I don't know if you need a new top, but I can tell you that I put the top up
on my car almost the same way you do. That bit in your #7, about unfolding
the bow after you've secured everything - that I don't normally do. I've
always had the bow unfolded all the way, and the last theing I do is release
the spring tensions in the arms above the bow slots in the car.
When you say that you have a "fabric" top, I'm not sure what you mean. I
don't know much about the original tops available for the car, but I've
never heard of a fabric top. Mine is some kind of vinyl, I think. I got
mine from Robbins in California, and at the time, I think it cost around
$250 or so (but that's a guess, I can't really remember . . .)
Those gaps you're talking about, I don't have 'em on my top. There is a
little saddle in the edge, on the sides of the top, and it forms a little
gutter to track water away from the windows. Beneath that, there is almost
a flap that runs the length of the window top, and while it may not make a
seal of any kind, it certainly comes down far enough to block the rain.
As for the shiner bock, I'm with you. These tops are a real pain in the
$%&* to put up. That's why I just bought a factory hard top. Keeps me warm
in the San Francisco fog . . . And I use Anchor Steam, not Shiner Bock . . .
Good luck, and I hope this helps . . .
>From: "Chris Sharp" <sharpc@interaxs.net>
>Reply-To: "Chris Sharp" <sharpc@interaxs.net>
>To: "Spitfires@Autox. Team. Net (E-mail)" <spitfires@autox.team.net>
>Subject: MK I Convertible Top -- Long
>Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 23:53:03 -0500
>
>Howdy.
>
>I've been mulling over a situation and I hope someone out there can share a
>little of their experiences with me. I recently got my '64 back on the
>road
>after several years of piddling around. When I bought the car, I just
>drove
>it "as is" for a few months before putting it on jack stands and starting
>to
>work on it. That was in San Antonio in the late summer and early fall of
>'95, so the top was off and I never paid it any mind. Now I'm back on the
>road, moved to Ohio, it's February (and cold, and rainy) and I've been
>using
>the fabric top that came with it when I bought it. It's old, got a few
>torn
>stitches, and at least one small hole, but the plastic windows are clear
>and
>it's paid for. And for the most part, it keeps me dry.
>
>Here's my problem: The top doesn't fit around the windows very well. It
>curves upward from the windshield back to the hood sticks and leaves a gap
>over the window. The gap varies in size to almost 1-inch in the center of
>the window. This is on both the drivers and passenger sides of the car. I
>don't have any structural supports etc. from the hood sticks to the
>windshield, just fabric.
>
>So here's my questions:
>Do I need a new top? I'd really hate to spend $$$ just to have the new
>top
>do the same thing. But if that's the remedy, then that's what I'll need to
>do.
>
>Another thought is that maybe I'm putting the top on incorrectly. I've
>never met anyone in person who has one of these so this is a method I more
>or less made up:
>1) Place the top bow in the mounts with the bow folded and the vertical
>catches collapsed.
>2) Insert the top's "flap" into the slot above the windshield.
>3) Snap it down to the corners of the windshield.
>4) Stretch the top back over the bow.
>5) Fit the rear flat-bar into the deck hooks.
>6) Snap down the rear quarters.
>7) Unfolding the bow and release the vertical catches, making everything
>taught.
>8) Knock back a bottle of Shiner Bock since it's taken 20 minutes and a
>lot
>of strain to get this far.
>Seems to work, but then, I've got gappy windows...... Any clues would be
>appreciated.
>
>Chris
>
>
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