73 Sunroof Parts

[soloyosh]

While my kid is working on figuring out the engine issues, I am working on the sunroof.

I've read a bunch of threads but I'd like someone to take a look at what we've got or more importantly what I am missing.

I went ahead a took some pictures. I know I need cables, the felt seal and the plastic guides.

What else?

Thank you for your help.

Cheers
Brett and Aaron
_________________
Brett (dad) and Aaron (son)

[aeromech]

Can you trade jobs with your son? Give me the engine, transmission, brakes, but you keep the sunroof. I owned a 1971 sunroof bus for 26 years. I can’t remember ever seeing one on the samba that was made to work like new. Yes you can buy the felt seal, the cables, the gear cog, and maybe a couple other parts. The one you’ll not find is the plastic piece that lives above the gear cog. It guides the cables into the gear and will be worn out. I don’t have any solutions for you and I will just say that I will probably never buy another sunroof bus. Besides not closing all the way, mine leaked water. The drains in my forward corners came loose so here I was living in Florida and every time I drove in the rain, the front passenger got soaked when I’d stop. Good luck because you’ll need it.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
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DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
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Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[busdaddy]

Why do you think you need cables?, looks like they are there in your pics.

Step 1 is remove everything and clean it, soak the tracks and cables and get them squeaky clean, then post pics and lets see what you have.
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[aeromech]

I see a missing headliner panel and on the aft corners you should have some pieces that act to push up the rear as you close the last couple inches. They are rods with springs on them. Sorry I don’t know the correct nomenclature. You need to locate an illustration
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[soloyosh]

[busdaddy]

The plastic parts were being reproduced recently, although there's a rumour they had a fire.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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[soloyosh]

[busdaddy]

AFAIK the bug and type 3 center parts are all the same, the bus has an added separate section to take up the extra width, I can't recall if the outer corners are bus only or interchange as well, I think they do.

I see many of the new parts sellers show all the plastic parts in stock as well as cables and gears, most of it only comes from one source.
_________________
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Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

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[soloyosh]

Posting fail. Forgot to link to the plastic parts.

Are these what I’d be looking for?

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2364425

And then I’d need the part over the crank assembly which is common to the bugs I think?
_________________
Brett (dad) and Aaron (son)

[busdaddy]

Yes, that's the ones, do some searching, many sellers offer the same parts, they all are made by the same outfit, shop around for shipping and price. The middle part over the crank is common to all models.

Be careful shopping for a crank gear, they are timed internally to stop after X rotations, a bug one will only let a bus roof open ~1/2 way.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

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[aeromech]

I have a lot of experience with bus sunroofs. My best advice for you would be to get new seals and set the roof in place so it doesn't leak. Then abandon the moving function. If it looks good and doesn't leak all you'll lose is a working sunroof.

Here's a pic of my old bus from 2006

Keep in mind that the sunroof didn't work well and leaked badly when I sold the bus. BTW, it's that one piece of plastic you don't show that causes the trouble. It has to guide the cables tightly into the gear cog and when they wear out I don't think there is a fix.

_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Lil Lulu]

I think my friends at Avery’s summed it up. “The only one that ever worked is the one in Back to the Future” Mine has lived its entire life under the highroof. Now I have the roof off I’m considering doing a delete on the sunroof. Everyone I’ve asked if I should just run it with the sunroof says”Noooooo”. Soloyosh- wishing you good luck on your quest. Kinda ouch on the wallet but if it’s what you want and you can afford it, jam on.
_________________
'65 Beetle "Lil' Lulu"- Ruby Red
1600 stock from '71 bus

'72 Deluxe - Niagara Blue w/pastelwiess Camper Special 2L dual 40 Webers 002

'74 Hightop Weekender "Dixie" 1800 34 Del singles

[busdaddy]

To each their own, I look at a functional sunroof as a badge of honor, or perseverance, or maybe just not being smart enough to leave things alone. It gives me something to fiddle with when all the other issues on the bus are fixed too. They do work well when set up and maintained properly, but don't go rolling it back and forth 100 times to show off at a Saturday meet, consider it a limited cycle part and use it sparingly.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[dlwilson]

[soloyosh]

[soloyosh]

[SGKent]

those parts have been available 10 or more years. The central cover 241-877-375 is the part almost impossible to find. There was a fellow having ones printed on an individual basis from aircraft grade resins, but other than him, I have not seen the center for sale in 15 years. Some folks will show a photo of one but they never have it for sale.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[soloyosh]

[SGKent]

[soloyosh]