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Hardtop/Surrey Top

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Perfect! Later Today I wil grab them!
 
Yes, pictures please!! because apparently one manufacturer makes it wrong. The "glass" is set WAY too far into the backlight. Compare the pics below:

TR%20Surrey%20Top.jpg


TriumphTR250Surrey.jpg
 
That's not making it 'wrong' that's just a different style surrey top backlight. I believe the original parish plastics surreys from the 60s were recessed a bit as well like the top photo.

You have to remember, when talking about the surrey tops, you're actually talking about 5 or 6 different manufacturers of them. Not all of them were the same. Some were aluminum, some fiberglass, some used glass for the rear window, some used plexi-glass, etc.
 
Justin,

I wasn't aware that Parrish Plastics/Smoothline had made a Surrey-style hardtop for the TR series. I have one of their standard fiberglass full hardtops that I picked up (but never used) before I acquired the Surrey tops. It would be interesting to document the different versions that exist and the composition of the different components (backglass, back window and hard top).

1. Triumph Aluminum backglass/glass/aluminum or steel hardtop
2. Microplas Fiberglass backglass/?/?
3. Revington Fiberglass backglass/plastic/fiberglass or aluminum hardtop
4. Honeybourne Moulding Fiberglass backglass/?/fiberglass

Scott
 
justin_mercier said:
That's not making it 'wrong' that's just a different style surrey top backlight.
Click to expand...

I know there are aluminum and fiberglass surrey top assemblies. It's just that the white one pictured looks like it's about to lose the plexiglass. It just doesn't "sit right" like the green backlight pictured.

For example, if a fiberglass fender doesn't fit right IMHO it's wrong.
 
Original Triumph supplied Hardtops for TR4 thru TR250 were either all aluminum or the top section was steel. Anything else was offered by the Aftermarket. The Aluminum hardtop sections were the first made but later switched to steel. The backlight was always cast aluminum. I don't have any idea of the year the top switched from aluminum to steel however my guess is the change was made because the large section aluminum was too fragile and dented too easily. Just my guess.

The current Aftermarket pieces look to be of very good quality and well thought out. Curious if the backlight interchanges with the original glass as that may bring some frames out of storage.

The white one above looks very nicely made but slightly different from original. Curious if it comes with the polished SS trim across the back of the removable hardtop. That piece is currently made of unobtainuim.
 
Royal,

When you refer to finisher are you speaking of the chrome strip that attaches to the hard top rear ?
what colour is your Tr ?
I'm Jasmine
and have you thought about a roll bar
Im going for it as I think with my colour it will add a sportier look
 
To help Jerry's question about the original frames and glass. I have a fiber glass back light frame that was suppose to be like the originals. In fact it looks like the green one pictured above. I ordered a new window for my frame through my local Triumph guy. I came from England and took 6 weeks but the window did not fit. Actually too small and falls through the frame. The company would not take it back ether. Bummer!
 
Doh~ I keep forgetting! Sorry, pics soon!!!
 
The Finisher pieces refered to above as 25 and 26 in the moss cataloge are simply pieces of steel sheet stock cut to the outline of the post or upright portion of the backlight frame. On an orginal backlight the post has a open space in the casting that needs to be trimmed out. The finisher is covered in a vinyl using the same color as the headliner, white as original. There is a small screw that holds the bottom on to the backlight at the lower inner corner of the finisher. By inner I mean towards the door. The finisher is then forced behind the fuzzy seal to hold it flush top to bottom. The rear edge of the finisher should be captured by the window rubber seal. Mine don't fit worth crap! I need to drill and tap a hole into the backlight frame for some additional screws.

A trim shop can make these, cover them and fit them well for you if installing an original backlight. These pieces are not required on the fiberglass backlights I've seen as the posts are solid and painted.
 
JerryVV said:
The Finisher pieces refered to above as 25 and 26 in the moss cataloge are simply pieces of steel sheet stock cut to the outline of the post or upright portion of the backlight frame....

