Mark, the best way to attach the top to the header rail is to stretch the
material over the front edge of the rail and mark the position of the edge
on the top material with chalk. It helps to have some assistance to do
this. Make sure you keep the center of the top lined up with the center
of the header. After marking the line representing the edge of the rail,
draw a parallel line about 1/2 back from the first one.
Now, unlatch the header and fold the frame back a little. Apply contact
cement to the surface of the header and the matching surface of the top.
When the glue has the proper tackiness, pull the material over the header
rail so that the second line drawn now matches the front edge of the rail
The contact cement will help hold it here.
Fold the remaining material over the front edge of the rail and glue it to
the header. Now, you can attach the seal channel and seal.
All of this will allow you to position the top so that it will be
sufficiently tight, but still allow you to latch it.
Steve Byers
Havelock, NC USA
'73 Midget GAN5UD126009G "OO NINE"
"It is better to remain silent, and be thought a fool
than to speak, and remove all doubt" -- Mark Twain
----------
> From: Mark Endicott <endicott@nashville.com>
> To: Spridgets <spridgets@autox.team.net>
> Subject: Top Again and Again
> Date: Sunday, January 24, 1999 1:59 PM
>
> Spridgeteers:
>
> I have refurbished the top frame and header rail and I am ready to
> attach the new top on my car. Of course, the weather has turned cold
> just as I am getting to this point. I have the top attached at the
> rear but the top seems to be real tight when I attempt to stretch it
> to the header rail, I haven't glued it yet. Also, I have the rail
> attached to the windshield frame without the rubber seal on the
> bottom. When the rubber seal it put into final position it will raise
> the rail up about a quarter to three eight's of an inch. Should I try
> to compensate for this by pulling the top a little tighter? I think I
> will need go find a hot garage to finish this up!
>
> Thanks
> --
> Mark
> 1970 Midget
> Nashville, Tennessee
>
> http://members.home.net/mendicott/midget.html
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