Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
OP
DesertSprite
Jedi Warrior
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Got it. Maybe I just had to log-out then log back-in.
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Installing a New Top
- Thread starter DesertSprite
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OP
DesertSprite
Jedi Warrior
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Always liked the Spiders and the GTV's.
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
JMoel - I just looked at your avatar - my daughter was born at Fort Ord hospital but her birth certificate says "Salinas"!
OP
DesertSprite
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Tony - small world isn't it?
So, you're telling me you and your Wife went through the experience of having a child while attending DLI? That's a brave soul. I don't think I could handle the stress!
Joel
So, you're telling me you and your Wife went through the experience of having a child while attending DLI? That's a brave soul. I don't think I could handle the stress!
Joel
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
So, you're telling me you and your Wife went through the experience of having a child while attending DLI?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yep - but sometimes I think she was learning a second language, not me!
So, you're telling me you and your Wife went through the experience of having a child while attending DLI?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yep - but sometimes I think she was learning a second language, not me!
Thor
Senior Member
Offline
Installing the top wasn't that hard, even with having to install the snaps, etc. The real factor for you as it was for me is how much money can you spend? I had a limited budget so going with a top in which I had to install the snaps was all I could do. But in all honesty putting on the snaps and installing the top wasn't that hard. You just need some good directions, a warm day to do it and having a friend to help helps.
Tools I used were gotten at a Ace Hardware store and included a rivet gun, snaps which came with an installing tool and a leather punch. That's it and the total cost was a lot cheaper then that Moss tool.
Do a web search for how to install a top, there is a fair number of good articles out there. Here is a link to my website which might have some useful info as well:
https://www.visn2.com/Flash%20Website/1500%20Top
Good luck
Tools I used were gotten at a Ace Hardware store and included a rivet gun, snaps which came with an installing tool and a leather punch. That's it and the total cost was a lot cheaper then that Moss tool.
Do a web search for how to install a top, there is a fair number of good articles out there. Here is a link to my website which might have some useful info as well:
https://www.visn2.com/Flash%20Website/1500%20Top
Good luck
OP
DesertSprite
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Hey Thor,
Thanks for the link to your website. I'll print that off to use when I go to install the top. Of course, yours being a convertible is only marginally different than the soft-top. Should be no problem.
Joel
Thanks for the link to your website. I'll print that off to use when I go to install the top. Of course, yours being a convertible is only marginally different than the soft-top. Should be no problem.
Joel
1973purplemidget
Freshman Member
Offline
If I can do it anyone can. I installed a Robbins top awhile back. Got directions from a website that had step by step pictures. You need a pop rivet gun that are pretty cheap at the hardware store. There also is a snap installation tool (check out Victoria Brittish) that I got but ended not using. I think it took me about 3 hours to install the top.
Good luck.
Good luck.
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Thor - problem with your instructions for folding a top is: its not correct for a Midget...its for an M<GB...Midget is completely different.
OP
DesertSprite
Jedi Warrior
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Just gotta sell my Suzuki...then I'll get a new top. Stand-by for further info.
Joel
Joel
Jim_Gruber
Yoda
Offline
Installing a Convertible Top - Steve Byers
NOTE: This procedure was written specifically while installing a top on a '73 Midget, but they can be adapted to other models.
1. Fold the top in half along a line from front to back. This locates the centerline. Mark the location of the centerline at the front and rear of the top with chalk.
2. Put the top in place over the rear fastener locations with the chalk mark lined up with the center hole in the cockpit pinch weld. Place the rear retainer bar in place with its lower edge lined up with the upper edge of the binding material on the top. It helps to have an assistant or two to keep the top properly stretched from side to side and located while you punch the holes for the fasteners in the top material.
3. From the cockpit side, using an awl or icepick through the center fastener hole in the rear cockpit pinch weld, punch through the top material to locate the fastener hole. Ensure that the awl comes out through the center hole in the retainer bar.
4. Install the center snap fastener through the retainer bar, top material, the outer lip of the cockpit rubber seal, and the cockpit pinch weld.
5. Alternating from one side to the other, repeat steps 3 and 4 to install the remaining six snap fasteners along the rear edge of the top, working your way out from the center. Be sure to check that the lower edge of the retainer bar stays aligned with the upper edge of the top binding, as in step 2, before punching the hole for each snap fastener.
6. Position the top material tightly around the curves at the rear corners of the cockpit. Use the Tenax stud holes in the pinch weld to locate the holes in the top for the Tenax fasteners. I preferred to do these one at a time, and alternate from side to side to make sure the top stayed even. The lower edge of the top should be almost touching the little ledge on the body as it goes around the corners. Punch the holes with the awl. Install the Tenax fasteners on the top, and the studs in the cockpit pinch weld, then fasten the top using the Tenax fasteners
7. When all the fasteners are installed at the rear, latch the top frame header rail to the windshield.
8. Determine the center point of the top frame header rail, and mark it with chalk. I used the windshield center rod as a guide.
