removing the cab roof

[billyboy]

I have a mk3 190 Tranny with a plastic hi-top fitted over the original steel cab roof. I want to remove the cab roof and beef up the 'B' posts to keep the strength. Erm, humm, not sure how to do this. Has anybody down this before?

[billyboy]

no answer was the firm reply!! It looks easy to me,but must admit can't find anybody to do the evil deed. I should think the 2 "B" posts could be extened up and then joined together at hi top roof level with a cross member. 50mm square tube should do the job. I've got a mig welder and dabble a bit but this seems serious stuff and I'd rather a skilled welder do the biz. What about the insurance and MOT.
Anybody any ideas

[Luke]

ok i'll help all i can........... is it a van or a chassis cab you have
and are you going to fit a semi high roof
when you say the b posts could be extended up on the semi high they are the same height as the standard van on the mk3 - if i remember right the semi highs have a roof bracing which is spot welded in 3 or 4 of them along the length of the van!
do you have a roof to fit


and whereabouts in UK are you? you can put it in your profile you know!!

[MrMPuk]

No what he's on about Luke is that when Ford do the Hi tops they leave the original semi high steel roof over the cab so it's a kinda roof within a roof. I wouldn't say remove it as it's structual.

[Luke]

Oh get ya!!! keeping the high top and removing the shelf part!!
come to think of it our old works swb high top was like that - i used to rest the ladders on it

why do you want to remove it

[billyboy]

No what he's on about Luke is that when Ford do the Hi tops they leave the original semi high steel roof over the cab so it's a kinda roof within a roof. I wouldn't say remove it as it's structual.

Got me in one MrMPuk. Even the original aerial is still on the steel roof inside the high top. Was looking everywhere for it. I want to do this to fit a drop down bed over the cab seats.
I'm just south of Birmingham and a bit new to the site so will look at the profile.

[paul]

hello mate i have a mk3 with a coachbuilt body it has a bit the size of a door that hinges up to give standing hight in the cab area but just looked in john wickersham build your own motorcaravan book he has a bit about
cutting away parts of the cab on p77 it looks like a mk3,4or5 haveing
a grp roof fitted they have left wot looks like 2" above the gutter and winscreenand rear doors i no reimo do hi top kits like you see on hi top
campers they also do the metal reinforsing for them whitch you already
have in the back of your van if you could get hold of one of ther catalogs
you would see wot they supply you may not need any think. j wickersham
says check with the vehicles manual for conversions dont know where you would get this from i think its a book you get from ford on wot you can and cant cut out but he does say look at other manufactured
conversions as they should have followed the correct perseger i think you would find the book very handy if your doing a self build also you
can find usfull info on sbmcc web site good luck love to see some pics when your done ps if you want i can try to photo copy page in book and email it to you but dont seem to be able to put pics on here

[billyboy]

Hi Paul. I've got John Wickershams m/caravan book and when I heard he was selling a new book thought it would be just like his first but updated. I can see now it is completly different, so have ordered one from Haynes. I am in the SBMCC. I'm wondered if one of the steel hoops from the plastic hi-tops would be strong enough welded across the two 'B'posts, but will wait and see the book.