POLL: Convertible Top Side Rails

K

KettleCarver

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I am at that point in my restoration that I need to install a convertible top on my MK1a project. I want to go with a Stayfast (canvas) type top. A friend of mine has a Stayfast top on his car. He told me not to use the side mounting rails, because they would make it impossible to fold the top down into the well.

Have you found that to be the case on your car? Please let me know if you have the side mounting rails installed and what type of top do you have. Any issues in being able to properly fold the top down?

Any other advice in getting a top installed would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Marty

Convt top side rails.jpg
 
if you try to use these to secure the sides of the top, whatever the material, the top will rip.... these are not supposed to secure the top.....
 
These retaining strips on the sides secure the rubber seal to the body and provide a ledge for the MKI side covers to rest on.

On no series of Alpine or Tiger should the soft top be secured behind the side retainers...only the rear one.
 
michael-king said:
These retaining strips on the sides secure the rubber seal to the body and provide a ledge for the MKI side covers to rest on.

On no series of Alpine or Tiger should the soft top be secured behind the side retainers...only the rear one.
Click to expand...
So, these strips hold the rubber seal to the body. Then does the top material go over the top of these strips? I am having trouble understanding the relationship between the top material, the strip and the rubber seal. Can someone provide a picture?
 
Installing the top is really pretty easy. First you locate the top correctly at the base by the back of the door and up the "B" post portion of the top. Then you can glue the top flats to the rear top frame rail. the next step is to tension the top across the back below the window. The top will be marked at the center point with a small cut. I usually attach the rear securing rail with the screws on the 3rd hole inboard from the ends. Then I feed the top between the retainer and the body and pull down until the tension takes the winkles out of the window. It's just a matter of working out from the center at that point. the rear points the flaps on the sides of the top should be pulled right up tight to the body... Then you can install the button snaps and lift-o dot snaps...

The front part of the "drip rail" flap should fall right at the corner of the header rail. Then it's just a matter of glueing the top to the header rail and reinstalling the channel for the header rail seal...

Early cars will have little clips (3 a side) for the inner part of the top where the drain tubes are. later cars have a button snap.

The key to a successful top installation is a quality adhesive... hardware store contact cement just will not work as it will heat release on the first warm day. I recommend Weldwood's landau top adhesive... follow the instructions and it works fantastic. The other bit of advice I can give is to set the top out in the sun, or someplace really warm so that the creases will relax. Having an upholstery steamer is also very helpful.
 
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