9. Pull the top tight over the frame and down against the header rail over the windshield, lining up the chalk mark on the top (step 1) with the chalk mark on the header rail (step 8). Have a couple assistants keep the top tight from side to side over the frame. While keeping the top material stretched over the header rail, and feeling the edge of the header rail through the top material, mark a line on the top across its whole width indicating where the edge of the header rail is. Now mark a parallel line 1/2 inch back from the first. At this point, you can erase the first line. (NOTE: what you have just done is allow for 1/2 inch of stretch to make sure the top is tight when finally attached to the header rail and the top is latched)
10. Unlatch the top frame and partially fold it back. Apply contact cement to the outer surface of the header rail and the inner surface of the top material back to the chalk line.
11. After the contact cement sets up, attach the top to the header rail, aligning the chalk line with the edge of the rail. The remaining top material should be folded over the rail and secured with contact cement, trimming any excess as necessary. I preferred to let the material overlap the holes for the seal channel.
12. Now you are ready to install the seal channel and seal. I used self-tapping screws for the seal channel instead of rivets. Probe with the awl through the top material to find the rivet holes in the header rail. This will properly locate the seal channel. The seal has a foot that is stuffed into the channel with a screwdriver (or similar tool).
13. The various snap fasteners for the interior can be located by rubbing chalk on the mating male part on the windshield posts and top frame, stretching the material over the male fastener, and rubbing it to transfer the chalk. Use an awl to punch the holes in the center of the chalk marks. It takes a special tool to install the snap fastener female halves, but they are available and not expensive.
This is simple to do, just be sure to pick a warm and sunny day,
NOTE: This procedure was written specifically while installing a top on a '73 Midget, but they can be adapted to other models.
1. Fold the top in half along a line from front to back. This locates the centerline. Mark the location of the centerline at the front and rear of the top with chalk.
2. Put the top in place over the rear fastener locations with the chalk mark lined up with the center hole in the cockpit pinch weld. Place the rear retainer bar in place with its lower edge lined up with the upper edge of the binding material on the top. It helps to have an assistant or two to keep the top properly stretched from side to side and located while you punch the holes for the fasteners in the top material.
3. From the cockpit side, using an awl or icepick through the center fastener hole in the rear cockpit pinch weld, punch through the top material to locate the fastener hole. Ensure that the awl comes out through the center hole in the retainer bar.
4. Install the center snap fastener through the retainer bar, top material, the outer lip of the cockpit rubber seal, and the cockpit pinch weld.
5. Alternating from one side to the other, repeat steps 3 and 4 to install the remaining six snap fasteners along the rear edge of the top, working your way out from the center. Be sure to check that the lower edge of the retainer bar stays aligned with the upper edge of the top binding, as in step 2, before punching the hole for each snap fastener.
6. Position the top material tightly around the curves at the rear corners of the cockpit. Use the Tenax stud holes in the pinch weld to locate the holes in the top for the Tenax fasteners. I preferred to do these one at a time, and alternate from side to side to make sure the top stayed even. The lower edge of the top should be almost touching the little ledge on the body as it goes around the corners. Punch the holes with the awl. Install the Tenax fasteners on the top, and the studs in the cockpit pinch weld, then fasten the top using the Tenax fasteners
7. When all the fasteners are installed at the rear, latch the top frame header rail to the windshield.
8. Determine the center point of the top frame header rail, and mark it with chalk. I used the windshield center rod as a guide.
9. Pull the top tight over the frame and down against the header rail over the windshield, lining up the chalk mark on the top (step 1) with the chalk mark on the header rail (step 8). Have a couple assistants keep the top tight from side to side over the frame. While keeping the top material stretched over the header rail, and feeling the edge of the header rail through the top material, mark a line on the top across its whole width indicating where the edge of the header rail is. Now mark a parallel line 1/2 inch back from the first. At this point, you can erase the first line. (NOTE: what you have just done is allow for 1/2 inch of stretch to make sure the top is tight when finally attached to the header rail and the top is latched)
10. Unlatch the top frame and partially fold it back. Apply contact cement to the outer surface of the header rail and the inner surface of the top material back to the chalk line.
11. After the contact cement sets up, attach the top to the header rail, aligning the chalk line with the edge of the rail. The remaining top material should be folded over the rail and secured with contact cement, trimming any excess as necessary. I preferred to let the material overlap the holes for the seal channel.
12. Now you are ready to install the seal channel and seal. I used self-tapping screws for the seal channel instead of rivets. Probe with the awl through the top material to find the rivet holes in the header rail. This will properly locate the seal channel. The seal has a foot that is stuffed into the channel with a screwdriver (or similar tool).
13. The various snap fasteners for the interior can be located by rubbing chalk on the mating male part on the windshield posts and top frame, stretching the material over the male fastener, and rubbing it to transfer the chalk. Use an awl to punch the holes in the center of the chalk marks. It takes a special tool to install the snap fastener female halves, but they are available and not expensive.
This is simple to do, just be sure to pick a warm and sunny day,