Bob,
I have watched some of the processes necessary to install a soft top onto a
Datsun Roadster. What is so time consuming is the fact that the top fabric
and the top frame are not intially "joined". What takes the time is that
holes must be punched with a very specific tool to line up the grommets with
the "posties and twisties". Also, there is quite a lot or work to join the
top fabric correctly to the front bow. If you are off by just a little the
top will be lopsided. You also have to do quite a lot of pulling stretching
to make sure the fabric is taught when the top frame is extended.
When I had mine done at the upholsterer, it took a few hours. I have heard
of people doing it themselves, but I don't think I would have the patience
and where withall to do it myself.
My .02,
Andrew Murphy
SoCalROC
From: Robert Giel <giel@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: Robert Giel <giel@earthlink.net>
To: datsun-roadsters <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Subject: A few Questions about tops
Date: Mon, 07 Jan 2002 09:11:20 -0800
When it comes to tops, (and too many other topics to
mention) I am really in the dark. My 66 SPL311 1600 has
no top of any kind, (hard, soft or tonneau) and comments on
this list arouse my already insatiable curiosity. I have
two different sets of soft top frames and hope that one of
them is actually for this car, but I am not sure, never
having seen one before. While it is more important to
actually get the car running safely, and on the road, having
some sort of top is in the back of my mind as another
important, enjoyable, and related simultaneous project.
I plan to make my own hard top (fiberglass and/or carbon
reinforced plastic construction much as used to fabricate
boats, customized vehicle and marine parts), and a tonneau
cover (much as one makes sails and awnings.)
First question: Is there any site or other source I can get
some measured drawings, photographs, and/or specific
dimensions of the original hard top for this car (I believe
this is called the low windshield design)?
While we are at it, how about patterns for the soft top and
the tonneau cover? If I can get a pattern and/or worn out
cover as a pattern/model, and then get access to an
industrial-strength sewing machine this should be another
fun project.
My greatest curiosity regarding roadster tops has to do with
the soft top problems mentioned on this list.
Having owned a few (non-Datsun) roadsters in the past, I am
confused as to why it is so hard and expensive to install a
replacement soft top on the Datsuns. For my other cars, the
frame and a front hold-down bar simply slipped into sleeves
sewn into the fabric and it took about ten minutes on a
really bad day to completely install or remove and store
away! In fact, on one of my cars the soft top material was
not stored on the frame when removed, so this slip it on and
off process was a daily routine for me depending on the
weather. I can remember "rushing" to do the job when caught
in a "surprise" shower. It was not much harder than
stretching the tonneau cover to get those metal grommets
over the snaps and twist fasteners.
Many messages on this list have mentioned hours of labor and
hundreds of dollars just to "install" a soft top!? What is
the story here? It is obvous that this group has some of
the smartest folks around, so I have to ask, What the heck
is everybody talking about?! Is the top/frame design
actually that bad and if so, why hasnt somebody modified
the design to get rid of an exorbitant maintenance
nightmare, where no difficulty should exist at all? Is the
soft top sewn onto the frame or something equally
ridiculous? What could possibly take hours of specialized
labor skills to install? Is there a site that describes the
soft top and explains what must be a very arduous process?
TIA,
Bob Giel
66 SPL311-05249
Los Angeles, Calif.
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