    Location : canal fulton, ohio
    Registration date : 2012-04-24

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    Post by diamond dave Fri Nov 28, 2014 10:58 pm

    those are both sweet rides. do I need to have a 108 to install the travel roof? cause mine is a 90''.
    bensbus
    bensbus


    Number of posts : 171
    Location : Strasburg, PA
    Registration date : 2012-09-23

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    Post by bensbus Sat Nov 29, 2014 8:12 am

    The early I saw a Travel Top installed on was a 90"...108s did not exist until '67. It can be done.
    diamond dave
    diamond dave


    Number of posts : 565
    Location : canal fulton, ohio
    Registration date : 2012-04-24

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    Post by diamond dave Sat Nov 29, 2014 2:01 pm

    cool. I will be picking your brains a little more on this topic when I get mine. thanks.
    Twinpilot001
    Twinpilot001


    Number of posts : 6186
    Location : spokane ,Wa.
    Registration date : 2009-09-28

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    Post by Twinpilot001 Sat Nov 29, 2014 3:12 pm

    Measure the outside of the top!! The econo i pulled one off i think?? was a shortie too?? Cant remember the only diff between chev & ford tops was the mounting =wood- was diff for fords @ front area to fit metal area.Maybe rear too??
    bensbus
    bensbus


    Number of posts : 171
    Location : Strasburg, PA
    Registration date : 2012-09-23

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    Post by bensbus Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:12 am

    Twinpilot001 wrote:YES they-DID go to Gallery above & see mine !

    I can't find your van in the gallery. What is it listed under?
    Chevboner
    Chevboner


    Number of posts : 209
    Location : Skokie, IL
    Age : 35
    Registration date : 2012-09-15

    travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy? Empty Re: travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy?

    Post by Chevboner Mon Dec 15, 2014 10:45 pm

    I always wanted to put the so called metal turtle top on my previous sport van… If I can get ahold of one I would still totally put one on my new van. Like scotty jones, but i think his is factory or dealer installed.

    travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy? Photo_10

    Or this van too
    travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy? Chevy-10
    Chevboner
    Chevboner


    Number of posts : 209
    Location : Skokie, IL
    Age : 35
    Registration date : 2012-09-15

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    Post by Chevboner Mon Dec 15, 2014 10:57 pm

    Twin, got one forsale??? Smile
    Twinpilot001
    Twinpilot001


    Number of posts : 6186
    Location : spokane ,Wa.
    Registration date : 2009-09-28

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    Post by Twinpilot001 Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:33 pm

    I could sell one  yet  do u want the full top likes shown on my van  or 3/4 top like dodges all have? also do u want  to have it all redone 1st before receiving it so all u need do is mount it? The killer is shipping as they must be palletized & its long!! weight isnt bad .

    PM me

    Nice thing about these tops -they go up / down in like 5 seconds =quick!!
    avatar
    drc


    Number of posts : 299
    Location : california
    Registration date : 2010-09-13

    travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy? Empty Re: travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy?

    Post by drc Tue Dec 16, 2014 12:17 am

    Hey Bensbus, that's a great looking van. Do you have other pictures in a gallery here?

    Another cool thing about the metal roofs is I would imagine it wouldn't be such a bad thing to open/close it in the rain. I guess you have to be careful NOT to lower a wet canvas poptop, as it may get moldy. Perhaps not such a big deal on a metal roof?
    diamond dave
    diamond dave


    Number of posts : 565
    Location : canal fulton, ohio
    Registration date : 2012-04-24

    travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy? Empty Re: travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy?

    Post by diamond dave Tue Dec 16, 2014 1:23 am

    i scored one from my buddy. he said it's in great shape, but im still gonna have to go through it first and clean it up. haven't seen it yet. gonna go pick it up after the first. cant wait.
    Vantasia
    Vantasia


    Number of posts : 1412
    Location : New Jersey
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    Registration date : 2013-08-18

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    Post by Vantasia Tue Dec 16, 2014 11:15 am

    Look into the VW world, they make pop-up roof conversion kits for VW Buses that could be adapted to a G van easy.  They still make repro canvas tents kits, here's one of many sites   http://countryhomescampers.com/products/pop-top   Google for them, many sites and articles.... they make these kits new:
    travel wagon roof for my 69 chevy? Redrock_camper_with-_poptop_and-_awning
    Picture that on a G-van or an Econo or A100?? Why not?
    Twinpilot001
    Twinpilot001


    Number of posts : 6186
    Location : spokane ,Wa.
    Registration date : 2009-09-28

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    Post by Twinpilot001 Tue Dec 16, 2014 11:37 am

    These travel equip tops are absolutely the best design ever !! NO canvas/cloth to tear or rot!! they go up / down in 5 sec or less-when unlocked & can be -absolutely a conversation piece. cheers just be sure to get all associated hardware that locks it down & look into redoing the wood inside thats covered with the sheet alunimum if needed. There are ways to get the alu. shiny too -!! cheers cheers cheers
    bensbus
    bensbus


    Number of posts : 171
    Location : Strasburg, PA
    Registration date : 2012-09-23

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    Post by bensbus Tue Dec 16, 2014 1:38 pm

    drc wrote:Hey Bensbus, that's a great looking van. Do you have other pictures in a gallery here?

