Advice Needed - Carawagon Roof Removal

Workshop and Technical tips & tricks.
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CurlyKangaroo
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2017 1:32 pm
Info: Carawagon Resto In over my head!

Advice Needed - Carawagon Roof Removal

Post by CurlyKangaroo » Mon Nov 19, 2018 12:15 am

Hi All,

I have a 1967 Carawagon and the Roof Timbers are stuffed with the roof requiring overhaul.
I am wanting to the remove the whole roof from the vehicle side panels.

My question is, how do I do this?
Inside the interior roof channel/gutter I can access the nuts for the bolts that secure the roof to the side panels, but as they are old, they are somewhat seized and therefore the head of the bolt spins with the nut...
The issue is, the head of the bolt is hidden under Searle Carawagon specific trim (as per the pictures attached) and I can't see how this trim is easily removed without potentially damaging the trim.

Do the Searle side windows need to be removed first?

I am sure someone here has dealt with this jigsaw puzzle before...

Thanks in advance

Regards,
Darren (Australia)
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Trim Carawagon Roof Interior 3.png
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Trim Carawagon Roof Interior 1.png
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RMS
Posts: 2236
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:02 am
Location: Near Wakefield, UK, in God's own Country!

Re: Advice Needed - Carawagon Roof Removal

Post by RMS » Mon Nov 19, 2018 8:20 am

Hi Darren,

The aluminium trim is held by the top row of rivets in the side windows.

Drill those out and the trim should be easy to remove without distorting.

There's a post HERE showing it on one of my Carawagons.

Don't do what the previous owner did to one of mine - pulling the trim down to get to the bolts :thud:

To refit, I shaped a piece of hardwood to fit inside the trim and used stainless screws through the top of the windows, so it could easily be removed in the future :cheers:

Cheers,
Robin.
1967 109" Carawagon 200TDi
1972 109" SW Carawagon 2.5NA
1958 109" Carawagon 2.25P (project)
1972 109" Carawagon 200 or 300TDi (project)
1974 Dormobile 2.25D (project)
(Robin on S2C forum)
RobW
Posts: 389
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:16 pm

Re: Advice Needed - Carawagon Roof Removal

Post by RobW » Mon Nov 19, 2018 10:03 am

To add, I think my trim was held in with the end & centre rivets so you might not need to remove them all. I suspect they were all different so just take it steady. The trim in mine had been bent to access all of the bolts in the back and is now in the attic: plywood lining & carpet is much warmer!
CurlyKangaroo
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2017 1:32 pm
Info: Carawagon Resto In over my head!

Re: Advice Needed - Carawagon Roof Removal

Post by CurlyKangaroo » Mon Nov 19, 2018 12:41 pm

Thank you gents for your reply.
Makes complete sense. I will have a look at this tomorrow...

Smart way to secure the trim....

Thanks Again

Darren
(Australia)
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