I have had my car about a month now and haven't put up the top. What do you do first?? I'm guessing..Back snaps,then front clips then tighten bow? Pleae fill me in.
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I have had my car about a month now and haven't put up the top. What do you do first?? I'm guessing..Back snaps,then front clips then tighten bow? Pleae fill me in.
Front bow to windshield clips are fastened first, then start at the rear center snap on the top and alternate L to R snaps stretching the top toward the back as you go, lastly flip up the metal bow flippers the get the top tight.
Another ploy is to modify the rear bow with a hinged, over-center extension piece (about 2" long); put up top with rear bow at the slack (released) position, fasten everthing, then pop the rear bow up into the locked position for a taut fit. Frank Reisner at IM (Henry's father) invented this modification years ago.
My procedure...
Lift top. Snap a couple of snaps to keep the back in place while I bring her over the top towards the windshield. Carefully place the bow on the top of the windshield. At all times keep a smile on my face thinking of the nice drive we just had together.
Then close the clips on the windshield, damn it stretch the damn thing towards the bow. Who the heck turned the clips on me? I mean bloddy hell! There goes a damn finger nail again. ^%$#@!! Adjust the clips, then snap them in place.
Go the the back and put the remaining snaps in. Why the F&^%$ is this getting tighter everytime I put the top up. Pull like a crazed Hyena on a donkey carcass. Ouch....I snapped my finger. I mean who's playing with me here?
Remember keep a smile on your face thinking about the drive you just had....
Lift top. Snap a couple of snaps to keep the back in place while I bring her over the top towards the windshield. Carefully place the bow on the top of the windshield. At all times keep a smile on my face thinking of the nice drive we just had together.
Then close the clips on the windshield, damn it stretch the damn thing towards the bow. Who the heck turned the clips on me? I mean bloddy hell! There goes a damn finger nail again. ^%$#@!! Adjust the clips, then snap them in place.
Go the the back and put the remaining snaps in. Why the F&^%$ is this getting tighter everytime I put the top up. Pull like a crazed Hyena on a donkey carcass. Ouch....I snapped my finger. I mean who's playing with me here?
Remember keep a smile on your face thinking about the drive you just had....
My CMC top came with those same adjusters mentioned above by George for the bottoms of the two tubular top bows. They're simple metal pieces that could be duplicated with Home Depot or DIY flat metal stock for maybe $5 US. They take the overall tension off the top while you're putting it on/up, and then are simply flipped into place to tighten things up once everything else is set.
If you're interested, I could post pictures and/or dimensioned drawings.
gn
If you're interested, I could post pictures and/or dimensioned drawings.
gn
Mike,
A helluva sense of humor. Your posts frequently have me chuckling in front of the monitor. :>)
A helluva sense of humor. Your posts frequently have me chuckling in front of the monitor. :>)
I snap all the back snaps. Sit in drivers seat and push bow towards windshield while hooking windshield latches. Then align and tighten windshield latches. Now tighten roof with hinge levers.
I'm sure any method that works with ease is a good one.
The reason I posted to latch the front bow onto the windshield frame first then alternating the rear snaps you spread the top tension over the rear metal bows instead of having all the tension on the windshield frame as the latches are fastened last.
The reason I posted to latch the front bow onto the windshield frame first then alternating the rear snaps you spread the top tension over the rear metal bows instead of having all the tension on the windshield frame as the latches are fastened last.
Why do you want to put the top up?
Now who had too many "Carlisle" ham, egg and cheese sandwiches :~)
Mmmmm...egg sandwiches....Carlisle....Speedsters...
Did I hear someone say Carlisle? Ooops, off topic..back to sleep, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Is it possible that the top material on my car has shrunk enough that i shouldnt be putting the top up... im afraid as it has bent the inside of the windsheild metal...
It is possibe....... but first be sure that the metal bow flippers are released before putting the top up.
Never saw a windshield frame bent from the latches as they are rather delicate.
Try puting up the top by first attaching the header bow clips at the windshield then starting with the rear center snap, alternate the snaps L & R until all are fastened... then tighten the top tension by pulling up on the rear bow flippers
Never saw a windshield frame bent from the latches as they are rather delicate.
Try puting up the top by first attaching the header bow clips at the windshield then starting with the rear center snap, alternate the snaps L & R until all are fastened... then tighten the top tension by pulling up on the rear bow flippers
If the top is vinyl, let the sun warm it first to make it easier to work with.
Ok dumb question....my IM D just has two latches in the back and then pull the top up an flip the side window bars straight and then latch the front.........are the flippers your referring to these side window bars??/
Hey Steve,
I've been driving my car for 3 1/2 years and haven't put the top up yet. Well, actually I think I may have put it up one night in the garage just to see how it all worked. Now I forget how it all worked. Back in the 70s I remember reading that 80% of all the Porsches in the U.S. were in the southwest. But that was related to rust problems.
I've been driving my car for 3 1/2 years and haven't put the top up yet. Well, actually I think I may have put it up one night in the garage just to see how it all worked. Now I forget how it all worked. Back in the 70s I remember reading that 80% of all the Porsches in the U.S. were in the southwest. But that was related to rust problems.
3-1/2 years of going topless and you haven't been arrested ? :)