Convertible Top/Hood Question

Ger

Hi Folks,

Quick question, looking at the hood that came with my CMC, (vinyl), there seems to be a double layer where I presume the bows will sit....

How are the bows attached to the hood? Are they supposed to be in the pocket formed by the double layer? do they get glued to the bows?

In a previous car I had , (MG rep), they used fabric straps to "space" the bows...its this similar?

Cheers
Gerry

[edit] just reading the CMC manual, (shoulda done before!), and it tells me that they do go thro the pocket.....I'll try it later, but will they really fit thro.....looks like a tight squeeze around the bends !

9/22/116:55 AM

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Ger

9/22/116:58 AM

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WOLFGANG'89 CMC FWB, FL Supporting Member

Think it was Lane who covered the raw steel tubes with heat shrink tubing. Seems like that would look better and result in less chafing.

9/22/118:19 AM

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Lane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member

Nope, not me. The sleeves on the Beck top are split along their lengths and held together with velcro. Easy to fit.

9/22/119:46 AM

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Gordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member

Gerry:

If you can find some, 3/4" shrink tube will fit over them and make them look nice once shrunk and it keeps them from rusting (further). Otherwise, it might be a good idea to paint them as they readily rust.

You've found that the bows fit through the pockets. Easier to do with Stay-Fast cloth hood material (instead of that vinyl stuff from CMC) but you can still do it. Take the hood and bows inside and sit someplace warm and the material will work easier around the bends.

9/22/1110:33 AM

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Ger

Thanks guys<

I'm just in from the garage...30min job I'd hoped, fit header rail and catches......

Turns out the header rail does not fit at al,,way outa shape....so I chopped it into bits, laid it over the frame, braced it with alum strip then glassed it back together.....

I'll remove the bracing tomorrow and finish the glass work......Bummer....

Cheers
gerry

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9/22/113:32 PM

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Rich Drewek Supporting Member

What the hell is that snake doing in your garage?

9/22/118:05 PM

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WOLFGANG'89 CMC FWB, FL Supporting Member

Yeah where do you get cammo resin? My 20 year old CMC bow started to delaminate and wasn't great fit for windshield. I got a VS one (and their stayfast top). Its looks like its made out of butyl vs fiberglass --- and a much better fit.

9/22/118:21 PM

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Ger

Snake????

I can only see my pet Haggis lying across the header rail.........

9/24/111:11 AM

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oldyeler

It will be fine . But i would run a fresh layer of resin dipped fiberglass cloth over the intire length to reinforce it.

I'd do that after you have it finshed shaped and trimmed.

One concern it might try to bow a little as it heats up as it cures. Keep it taped down.

9/24/113:07 AM

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David Stroud IM Roadster DOttawa Canada '83 IM Soob

Don't forget to look into what latches will be used. You'll need some suitable attach points for those. When doing so, you may want to consider a third or even fourth latch position.

9/24/114:49 AM

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WildBill

My bows are powder coated black. Like Gordon said warm up the top and it will allow the bows to slide around the corners. I had to "massage" my header bar with a big rotary file bit in my drill press to get it close to fitting.

~WB

9/24/117:37 AM

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Gordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member

This all reminded me to put the header, bows and top material aside for the trip South.

9/25/114:52 PM

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Ger

STill struggling with this top !!!!

followed the guidance in the manuals,tenax fittings 1" from edge, pulled forward, good overlap in the middle, but somewhat short at each end ...Grrrrrrr.

Everything was well warmed up before fixing.

I've lowered the middle bow around an inch and its a bit better....I reckon another inch to give me enough material at the front.....Hatefull job!

and I've managed to split one of the seams....

I may well invest in a mohair hood yet...

9/26/112:39 PM

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Gordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member

Mohair.........Groovy!

9/26/118:32 PM

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Ger

stretch ya b*****D.......

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9/27/114:50 AM

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Gordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member

No $hit! That's exactly what I had to do with my top!

9/27/116:10 PM

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Alan MerklinDrclock - Elkins, West Virginia Supporting Member

Crap ! Never had to do that with any of the 27 speedys, looks like if one of those vise grips left loose it would go out a garage window :~)

9/27/116:15 PM

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Former Member

Gerry, my hat's off to you. I hope you get that sorted to a high degree of satisfaction.

9/27/116:28 PM

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MangoSmoothie.ca

geeze - i was thinkin the same thing Alan.

put some spot lights near it to warm it up.

9/27/117:05 PM

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Ger

Hi Guys,

I had a little electric fan heater on the back seat for the duration of the exercise, it was hot in there !

Now bearing in mind that this hood has been sitting around in someone's garage since '95 ...maybe its shrunk? or maybe the screen is slightly outa place, or maybe the pegs should have been closer than 1"....who knows.

I can get a doubleduck, lowbow hood for around 500 pounds....I'm tempted, (a little)......

9/28/111:48 AM

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