Your opinion please on the cabin top...

Can you please offer your thoughts on the following two concerns.

First

Just below the front of the right rear window, I trimmed too much of the flange. The edge distance from the center of the rivet holes to the edge of the cabin top fiberglass is .306. Is this enough edge distance for fiberglass for the CS4-4 rivet.

Second

On both sides, just above the baggage door between the cabin top and the mid side skin flange there is a gap of 7/32. With some pushing from the inside, on the cabin top this gap can be shortened, but too much force would be required to completely close this gap. Can I build up the outside of the cabin top with a couple layers of glass to help fill this gap? The CS4-4 rivet would then likely be to short, so my plan would be to use a longer Cherry Max rivet. Does this seem reasonable and okay?

Extremely grateful for your thoughts,

Ron

Your first question... I would put in a call to Vans for their guidance.

Second question... The cabin top is very flexible in the rear area and can be pulled outwards easily. I see no reason why you can't flex it out to the edges. If nothing else works, wedge a board of proper length in there and let it sit in the sun for a few hours. It might have been pushed in in shipping and just needs a little TLC.

Agree.

I had to wedge mine outward with a stick like this to drill the aft edges, and will / may to do so again to get it riveted on when the time comes, but the clecos hold it in near-perfect alignment with the skins, as will the rivets, and I will make up the difference with micro and sandpaper It's a springy piece of composite, and not perfectly molded. But so far it's been kinda fun to work on.

Thank you!!!



I just want to say how grateful I am for the super smart people on here that provide priceless insight.

Thank you!!!!

Oh and a sincere thank you to Sterling at Vans!!! He is always very helpful and said nearly the same as above, that the fiberglass fit may be fixed.