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Bugeye hardtop storage help please

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ichthos

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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
 
I'm interested in seeing storage ideas too!
 
~THIS~ might give you some ideas.
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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