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Top woodwork problem

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Jeepster

Jeepster

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Spent all today trying to fit the folding top.

What a nightmare! I decided to purchase all new woodwork rather than trying to use the old originals ( with oversize holes etc) but none of it fit. In the end I had to refurbish all the original wood by plugging holes etc.

Finally managed to get the frame and woodwork installed but my side window fouls the woodwork by nearly an inch. I need to get the whole frame to move back so that the woodwork clears the window.
I have read previous posts about shimming the frame to fine tune window fit but this is miles out. I can't see any way that the frame can move back unless I slot the fixing holes? The glass can't move forward and the windscreen lines up with the quarter glass.

Any ideas?
 
You probably need to reposition the top mount pedestal back. The frame should raise and fit to the header bow with only one hand , the wood pieces angling into place without coercion. If not , the frame is bent ( from trying to fit a top that is shrunk and under too much tension). When you can do that , then move the top frame back on its mount so it fits the door glass.
 
Boy - that does look like a challenge. FWIW, my car turned out to have at least 10mm difference in position of the platforms that take the frame.

I did a number of things in getting my top to fit better than it could if I did everything as standard.

1. I made new wood sections but sandwiching the aluminium between sections of wood, rather than using the right angle alloy piece. This allowed the seal to sit closer to the wood.

IMG_1899.jpgIMG_1906.jpg

2. Because fitting the frame et al required the frame to be attached and removed numerous times, I found the threads on the mounting studs gave out/stripped. Replacing them was going to be a pain, so I drilled them out and used high tensile bolts to secure it. It allowed me to fit seat belt mounts on top of the frame hinge base too.

IMG_1684.jpg

3. Rather than shim the frame, I found that I could affect the alignment/ensure the correct amount of 'opening' of the arms by adding a tiny fillet to one of the sections for the frame. Now the arms reach the fully opened position with the frame fitted directly on the bases. Will make it much more simple to exchange with the hard top that I don't have :p

IMG_1603.jpgIMG_1606.jpg
 
The before and after: (or rather the after and before - the upload swapped them)

IMG_1605.jpgIMG_1599.jpg

And the fit of the top is pretty good now:

IMG_1911.jpgIMG_1913.jpgIMG_1920.jpg
 
There is no more adjustment on the mounting plate as it is pushed as far back as possible. The front bow reaches the top of the windscreen fine and strangely the other side is not too bad.
 
Have you tried pushing the base of the top forward on the mounting plate? By moving the base forward, you allow the frame to become more vertical which might move the wood piece aft.
 
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