• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

Top fastener question

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Offline
OK - yet another time that I should have taken more pics.

I'm hoping to be getting at the top shortly. I looked at my new top and noticed it has the Tenax fasteners are already in place, but, the snaps at the back are not. I presume this is so that I can make sure they fit exactly. I also have the chrome trim strip that covers the back bottom of the top.

How does all the back all fit together? - pics are appreciated

thanks all
 

Jim_Gruber

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
JP Try this. top goes on, spreader bar over the top, use an awl to locate holes, enlarge hole and screw with snap attached goes through bar and into hole. Clean out the holes with a tap as rust really accumulates there. I used SS Screws for this. My top goes on this week but here is a picture of the part you are looking for minus the fabric.
 
OP
JPSmit

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Spreader bar goes on the body or on the top?
 

Jim_Gruber

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Fabric against body, spreader bar, and then screws. Tell me what types of pics you need and I can send directly. I reattached spreader, snaps, and screws so I could use tonneau while top was off of the car.
 

Jer

Jedi Warrior
Country flag
Offline

Jim_Gruber

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Great link, BTW, spreader bar is curved, only goes on one way.
 
OP
JPSmit

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Jim_Gruber said:
Great link, BTW, spreader bar is curved, only goes on one way.

You're right Jim - great site - don't know if I'll get at it tonight but, if I need pics, I'll PM you directly

thanks
 

Jim_Gruber

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
My front windshield Seal and aluminum retaining piece is supposed to be in tomorrow. I'll pick up on Wednesday. Bugsy's new top with Zip Out Rear Window, will get installed next weekend. Horray.
 
OP
JPSmit

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Offline
OK - just was out and while I am sure Jim's are still correct, can someone confirm that with a later (rubber surround) car, that:

1. snaps and tenex all sit on top of the rubber
2. snaps are held on by self-tapping screws
3. velcro (soft side)is bolted on the front and self-tapping screw on back
4. with the piece that caps the rear door jamb (not the surround now) there were two snap bases - do these attach to the cap?
5. in the same bag, there are two plastic pieces - with small hooks for coats? they have screws in the middle. Where do they go?

thanks all
 

Jim_Gruber

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
1) Yes
2) Yes
3) I added a Tenax at the front rather than Velcro
4) No clue what those are for, I've gor those on Bugsy
5) Not on a '68 there aren't

TIP- I'm going to not add snaps on front to windshield post, maybe velcro but I always forget to unsnap and that is where the stitching pulls apart and rips very easily.
 
OP
JPSmit

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Jim_Gruber said:
1) Yes
2) Yes
3) I added a Tenax at the front rather than Velcro
4) No clue what those are for, I've gor those on Bugsy
5) Not on a '68 there aren't

TIP- I'm going to not add snaps on front to windshield post, maybe velcro but I always forget to unsnap and that is where the stitching pulls apart and rips very easily.

1. thanks
2. thanks
3. think I'll stick with/ replace with new velcro
4. where do they go?
5. anyone else?
 

bthompson

Jedi Warrior
Offline
I think the plastic 'coat hanger' pieces are convenient hangers for the seat belt ends. Nigel doesn't have them, but I see from my owner's manual that he's supposed to. I believe they attach to the door jamb, but I can't tell exactly where.

The snap bases sit a bit below the cap on the door jamb. They are for the top boot; the side 'arms' wrap around and snap down on the inside, and velcro on the outside.

I've heard a popular thing to do is replace the front bolt on the Velcro strip with another Tenax, to keep that corner of the bonnet more firmly in place.
 
OP
JPSmit

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Offline
bthompson said:
The snap bases sit a bit below the cap on the door jamb. They are for the top boot; the side 'arms' wrap around and snap down on the inside, and velcro on the outside.

can you post a pic? I'm not visualizing it?

RE: tenax - that makes sense, I'll look into it
 

tosoutherncars

Jedi Knight
Offline
JP,

RE: the rear snaps... have a close look, you may find that the centre hole is already punched (mine was). From there, it was relatively easy; screw in, measure, punch going outward both ways. A good adjustable leather punch proved invaluable. I started with new Velcro, but am planning on fitting Tenax to the front corners ASAP to tighten things up.
 

bthompson

Jedi Warrior
Offline
Sure thing, here's a lil' tiny pic...
IMAGE_01131.jpg

The snap in question is the color of the vinyl, and about an inch down from the cap on the jamb rail.