    Another cool thing about the metal roofs is I would imagine it wouldn't be such a bad thing to open/close it in the rain. I guess you have to be careful NOT to lower a wet canvas poptop, as it may get moldy. Perhaps not such a big deal on a metal roof?

    I do not have a gallery page on here...but I do have a website on my van and there is an entire section on the history of the TEC tops:

    http://bensbus.zxq.net


    The all aluminum construction does make them awesome for rainy/wet weekends. I never worry about the canvas/mold thing. That was a huge selling point for me- that and I found one locally and was able to buy it (20 years ago!) for $35. Good deal- it only cost me 10x that much to restore it!
    Chevboner
    Chevboner


    Number of posts : 209
    Location : Skokie, IL
    Age : 35
    Registration date : 2012-09-15

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    Post by Chevboner Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:40 pm

    Hey Ben your link isn't work.

    Did you make that that canopy storage area, and how?
    bensbus
    bensbus


    Number of posts : 171
    Location : Strasburg, PA
    Registration date : 2012-09-23

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    Post by bensbus Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:01 pm

    chevbone64 wrote:Hey Ben your link isn't work.

    Did you make that that canopy storage area, and how?

    Well, I am having trouble opening my link as well. The site must be down. Here is a Vintage-Vans thread n my van...

    https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t30748-corvair-van-camper-interior-photos-ben-s-bus

    The awning (if that is what you are referring to as a canopy storage area) is an A & E awning that I took off of, of all things, a high-roof Toyota camper van!
    bensbus
    bensbus


    Number of posts : 171
    Location : Strasburg, PA
    Registration date : 2012-09-23

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    Post by bensbus Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:35 pm

    I am sorry my website won't open at the moment. Here is the text on TEC tops:

    Travel Equipment Corporation Camper Tops

    The Travel Equipment Corporation Travel Top that adorns the top of my Greenbrier Sportswagon has a long and varied history that has fascinated me since I first saw it.

    I came upon this particular top kind of by accident. I had been looking at Volkswagen Westfalia tops as well as Turtle tops of the 1960’s. Going camping with a VW Bus group had helped me to see the variety of tops available and what I would have to do to install one on my van. While discussing this with Jeff Stonesifer of the Corvair Ranch one summer day, he said, "Have I got a camper top for you!" He proceeded to take me out in the field to find a particularly forlorn 1961 Greenbrier with a hideous aluminum top that looked to me to be a homebrewed creation. What I saw did not impress me especially since it was always in a raised position. Or was it? Jeff went inside the van, grabbed the handles attached to both sides and gave a pull. The top collapsed to 3.5 inches! I could not believe how unique it was, but still thought it was ugly. I went home that day still thinking about camper tops and my Greenbrier.

    I called Jeff again before too long. I had to know if it was a homemade topper or a factory conversion. He assured me that it was produced by a company, it was correct for the Greenbrier, and that a data plate somewhere on its superstructure ensured its authenticity. Well, that sealed it. I would have that top! I actually lost sleep until the next time I could get up to the Ranch to check the data plate. Upon investigation from the patent numbers on the plate, I was able to find out some interesting things about the top and the company that built it.

    The US Patent number for the top is 2,926,042. After finding the address for the US Patent office, I sent away for a copy of the original patent. The top was patented by an Englishman named Maurice Calthorpe on February 23, 1960. It was titled "Extensible Roof Motor Road Vehicles." Apparently, Mr. Calthorpe had seen a need for expanding the roofs of trucks and station wagons in England for the textile trade as well as the individual person who wished to use his vehicle for overnight camping. Thames, Bedford, and other English vehicles could be seen with these expanding roofs all over Europe. Finally the Travel Equipment Corporation purchased the rights to the patent after it was brought to America. They continued to work with Mr. Calthorpe in order to improve his product and make it more user friendly. These improvements are evident in some changes my top obviously has from the original design.

    In America, Travel Equipment Corporation provided the tops for aftermarket sale on such vehicles as the Corvair Greenbrier and Corvan, Ford Falcon and Econoline vans, Volkswagen busses, International Harvester Travelalls, and Dodge A-100 vans. I have a great deal of literature pertaining to these tops discussing their versatility and ease of use. One particularly dated piece proclaims: "up or down in two seconds, these tops are so easy to use, a woman can do it."

