Bugeye hardtop storage help please

[ichthos]

The rate I am going on my Bugeye, it will be at least another year before I will have time to restore my hardtop. Does anyone have a home made rack they have made that attaches to the garage ceiling that allows easy access? If you have a pic and measurements that would be great, but any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.
Kevin

 

[scoutll]

I'm interested in seeing storage ideas too!

 

[aeronca65t]

~THIS~ might give you some ideas.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Nice setup but if you look closely he's using all sailing hardware Harken Ball Bearing Blocks for all of his pulleys. There's probably $200 just in blocks and pulleys on this setup.

 

[Billm]

Harbor Freight has a block & tackle for $6 that is WAY stronger than a hardtop needs.
I would NEVER use PVC tubing like that for anything that I value (with joints in the middle of the assembly). Run the tubes the full length across and attach the cross tube without cutting the long tubes.
BillM

 

[paulsherman]

My hard top problem is not storage, it is motivation to refinish.
I plan to start restoration soon but not sure how to proceed. It is checked, rough and needs refinishing. I was told by someone to strip it and then use some kind of skim coat which makes some sense. When I tried to rough sand it it is gummy. Another solution would be to just add a few coats of resin by brush and/or roller, sand it smooth then skim coat, then paint.
Any ideas?
Thank you

 

[Nelson]

I would like to hang my hardtop as well. I've been looking at one that is sold by Amazon. It is raised and lowered by a screw mechanism and has a 4 X 4 ft. platform for the top to sit on. It isn't cheap at $140 but there is no question about its carrying ability. There is info about it at https://tinyurl.com/6c67yo8
All I know about it is what I have read so I can't endorse it and I'm not commited to anything at this time.

 

[Bayless]

Whatever you do, be sure to do it right. My son bought his wife a new Miata with a hard top a few years ago but save a few dollars on the dealer's lift. Made his own much cheaper. Yep, you guessed it. The lift failed, dropping the top onto the car. She was not a happy camper.

 

[apbos]

There is a long discussion on the BCF MG forum if you search for "hardtop restoration". I would provide a link but I am on my cell phone.
Regards
Paul

 

[twas_brillig]

Keep it simple: I've got two BE hard-tops that have been hanging off the roof of the garage since the early 70s - they're not perfect and I didn't need them, but opportunity knocked. Just got two eye hooks screwed into the ceiling with a piece of rope running under the hardtop left to right (it is suspended top up)from a bowline on one hook and half hitches on the other; the rope is located towards the rear of the top of the side-curtain cut out. If the paint had been perfect etc., then I would've put a bit of padding between the top and the plywood ceiling. This is all you need for storage; if you're looking for a single person up/down on a regular basis, then by all means look into the more sophisticated approaches.
Doug