TR6 Unshrinking tonneau - is it possible?

[steveg]

If I leave my tonneau in the sun, will it be possible to 'unshrink' it so I can get it snapped? If so, will it stay unshrunk when it cools down?

 

[LarryK]

Heat gun?

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

I remember one of the guys hung his in a warm place....wood strapping clamped on either side of the of each end of the tonneau and then hung small weights on the bottom to stretch it.

Cheers,
Tush

 

[HealeyRick]

I've done it semi-successfully by leaving it in the sun, putting it on the car and leaving it there for a few months at a time. Even still, where the buttons and turnknobs attach are stress points and may tear out the buttons with the continued stress. I had to have some reinforcements sewn in to fix this because it's cheaper than buying a new tonneau. If you use a heat gun, be careful as they can easily generate enough heat to melt the vinyl.

 

[Sarastro]

Warming it in the sun may help. It's certainly worth a try.

I just replaced to top on my Toyota MR2 Spyder. It was the tightest top I've ever installed--seemed like there was no chance of it stretching enough to close. When I finally got it closed, I left the car in the sun for a couple weeks, and it closed fairly easily after that. Vinyl--even the fabric-reinforced stuff used for tops and tonneaus, stretches more than you might imagine.

Also--I've been told that professional top shops have steamers that they use to heat tops and get them to fit. Worst case, that might be an option.

 

[Madflyer]

The sun is the safe way to get snapped. But it will go back so before putting your car to bed leave it on. I had a boot cover made to cover my soft top when down and I asked to make it to big so it fit lose when new. 27 years latter still just lays down and snaps all fit. It is a been there done that kind of thing. Does the zipper still work OK Madflyer

 

[steveg]

The sun is the safe way to get snapped. But it will go back so before putting your car to bed leave it on. I had a boot cover made to cover my soft top when down and I asked to make it to big so it fit lose when new. 27 years latter still just lays down and snaps all fit. It is a been there done that kind of thing. Does the zipper still work OK Madflyer

Zipper is good.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Maybe time for these (or just make your own):

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=snap+extenders&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

 

[steveg]

...or just make your own

Geo - Thank you for the inspiration --
Just happened to have some Line 24 snaps and a setter:

 

[sp53]

nice Geo

 

[Sarastro]

George, that's one more time when I slap myself on the forehead and wonder why I didn't think of something like that.

 

[Twit]

I've stretched roofs in the past putting a towel on it then pouring on boiling water boiling water. If you can get it on some form of a frame then the towel and water and maybe some weight.

 

[pdplot]

Be careful. It's possible to break or delaminate your windshield if its too tight. My Alfa has that cloudy look in the windshield lower corner near the door pillar, I suspect from trying to fit a too tight top. Haven't seen that since my 1940 Ford.