    I bought my top (Serial Number 542…very early production) for $35 and removed it from the junked Greenbrier piece by piece. When I finally had it home, I began its restoration. Almost every piece was replaced or rebuilt with plastic lumber, aluminum sheeting, stainless steel hinges and hardware, or new rubber. It now really will "last the life of the vehicle."

    After two years of restoration and parts gathering, installation of the top took 14 hours on a single day. From cutting the hole in the roof to placing the last piece of weather stripping, it was an enjoyable job. I can now stand in my van and I am over 6 feet tall. I enjoy the ease with which the top works and the looks I get in campgrounds and car shows. A trip to the mall can be an adventure. TEC also produced interiors (the one was completely gone from the Greenbrier I took the top off of) as well as special cot brackets for children’s cots. A well-equipped Greenbrier converted by Travel Equipment Corporation could sleep up to six people without a tent!

    Since I bought the original top, I have found and sold four others. These tops ranged in serial number between 4815 and 5153, making my #542 very unique indeed. The later tops varied in shape from the earlier top including more advanced hinge arrangements and folding qualities. I have seen 1970’s Ford vans with high roof conversions by TEC, but the company is no longer in business. They did, however, produce some very interesting products in their time.
    diamond dave
    diamond dave


    Number of posts : 565
    Location : canal fulton, ohio
    Registration date : 2012-04-24

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    Post by diamond dave Tue Jan 06, 2015 10:44 pm

    Twinpilot001 wrote:These travel equip tops are absolutely the best design ever !! NO canvas/cloth to tear or rot!! they go up / down in 5 sec or less-when unlocked & can be -absolutely a conversation piece. cheers   just be sure to get all associated hardware that locks it down &  look into redoing the wood inside thats  covered with the sheet alunimum if needed. There are ways to get the alu.  shiny too -!!    cheers cheers cheers



    hey twin. what kind of hardware and locks are they supposed to have with them? and how do they attach to the roof? it the roof metal sandwiched between the top and an inner trim ring or something? I haven't been over to get mine yet, and am really curious about what kind of fun I am gonna be getting into. thanks.
    bensbus
    bensbus


    Number of posts : 171
    Location : Strasburg, PA
    Registration date : 2012-09-23

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    Post by bensbus Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:02 pm

    The van's roof metal is sandwiched between the top's frame above and strips of steel
    below. The whole assembly is just screwed on with sheet metal screws. Easy to remove and install.

    Very little specialized hardware is used. There is a lock catch on the front interior of the top to keep it stable at speed and also the boat cleats used to "Catch" the top's sides when they are folded down.
    bensbus
    bensbus


    Number of posts : 171
    Location : Strasburg, PA
    Registration date : 2012-09-23

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    Post by bensbus Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:04 pm

    My webiste has been updated and is back online!

    http://bensbus.weebly.com/

    Under "more"...check out "TEC Camper Tops." I think it is the most info you can find in one place on the net describing these tops.

    Ben
    Twinpilot001
    Twinpilot001


    Number of posts : 6186
    Location : spokane ,Wa.
    Registration date : 2009-09-28

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    Post by Twinpilot001 Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:25 pm

    Ben is totally =correct! Nice he has followed the patent &  done a nice job on restoration!! The interior on my 67 chev top has also  some aluminum "L" type covers -going down the sides (interior)  so where the top os bolted thru the  roof-  that area is covered  by the " Facia alu." That pieces  also has the lights in it!!  same as interior light in the van (factory) al it all matches. IF missing or gone?? one could  get 2 pieces made to fit -easily done  with sheet alu. in a shear & brake (sheet metal  place). Since i am going to completely rebuild my top= I will be using some stainless steel  bolts to secure the top   to the vans roof. New seals & such also. The latch hardware &  hinge 's can all be  found online or @ many hardware sources. maybe =not original =yet  available. I done see the need for the "kids hammock stuff -- yet is nice if u have small kids. I have seen hammocks in the front area across the drivers / pass area &  also running the length in  back areas too. I still have the original stove  & some cabinets in mine also -yet will be redoing  all with  complete propane / elect. fridge in mine also.  Planning  a kitchen in rear that   is mounted on rails  like in the "tear drop trailers? that when rear doors are opened? slides out. Rear & side awnings also - as i am now a fair weather type guy- haha -too old 4 the cold camping!!  affraid lol! lol! cheers

    I will add= bens top is a 1961 model as that year is the only year ive found that has the "Rounded windows " in it - its same as the top i removed from a 1961 econo i had a few years back. The windows were changed to a rectangular glass design after that year.
    diamond dave
    diamond dave


    Number of posts : 565
    Location : canal fulton, ohio
    Registration date : 2012-04-24

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    Post by diamond dave Fri Jan 23, 2015 10:31 pm

    thanks guys!!! lots of great info there. I cant wait to install mine. gonna be a little nervous cutting that hole in the roof, but ive taken complete roofs off hotrods, and chopped them too.

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