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MGB Replacing convertable top on late model MGB

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sbndave

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Hi Folks,

I recently aquired my 1978 MGB. I must have had star crossed eyes because there's a FEW things I missed during my inspections before buying. One is the top seems to be disintegrating.

I did get a new one and am a bit nervous getting started putting it on since there's no instructions.

Can some kind sole point me at some instructions on how to put the new one on?

Thanks much

sbndave
 
There have been a couple of previous threads on this...I think the last one was about a month ago...and March 14th also sticks out in my mind...do a search and and you will find the ones with a link to printed instructions and others with all sorts of tips and hints...good luck, it is not a real tough job.

Bruce
 
Hi Bruce74B

Thanks for the reply. I had searched before but only saw the thread about replacing the fold down top with the stow away one. (which I didn't even know was an option. :smile: )

I did find a thread about replacing the fold down top at the Motorhead site (https://www.motorheadltd.com/) as well as a reference to the restoration book by Mr. Porter.

So a little more research and I'll give it a go!

I plan to use what I learn doing this top to try
putting one on a '75 VW Super. (I know - different country and different forum. :smile: )

Added benefits of my search - I found a possible reason why my car dosn't stop when I turn it off (not dieseling).

Again - thanks Bruce74B and others at this forum for the great info. I'm sure I'll be a regular visiter when I'm not driving.


Cheers
 
Mgb Restoration Manual by Lindsey Porter has a section on replacing the top. I would go to the library and read that part and take some notes. The detail is a bit lacking. Try your local MG club. I found a guy in my club that installs tops and had him do mine. Cost was very reasonable.
 
Thanks for the pointer to Porter. My library didn't have it!! What's up with THAT? :smile:

I'll check Border's or something like that.
 
Just did one recently. I used 3M 77 spray adhesive. After putting center mark on the top and center mark on the windshield (seems like the center post should do)...I sprayed both header rail and folded back the top and sprayed it ....just in middle 8-10 inches or so of header....pulled it forward and tacked it down...then went about making sure that it was in the center and that both front edges would stretch out identically to the front corners before spraying and tacking down the rest of the top to the header (headrail). Good to have help so you can pull both sides to the front corners at the same time....critical to get that right before tacking rest of top to the header. Get inside car when that's done and check where the snaps are to go and put them in before releasing the header rail and gluing the rest of the top around that angled lip. Once that's in place correctly and snapping correctly remove the header rail and glue the top around that lip, cut off excess and attach the metal piece that the rubber piece slides into. I buggered up one of the holes and had to use a screw to hold it down on that hole. You might want to use screws for all of those holes. Seems to work easier. For the ones I did rivets on , I had to get one of those little circular tube spacers to get something for the rivet gun to rest against and still fit inside the slot the rubber piece goes into. Also...I went to the local fabric store and got their heavy duty snap pliers to put on the snaps. They're about $12-$15, worked great and you can leave the top on while you are mounting the snaps. Read the various instructions to be sure you have all the details. Just hitting the high points here. It's fairly easy but there are nagging details like getting those corners identical to each other and not messing up the holes to mount the track in.
 
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