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<x-charset iso-8859-1>>From my Type 2 ownership experience, I can also add a bit of description about how Volkswagen felt a factory sunroof affected the rigidity of its body. Volkswagen added large underside plates to reinforce the body as well as adding significant amounts of structural reinforcement to the roof area. If you have not seen a sunroof Kombi--which has an exposed metal headliner--look at a 1968-1972 Westy with it's interior removed. Since the Westy and the sunroof busses used the same structure, they both have the extra bracing. In short, sunroofs are cool and I love them, but if they are not engineered properly, can adversely affect the structure they are added to. Allyn de Vars 1962 T-34 Ghia 1963 T-34 Ghia (2) 1967 Squarebacks 1983 Rabbit GTI 2001 Golf TDI -----Original Message----- From: Jim Adney [mailto:jadney@vwtype3.org] Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 8:41 PM To: type3@vwtype3.org Subject: RE: [T3] The safety FAQ On 19 Nov 2001, at 12:33, Erkson, Toby wrote: > Heck, the air-cooled Type I and II's didn't have roll bars and they > were far more open than any ragtop (of which did come stock in T1 > form). The convertible Beetles DID come with a greatly beefed-up pan in the rocker area, however, to replace the stiffness which disappeared with the roof. I don't think most people appreciate how much stiffness the intact roof, with the internal stiffening ribs, really contributes. Leaving the door frame above the door intact, as I believe you've done, helps a lot, but there's still a penalty. - ******************************* Jim Adney, jadney@vwtype3.org Madison, Wisconsin, USA ******************************* ------------------------------------------------------------------- Too much? Digest! mailto:type3-d-request@vwtype3.org Subj=subscribe </x-charset>