Retrofitting Hard Tonneau

Try search on hard tonneau here - there was guy in TN that made them but I think limited colors.  I can't see that fitting would be difficult at all.

Easy. Two bolts to the convertible tops mount. You might have to do some light trimming. 

There are many options:

 

https://www.speedsterowners.com...ur-own-tonneau-cover

http://www.route30classics.com/parts.htm

 

Hope that helps,

Ted

 

 

 

Thanks all, I don't have the necessary skills to shape one myself, but it's reassuring to know that the fitting is within my mechanical abilities!

Ted, I'll contact route30, that looks like a promising source.

@Chris

The hard tonneau would look bad-a$$ on your car.

I agree. Your car is a prime candidate for such an improvement.  I've driven one speedster replica with an identical tonneau.  It really changes the way you feel driving the car. The headrest closes in that 'open feeling' behind you. I also found that my head would touch the pad behind my head on acceleration.

 

My only concern with a tonneau is that I'd want to do everything I could to keep the tonneau from scratching the body.  I suppose if you kept it constrained to the same space that the fabric covers you'd do no worse damage than the flapping fabric (light scuffs/etc.)

 

Keep us posted! I'm willing to help with any fab work if you need it.

 

Ted

Phil (IM356D)  just picked up a hard tonneau from that dude who was selling the silver / red scalloped speedster.

 

https://www.speedsterowners.com...0#446455307665641290

Best of luck!

Ted

Door edge molding or fend bead to protect the paint.

Thanks Robert, I think it would suit my car. Tempted by the black wheels as well.

 

Ted, in the car you drove does the tonneau reduce headroom? Being pretty tall I drive with the seat as far back as it can go?

I think the position of the headrest is relational to how you mount the tonneau. You should sit in your car and note where  your shoulders are with relation to the door jamb.

 

If you look at the tonneau here, you can see the opening kind of falls back a bit from the door jamb... maybe a couple of inches. I imagine you can install the tonneau 'back' a little bit further from the door jab to suit your needs.

 

 

 

Hope that helps,

Ted

Yes I purchased a hard tonneau.  I have not had a chance to see if it will fit.  I have Conv D so I have to completely remove the soft top just to lay it on the back of the car.  Guy who sold it to me said it would fit a CMC so I'm assuming it will fit an IM.  Just bought it because it was cheap and available.  Think these things really look better on outlaws.  Since I would eventually like to outlaw my car I thought for $175 I'll just get it.  Main reason why I got it is because I hate the look of the soft top in place on Conv D's.  BTW I called Route 30 Classics.  They told me that they had not made one in a long time but might be able to fabricate one.  They are tough to find.  That's why I grabbed it.  Stored with my hard top in garage waiting for outlaw make over.

Chris

If you already have wide 5's just powdercoat them black.  I powdercoated my wheels black.  Came out awesome.  MUCH cheaper than buying new ones.   If I was builing a new car I'd do black wide 5's.  Bitchin!  Thought about wide 5 conversion but by the time you redo the brakes it adds up to real money.

I think Kirk/VS did this one.

Phil, I contacted Stephen @ Route 30 and I am the second person to ask in the last couple of weeks. You are correct that they no longer produce the tonneau's but Stephew will get me a price for a one off run. Can you send me a pic of your wheels. I'd really like to see how the powder coating looks, I've checked yelp and I've found a 5 star rated shop within a couple of miles of my home.

 

Art, thanks for the pic. That speedster was on sale when I bought mine from Park Place. It had an identical spec apart from the tonneau and was been offered for a $10k premium over my car! I will definitely contact Kirk to see what he can recommend.

 

Chris 

Chris

The great thing about powdercoating is like paint you can do whatever you want, flat, gloss, any color combo in the world but unlike paint its permanent.  Pretty much part of your wheel.  Surprised others have not chimed in.  Powdercoating is SO much better than buying a painted wheel.

 

 

Somewhere in the narrows of my mind I think Carey has a source for the hard tonneau

Phil, your wheels look great. You've convinced me to give it a try!

Hey Phil, Powder coating is really the way to go for sure. I am thinking of doing some small parts in powder coating colours see Eastwood.com tools and powder coating equipment. Ray

I have a headrest on my Spyder, with a leather pad that matches the interior, about 1.5" thick. My head does not normally touch, but it sure does when I'm on track, wearing a helmet. Just something to keep in mind if you may autocross your ride.

Also, to protect the paint, I would recommend some small pieces of the clear bra material. Leon had that on his Spyder where the top and side curtains contact the paint. Great idea! Wish I'd thought of it.

This is a real thread shift but I'd love to get input on the value of the outlaw at The top of the thread at Beverley Hills Motor Cars. I have been pricing retrofitting a raby Type 4 or a subaru engine which seems to be a minimum of $15k. The outlaw with a hard tonneau at the top of the thread has a 170hp Subaru engine fitted and independent coil over suspension. They are advertising the car at 44k which of course is way over what anyone on this site would pay. I'm serioulsy tempted to PX my VS outlaw for this car but I'm acutely aware of the reputation this dealer has foe massively over inflating their sticker prices. Your input will be welcomed?

Sorry my grammar is normally impeccable but the autocorrect on mt iPhone is Causing problems!

It certainly am! 

       
       
UK Chris, you b talk'n some jive talk foe sho.

https://youtu.be/fXSLcYQHqFQ

Robert, now you're just confusing me even more!

Hi Phil, my rims are booked in for powder coating this Wednesday. Did you go for a full gloss finish? I am tempted by a 'stealth' flat finish but not sure how this would look in the cold light of day!

Go in the middle Satin.

Yup.....

 

Satin rims are da bomb........

Yup.

 

I'd like four please, in a Porsche bolt pattern, with a 40 to 45mm offset and 6 or 6.5inches wide.

Recently I inquired about getting 4 wheels powder coated.  The one shop I phoned wanted $100 per wheel (clean and powder coat).

That was for silver.  White or black was even more expensive.

 

With typical wheel prep and polish prior to coating, that sounds about right.

I have found that the prices for powder coating can be all over the board depending on the shop you call and their familiarity with the item being powder coated.  Last summer I built a single speed bike out of a 30+ year old Nishiki Century.  Prices for powder coating ranged from $75.00 to over $275.00. The shop that quoted me $75 PC's bikes all the time for the Boys and Girls Club so they are quite familiar with the process.

 

The bike has an old school Brooks saddle on it now.

Ron,

I'm not advocating DIY powder coating...but it simply isn't that difficult or complicated.

 

The only thing you probably don't have, but need, is an oven (that you can never cook food in again!) large enough for your items.

 

There's a couple of internet tutorials detailing a step by step 'shoestring'  powder coating operation 

I powdercoat all the time. I use Mrs. Galat's dual-fuel double Jenn-Air oven. There's no reason you can't use the oven you cook food in. There's no solvents to gas off, so it's no problem at all.

Marty, that satin finish looks fantastic I'll see if I can get a match. I'm getting the work done at Melrose Metal Finishing in Oakland, which is a recommendation from my local mechanic. They're charging me $300 for all 4 wheels, with another $30 per wheel for a tire fitter to remove/remount for me. 

eastwood.com   look here for DIY pdr coating

Marty, where did you get that wheel photo?

Here Ron.

http://themustangsource.com/fo...rims-request-478051/

 

Thanks Marty.