Andrew,
I know that you did not say six hours - that number was throw out some time
in the past. I can see it taking 3 hours. The special tool is something
that a professional shop should have - Joe Doityourselfer can do just fine
with an Xacto knife. With a canvas top, I would take more time as well due
to the replacement cost if I screwed up.
Sid
>From: "Andrew Murphy" <solex67@hotmail.com>
>To: spl310@hotmail.com, giel@earthlink.net, datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: A few Questions about tops
>Date: Mon, 07 Jan 2002 09:50:18 -0800
>
>Didn't say six hours, I said "a few". I think it was about three. It does
>take some skill to do this and I think the tool was used because I had a
>canvas top not a vinyl top. Les loaned the tools to the shop that did the
>work. It looked like a pretty specific punch tool to me. As I remember Les
>was pretty protective of it. Les was also fastidious about things like not
>using a hammer to flatten the grommet tabs as opposed to using a crimping
>tool. Those restoration guys take their time but they do it right.
>
>Andrew Murphy
>
>
>From: "sidney raper" <spl310@hotmail.com>
>To: solex67@hotmail.com, giel@earthlink.net,
>datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: A few Questions about tops
>Date: Mon, 07 Jan 2002 12:43:11 -0500
>
>Andrew,
>
>I have to disagree. I have installed a number of Roadster tops (all low
>windshield except for one) and they were easy. Centering the top is
>critical, but it is not difficult. Stretching the top is not bad -
>especially with the low windshield cars as there are adjustors to help. No
>special tools needed to install the lift the dot or twisty connectors in
>the top - just an Exacto knife and a little patience. There is NO WAY it
>takes 6 hours to do unless you stop for a 4 hour beer break in the middle.
>
>Sid
>
>
>>From: "Andrew Murphy" <solex67@hotmail.com>
>>Reply-To: "Andrew Murphy" <solex67@hotmail.com>
>>To: giel@earthlink.net, datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
>>Subject: Re: A few Questions about tops
>>Date: Mon, 07 Jan 2002 09:32:13 -0800
>>
>>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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