Hard tops - Learn me.

[vping]

What does a Factory B Hardtop look like?
Can you get replacement parts?
If the Fiberglass is cracked, is it repairable - by the DIY?
Do they fit all years?

Oh I'll think of some more as we go.

 

[tony barnhill]

They're usually black or white - fit any year MGB - most parts to restore are available (VB has the best selection, believe it or not & McGregor does all the weatherstripping albeit 6-8 week lead time)....repairing fiberglass is like repairing fiberglass...hardest thing to repair is the inner lining if its damaged.

...& there's a factory hardtop for Midgets - but each series Midget has its own specific hardtop.

 

[vping]

Ya got any close up pics of the insides where is mounts to the body, window and Sides. How bout some details of where the side windows meet the top. I may have found 2.

 

[tony barnhill]

You'll know if you have factory tops - they're the only ones with side windows that are plexi encased in stainless frames that, when removed, leave the top looking like the one in this photo...attaches to windshield exactly like soft top - same in rear...attaches to sides by flat (about 1' or 1-1/2") 'hooks' that go in receivers ar the place where top bows are attached.

 

[Steve_S]

See here: https://www.mgnuts.com/hardtops

 

[vping]

Do they look like this?:

 

[tony barnhill]

Yep - them's factory tops! white one's worth about $50, black one's worth around $300....white one will cost about $1000 to restore!

 

[vping]

Then I done did good. The White one is only missing the rear glass. I have the other side window. I'm going to use the Black one oh the Roadster when I clean it up.

 

[DrEntropy]

WOOHOO!!! Nice find, Vinnie!!

If you have a spare starboard side quarter light frame, I know Cowboy would be interested in buying it. We found a top but that whole assembly was missing.

 

[tony barnhill]

I ust bought a new rear glass for one of mine! You did good - I was pricing the white one as it looked in the photo!!

 

[vping]

I picked them up last night and need to really look them over. They are still in the back of my truck. Hopefully tonight I'll have a full assemsment and pics on it. I have one of the side lights here at work and I'm already measuring it out for new acrylic. The frame I took over to the platers and for a minimum fee, he'll strip - then I'll finish and then back to them for the proper plating. The white is only missing the rear window but I believe all else is there. From what I saw the white one is not cracked and the black one has a small 2" crack horizontally at one of the clamps to lock it to the window. Mounting clips are there but the bolts to fasten to the car are not - which I know I can fabricate. We'll see later.

 

[bcliff]

OK, a question here. Are the side window frames supposed to be plated? On all the factory hardtops I have had, they were just plain aluminum. This matched the windshield frame.
Bruce

 

[jlaird]

Might have been anodized.

 

[GB1]

nice find

pat

 

[DrEntropy]

Aluminum, originally coated (anodized) as the windscreen pillars.

 

[bcliff]

I'd like to make a suggestion for the material in the side windows. I restored one of these tops over 15 years ago and used Lexan (polycarbonate plastic) for the side windows as well as the rear window. They are still clear and uncrazed.
Anybody else have any thoughts on this?
Bruce

 

[DrEntropy]

I did the one here about a year ago, used Plexi for the quarter lights. Thought about Lexan but decided against it due to its susceptibility to UV light.

 

[vping]

I've got scratch resistant acrylic at my shop. I don't have the exact spec but can get it later. Here are a few more shots.

 

[vping]

They are both in about the same shape. All the pics are of the black top except the last one. Both have damage at one clamp but the white one is less so. With this damage the front strip is bent thereby not getting a good seal. The seal itself is OK. The quarter lights have all the pcs. but could stand to be taken apart, refurbished with acrylic and rubber and reinstalled. Underside of both is nice. The white one is missing the rear glass. Rear glass on the Black one is good but the seal has shrunk. The white one looks worse only by the fact that it has been painted a few times & the paint is cracking off. It is Red under the white. Other than that, very workable. The PO gave me a copy of the Roadster factory glove box catalog and all parts (cept one QL) are available. I'm assuming that the Fiberglass is repairable but need some info on that.

 

[jlaird]

Think boats or Corvets, of course the fiberglass is repairable. Use the real stuff Gugeon Epoxy or have a fiber glass place fix it, they do it every day.