Tag Archives: Soft Top Frame

Chapter 22 – Cleaning and Trial Fitting

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January 1, 2005

Soft Top Frame 

Installed the webbing pull tabs on freshly painted brackets. Used four number 6 stainless sheet metal screws to the frame.

Soft Top Pull Strap

Soft top frame webbing 1

Hardtop Headliner Installation 

Hardtop Headliner – I took the unrestored headliner on its frame to Gerry Smith at Classic Upholstery to have him look at it before I took it apart. He will install the new headliner on the frame. The fabric came from Bill Bolton. Gerry was ready for the task so I headed home to take things apart to clean up and paint the frame. 

Headliner old – on frame

Headliner-old- on frame 4

I bent back the securing tabs on the inside of the frame rails. There were six tabs on the front rail, all bent to the right. On the right vertical rail there were 3 tabs all bent down. On the left side there were also 3 tabs, but they were bent up. The bottom rail had 6 tabs, all bent to the right.

Headliner-old- on frame 8

Headliner-old- on frame 9

The headliner is actually three separate pieces of fabric sewn together and fastened to the frame with staples. The extra material at each seam is folded around the frame rails. There were approximately 6 staples in each section.

Headliner-old- on frame 2

Headliner-old- on frame 5

Headliner-old- on frame 6

Headliner-old- on frame 7

Hardtop Headliner Frame – The frame rails had contact cement on them to secure the fabric in addition to the tabs. The rear rail had felt on the inside (toward the headliner & interior).

Headliner-old- on frame 10

Headliner-old- on frame 11

Headliner felt on frame 1

Headliner felt on frame 2

Cleaned up! Painted and new felt.

Headliner frame restored

Headliner frame new felt

Headliner new felt 2

Hardtop Headliner Front Pad – Then I went to work on the front pad for the headliner. The foam rubber was in remarkably good shape for 45 years old! It will be fine to use again. It was apparently made by an Italian division of Dunlop?

Headliner front pad 1

Headliner front pad 2

Headliner front pad 4

Headliner front pad 5

Headliner front pad 8

Headliner front pad 9

 

Soft Top Front Rail – Finished the assembly of the convertible top front windscreen bow. Fastened the aluminum front rail with 15 1/2” flat head stainless screws. Cleaned and reassembled the two fastener clasps and mounted them to the bow with 3/4” #10 pan head screws.

Soft top bow rail

Soft top bow clasps 1

Soft top bow clasps 3

Soft top bow clasps 2

January 2, 2005

Interior Courtesy Lights 

I fabricated mounting brackets for each of the lights for the interior footwells. I mounted the driver’s side bracket to the clutch master cylinder lower mounting bolt to avoid having to drill any new holes in the car. This required using a 11/2” 5/16” bolt rather than the customary 1” bolt. The right courtesy light bracket was mounted to the 2, 1/4” fixed nuts for RHD throttle pedal mounts. Also done to avoid drilling any new holes.

Courtesy light left 1

Courtesy light right 1

Courtesy light right 2

Courtesy light right 3

Courtesy light right 4

 

Chapter 21 – Cleaning and Trial Fitting

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November 28, 2004

Boot Latch/Lock Assembly 

Boot Latch/Lock Assembly Installation – Installed the boot lock and handle assembly along with a new rubber gasket that looks like it will need to be slightly trimmed before final installation. The striker plate mounted to the frame assembly with three bolts needed to be loosened and shifted upward as far as it would move. The lock mounted in the boot lid needed to be shifted downward before tightening.

Boot lock handle 1

Boot lock handle 2

Spare Tire Leather Retaining Strap –  This was hard to find and I finally ordered it from Cape International.

spare tire leather strap 1

Spare tire leather strap 2

Gearbox cover extension panel – Jeremy Turner modified the extension panel for me to fit the Toyota tranny. As usual he did a wonderful job. I tried it out and it appeared to fit well. I called Duncan at Heritage Upholstery and Trim and ordered the light beige Wilton wool carpet with their domestic pad for the car. I sent them the extension panel to cover with carpet since it would be a custom fit. I also asked him to provide the carpet for the sideshift gearbox cover, but with no hole for the shifter. I will cut it to fit after trying it in the car. He will include the “parchment” vinyl for trimming the gearbox cover and around the handbrake lever for the propshaft tunnel. As usual with the british car vendor fraternity Heritage was very helpful to make sure I got what I needed.

Gearbox cover extension 2

Soft Top Frame – I also picked up the reconditioned and painted soft top frame from Jeremy. He custom matched the paint color and again did a beautiful job.

Soft top frame 2

Soft top frame 1

Soft top frame 3

Hardtop “J” Hooks – I disassembled the front J hooks for the hardtop and will send the hooks by themselves to the chromer. Both J hooks have about 7/16” of the threads exposed after the tightening nuts.The clamps are in good condition and I will just polish them. 

I ordered new J hooks for the rear side clamps for the hardtop from Cape International as well as new mounting brackets. I have not decided yet if I will use the new ones or the originals.

Hardtop front clasps 1

Hardtop front clasps 2

Hardtop J hooks 1

Wooden soft top front bow –  Secures the bow to the aluminum front rail with approximately 15 1/2” #8 counter sunk wood screws. 

Hardtop Hardware – I cleaned and painted the hardtop vertical support braces as well as the front corner brackets with Eastwood wire wheel silver and clear coat paint. They turned out very nice. I also cleaned and painted the mounting clips for the cockpit aluminum molding.

Shroud trim nuts 1

Hardtop front brackets

Hardtop braces 2