A trim shop can make these, cover them and fit them well for you if installing an original backlight. These pieces are not required on the fiberglass backlights I've seen as the posts are solid and painted.
Click to expand...

I agree with that from what I've seen.
 
Yes, its simple sheet metal - not sure I've seen that small screw that Jerry mentions though - is that possibly a previous owner addition? I believe the finisher is basically held in place by the rear window gasket as well as the front fuzzy seal.
 
JerryVV said:
The Finisher pieces refered to above as 25 and 26 in the moss cataloge are simply pieces of steel sheet stock cut to the outline of the post or upright portion of the backlight frame. On an orginal backlight the post has a open space in the casting that needs to be trimmed out. The finisher is covered in a vinyl using the same color as the headliner, white as original. There is a small screw that holds the bottom on to the backlight at the lower inner corner of the finisher. By inner I mean towards the door. The finisher is then forced behind the fuzzy seal to hold it flush top to bottom. The rear edge of the finisher should be captured by the window rubber seal. Mine don't fit worth crap! I need to drill and tap a hole into the backlight frame for some additional screws.

A trim shop can make these, cover them and fit them well for you if installing an original backlight. These pieces are not required on the fiberglass backlights I've seen as the posts are solid and painted.
Click to expand...

Absolutely! They are easily made.

BUT I didn't really see any reason to do that as they were being included at no extra cost in my kit from Revington. Neil Revington had them on his own baby blue TR4A race car. The finished product is basically indistinguishable from the original if installed properly. I'm very excited to get it on!

They are required on my fiberglass frame, otherwise, I don't think the guys would have included them.

I'm pretty happy with the paint job too - it perfectly matches my car. I have one area on the hard top cap that i need to clean off, on the aluminum (as in the picture), as there was a little overspray. Otherwise, it's really ready to go! I just need a few days to mount this bad boy!

Here's pictures:

Just after a nice thorough detail!
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Enjoy!
 
I think this illustrates what JerryVV was describing. A different type of FG frame. This one is mine.
TRsurreyFrame.jpg

Before paint:
100_1213.jpg

The method of attachment on the Microplas allows a little leeway as far as lining up with the holes in the body:
Surreytodeck.jpg

This is the outfit I sold, the frame resembles rich8's
100_1191.jpg

100_1190.jpg
 
My Frame is identical to rlich's frame
i did not know of alts
kind of blindly bought fg top and rear frame
guess i got lucky as they fit up very nicely
just dropped off for paint
attempting to be ready for STL all Brit in Sept.
come on glass don't get held in customs

Challenge to rlich,

Bring that puppy to STL All Brit, I could use some competition :smile:

PS That challenge is open to Everybody, Just thought it would be cool to see
2 Surrey's on the field
 
TonyPanchot said:
My Frame is identical to rlich's frame
i did not know of alts
kind of blindly bought fg top and rear frame
guess i got lucky as they fit up very nicely
just dropped off for paint
attempting to be ready for STL all Brit in Sept.
come on glass don't get held in customs

Challenge to rlich,

Bring that puppy to STL All Brit, I could use some competition :smile:

PS That challenge is open to Everybody, Just thought it would be cool to see
2 Surrey's on the field
Click to expand...

I'm sure you would blow me out of the water :smile:

My car is nowhere near perfect :p
 
OK last question (for a while)
I plan to finish the head liner on the FG top
figure it will assist in noise control
rlich did you do this ? and can you post some pics of the assembly process
guess Im curious as to the clips that appear to hold the listing rods in place.
 
Tony, like my backlight frame differed from rich's I believe that the hard top is different as well.
I believe it to be a sandwich constuction and not subject to as much resonance as you would expect. At least that was my experience the few days I had it installed.
 
Do you know if that top is from Revington ?
it fits the frame from Marv perfectly
it is in prep for paint right now
 
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