Ford Trasit Pop Top

[cidertop]

Hi there,

I recently bought a 1986 Ford Transit van with a pop top. Now, I'm not at all expereinced in van ownership or maintenence so go slowly with me.
Not long after the purchase, I realised the pop top was leaking and the wood down the side of it was rotten and leaking. A friend with little more expereince than me decided to have a go at fixing it and, bless him, made things just a bit worse and now the fibreglass is coming away in places.
Now, my questions are:
1. Is this an impossible task to consider undertaking myself at my expereince level? If not, how do I go about it?
2. (and this is probably the option I am going with) I want to get it repaired as soon as really before secondary issues develop from the leaking. How do I go about finding someone who can do this? Is a normal garage going to be able to help? A carpenter? A specialist? I've tried the web but not had much luck as I don't really know what to look for. General advice very welcome and I live in North Wiltshire if anyone knows anyone close by.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Vick

[greek]

Post some pics somebody on here will help
Most things common sense have a good look at it

[dachre]

You talk about the fibreglass splitting. Is this just fibreglass sections disintegrating or is it fibreglass splitting away from fibreglass/wood sections?

If the fibreglass is rotten you may be able to repair this with fibreglass paste, ect.

If the fibreglass is peeling away from the flat fibreglass/wood sections you can buy new sheets of fibre impregnated wood and simply replace the whole sections using the old rotten ones as templates.

I think photos would help lots tho.

The good thing about transit campers is that your experience/maintenance levels will only increase..... ...

dachre.

[cidertop]

Hello, Thanks for the replies...

Will post some photos shortly. The fibreglass is sound, it's just that the spring on the end is pulling it away from the frame when you lower the pop top. This could be that one of the wood slats down the side has been replaced and now the tension is too much for it! Anyway, i will get some photos sorted out as explaining this in words is probably not doing the trick

Thanks again

Vick