• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!

    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

Hardtop Project under way

Shawn,

Oops!!!! I was going back and forth about Shannon on something else.

Sorry Shawn!! :blush: :blush: :blush:
 
This is where we are as of today. A few modifications to Shawn's fine design and it will be soon off to the upholstery shop for the headliner, then back for the weatherstrips and glass.

My good friend Allan decided that it was time to get this roof off of his stands, so we modified Shawn's design
and added a 36" X 20" piece of 5/8" plywood to the base and I picked up some nice big casters at Harbor Freight.

hardtop062.jpg


That gives me steering on one side and straight axles on the other. The whole unit is sturdier too.

hardtop065.jpg


Now the carpet comes next, but the new shelf on the bottom is a bonus for storing the attaching parts where I can't lose them.

hardtop066.jpg


Custom carpet pads, ala' Allan.

hardtop070.jpg


Allan sanded and buffed this after it sat and hardened for a few days. It is flawless as usual.

hardtop071.jpg


All ready for the stand until the upholsterer is ready and the roof insulation comes in.

hardtop072.jpg


Home for a while. Nice and stable and easy to steer around.

hardtop073.jpg


More to come in a week or so..........nice job Allan!

hardtop075.jpg
 
No, the trunk rack and Miata seats come first. No A/C for me.

The guys in the body shop were taking bets as to whether or not I'd ever put the top on. I would have done it after it finally gets finished if I didn't have to do the seats and I'm doing that job with the top down.

No A/C, but I will be putting heaters in the seats.....
 
Nice cart, and paint job. I'm no paint expert so I may be wrong, but I would not let the top sit on the stand until I was sure the paint is as hard as it will get. Would hate to see some marks left from the stand and the carpet because the paint was still soft. Looks great though.
 
booley said:
your top and its stand came out great, Paul
what's next after the top goes on, a/c?

Maybe a secret Continental kit project by E. Munster.
 
More top pics and carrier modifications.

First the insulation that Allan added in my absence.

hardtop077.jpg


The positioning of the support rods from the shortest to tallest in the rear.

hardtop078.jpg


1,2, 3 but leave room for the headliner to fit above the rod.

hardtop079.jpg


The front rod clips in under the two retainers to hold everything securely.

hardtop080.jpg


That the full view.

hardtop081.jpg


Carrier modification to the uprights in the rear. It seemed a little top heavy and tippy with them so high, so I bought my mini power saw over and cut them down.

hardtop083.jpg


The curve of the top extends away from this point on. so they really aren't needed in my opinion.

hardtop084.jpg
 
Back
Top