More progress...
Welding up more roof L-track braces. The first brace now has the proper angle set, I just used that brace and flipped it upside down to replicate the angle on the other braces.
Counter sinking the bolt holes in the forward piece of L-track.
Bolts will now sit flush in the L-track
Next up I decided to install the OEM roof rails. These rails will ultimately be used to attach a roof rack to the van and support solar, an awning etc. The van comes from the factory with holes already punched into the body to accommodate the roof rails, there are plastic plugs in the holes with adhesive sealing them from the weather.
Plug viewed from the roof...
And the plug from inside the van..
Removing the plugs is pretty easy. Use a heat gun from inside the van and heat the plastic plug to the point where it just starts to deform. At that point just use a screw driver to push up on the plug and it will pop right out. While the adhesive is still hot use a plastic scraper to remove as much as the adhesive as possible.
Piece of plastic lexan cut to use as a scraper.
Up top after cleaning it up with the scraper.
Working my way down the channel
Using a little acetone to clean up the remaining adhesive around the holes.
Before cleaning with acetone...
And after....
I chose to go with the OEM roof rails...if you shop around you can find these for not a lot more than the aftermarket units and you know they will fit perfectly.
Here's one of the studs on the roof rail. The rail has a rubber washer at the base of the mounting studs to seal the rail against the roof.
Continued Below...
Welding up more roof L-track braces. The first brace now has the proper angle set, I just used that brace and flipped it upside down to replicate the angle on the other braces.
Counter sinking the bolt holes in the forward piece of L-track.
Bolts will now sit flush in the L-track
Next up I decided to install the OEM roof rails. These rails will ultimately be used to attach a roof rack to the van and support solar, an awning etc. The van comes from the factory with holes already punched into the body to accommodate the roof rails, there are plastic plugs in the holes with adhesive sealing them from the weather.
Plug viewed from the roof...
And the plug from inside the van..
Removing the plugs is pretty easy. Use a heat gun from inside the van and heat the plastic plug to the point where it just starts to deform. At that point just use a screw driver to push up on the plug and it will pop right out. While the adhesive is still hot use a plastic scraper to remove as much as the adhesive as possible.
Piece of plastic lexan cut to use as a scraper.
Up top after cleaning it up with the scraper.
Working my way down the channel
Using a little acetone to clean up the remaining adhesive around the holes.
Before cleaning with acetone...
And after....
I chose to go with the OEM roof rails...if you shop around you can find these for not a lot more than the aftermarket units and you know they will fit perfectly.
Here's one of the studs on the roof rail. The rail has a rubber washer at the base of the mounting studs to seal the rail against the roof.
Continued Below...