If I can figure out why my camera is only uploading thumbnails (grr) I'll try to get a bigger picture up, if you need it.
 
OP
JPSmit

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Thanks Bill - now it makes sense. Thanks for the tip Duncan

anyone confirm Bill's hunch about the plastic hooks?
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
luke44 TR2/3/3A Tr3 top - corner fastener Triumph 4
R TR2/3/3A Position of LTD fastener on new top Triumph 5
S TR6 Soft top material Triumph 10
Sarastro TR4/4A Convertible top installation problem Triumph 12
A TR6 TR 6 Soft Top Triumph 4
D BJ8 Top Installation Detail Austin Healey 3
C Wanted Early MGB soft top and/or tonneaus, condition not very important MG Classifieds 0
B TR6 TR6 convertible top frame Triumph 0
zoohow BN4 Top Frame Installation Austin Healey 1
L Do you have a picture of these convertible top details? Spridgets 4
Popeye TR4/4A Attaching convertible top to bows - interior Triumph 2
Frameman 1949 Soft Top Webbing Austin Healey 2
Overdrive45 Convertible Top Cover Fit Austin Healey 6
D Top installer recommendations NYC tri-State area Austin Healey 0
69MGC T-Series Best Technique to Clean a Canvas Top MG 3
Texas TR3 TR2/3/3A Convertible top webbing installation help? Triumph 5
V For Sale Hard Top and Solid Walnut Dash for Sale Triumph Classifieds 2
T BJ7 Trim Recession (Convertible Top) Austin Healey 2
S For Sale FREE HARDTOP.. top is in Palm Springs, Cal. Call Bob ,562 400 5983 MG Classifieds 1
E Spitfire '69 Spitfire hard top Triumph 2
Celtic 77 MGB B-pillar repair kit for convertible top MG 1
Popeye TR4/4A Tonneau or top cover? Triumph 12
7 Top, hard Triumph 0
JPSmit Today's top tip - Rain X Restoration & Tools 3
Popeye General TR Old robbins top in box Triumph 7
KVH TR4/4A Closing the Soft Top Triumph 11
J TR2/3/3A TR3 Soft top speed limit? Triumph 9
Bayless How does '67 Sprite top attach to body? Spridgets 3
D Top Door rubber and fuzzy seal Spridgets 5
Popeye TR4/4A Door seal channel near top of windscreen Triumph 6
Donald1107 TR2/3/3A Soft top Triumph 14
B Wanted Grill Top Cowl and Surround - BJ7 Austin Healey Classifieds 1
N MGB Convertible Top Frames MG 7
roscoe New / old hard top Austin Healey 16
nevets BN6 Soft Top Webbing Austin Healey 2
R BUGEYE SOFT TOP FIT Spridgets 2
AngliaGT For Sale Two Piece Top Frame - MGB '62 - '70 MG Classifieds 0
57 Healey For Sale Original top (hood) frame for BT7 Austin Healey Classifieds 8
M Wanted TRIUMPH TR3A Hard Top Triumph Classifieds 14
TheRealDestrux MGB 1977 MG MGB need help putting top down MG 1
D Wanted Wanted 80Spitfire hard top and seats Triumph Classifieds 0
EWD TR6 Top Install Triumph 3
B TR2/3/3A Hard Top Part Triumph 2
D Wanted WTB: Late Triumph Spitfire Top Frame Triumph Classifieds 8
HealeyRick BJ7/8 Convertible Top Issues Austin Healey 5
JamesD BJ8 Top Frame Bumpers Austin Healey 12
J TR2/3/3A TR3 engine cylinder top clearance Triumph 22
S TR2/3/3A new Robbins top Triumph 11
Neil Z For Sale MG TC NORS Convertible top and Side Curtains MG Classifieds 0
EWD TR6 TR6 top dash trim paint Triumph 2

Similar threads

Top