On Tue, 24 Nov 1998, Eley, Bill W wrote:
> I ordered a new tonneau cover for my 62 TR4 from Moss this week which was to
> arrive today. Imagine my excitement - I'll go home, snap it on, and drive
> the car to work tomorrow! Not quite. The snaps and studs have to be
> installed in the tonneau first. No instructions. No tools. I would really
> appreciate any advice on the installation and fitting of a new tonneau (and
> the inherent pitfalls) from anyone who's been there. Thanks.
Bill, at home (unfortunately not here at work) I have "official"
instructions for fitting a tonneau cover to a Herald. It's about the same
for any other car, except that the Herald does not have any fasteners on
the doors. Beyond that, though, the order of fitting snaps seemed to work
ok when I fitted a TR250 tonneau cover earlier this year.
Let me know if you want further details on the order in which the snaps
might be installed, at least as applied to the Herald. ;-)
Tools needed are very limited. For the "button" snaps on the doors, a tool
should be readily available in most hardware stores. You'll often find
these packaged with snaps as well (in case you need any extra). You can do
this other ways -- such as with a "suitable drift" -- but you'll probably
find the correct tool does the best and neatest job.
I will assume that the fasteners across the rear tonneau rail (where the
top fastens) and perhaps those for the dashboard top are of the "Lift the
Dot" variety. With these, the only tools required are a thin-blade,
sharp-pointed knife and possibly a hole punch for the center hole itself.
Once you determine the final position of the fastener (maybe a bit of
marking chalk, pencil or similar would be helpful here, mark where the
post will go through. Then you can make that hole. After that, center the
fastener over that hole, make marks for the four prongs that will go
through the cover and bend over the finisher plate on the other side. You
need to make only very tiny slits in the vinyl for these prongs. Push them
through, fit the finisher plate, bend the prongs inward towards the
center, and you're done with that one.
It's best by far to work in warmer temperature (in the warm sun if you're
lucky enough still to have that). Work slowly and patiently, make sure the
cover is centered, and of course "measure twice, [punch] once"!
BTW, did this come with the hold-down strap?
--Andy
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* Andrew Mace, President and *
* 10/Herald/Vitesse (Sports 6) Consultant *
* Vintage Triumph Register <www.vtr.org> *
* amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
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