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Originally Posted by Michael C Henry
It's me again. Last time I had a likely repairer come over only to be discounted because I didn't just agree to go with him then and was scheduled out . I was going to go with another shop . I brought my car down and was told time and materials I get that and am ready, sometime in the spring. They didn't take any contact information. I waited till January and wrote a letter with all my contact information, so that when things opened up, only to find the main guy was hospitalized. So I called today March 5th now they are booked up through end of this year. I was advised to find someone else to work on my car My car is an older fiberglass replica, not an expensive original , is the reasoning I believe. So I'm at a loss for where to go next. My garage is small. I can't get both doors open. I can't twist in and out like I used to, and not confident in my self getting everything right the first time. there is something wrong with the mounting for the windshield it breaks windshields. this is the second windshield and it happened the next day it was replaced. The windshield is leaned back and will not work with the side curtain and convertible top. I'm willing to pay money. then there are other points to over come. I know I'm not at the front of the line but all the time I've waited was for nothing. I'll get in another line, I get that. I know it probably won't be just down my street. How far will I have to go?
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Hey Mike,
Good to meet you the other day…
I located several older EM diagrams for my top. While the original purchase invoice from 1985 had a soft top, another was bought from EM in 2004 (I assume that’s the one I have now). I have several soft top installation diagrams from EM dated between 1988-2004, most or all likely intended for my current top. The diagrams reflect a “Type II Pattern”.
While I’ll gladly share any of these with you, my thinking is as follows. Did the top you have in the box with EM label, come with EM install instructions (I assume)? If not, it’s probably wise to contact Tom at EM in Texas and try to obtain instructions specific for your top, in case it’s different. I bought some parts from EM recently and spoke at length with Tom. He delivered, and was very helpful with several questions I had.
Regardless, I assume you need to get your windshield mounting/placement sorted first. Per my diagrams, the measurements for the top are based off the rearward edge of the windshield frame’s flat downward mounting arms.
The shop we visited should be able to help you with all that. Our local TommyRot introduced me to this shop and had mentioned them in a prior post. Now you've met them, and it only helps they are moving this month 5 minutes from you (versus 10-12 minutes currently!).
They expressed positivity about helping you with this afterward. If you have any issues getting scheduled and/or want me to inquire, advocate for, or interface in communicating with them at any point, I’d be happy to, just let me know.
If you can accomplish this I think you’ll be happy with the EM top. I'd say Everett-Morrison did it right (even if via a top vendor)! The shop just fitted my soft top for the first time (on pre-existing hardware) and sent the below photos. They say it fits great and has a very aggressive look, which they actually now prefer after seeing it. The color combination works well…if only James Bond had driven a Cobra! We just expanded the driving season!
We’re going to drive a season without the side curtains and see how it goes. That should help with sun and the many days here with a 'chance' of showers. We like the clean, open look and not messing with the doors. We later have the option of drilling for the two ferrules in each door, per the instructions, and adding the side curtains (which do look nicely done by design also).
Best of luck, talk to you soon! Brent
(PS: As Lou1119 adeptly pointed out on another soft top post, we’ll need to be extra careful now to avoid side pipe burns entering/exiting the car. Fortunately, we’re not too tall. The other consideration for us is sun exposure. When a recently departed friend had heard I was getting a Cobra (my lifelong dream) he said, well what about your skin cancer (melanoma) and an open cockpit car? Without hesitation I said with matter of fact style…”The Cobra rules, I’ll just have to work that out.” He smiled and nodded assuredly, as a good friend of like mind, he completely understood. So, this is getting it to work for me!)
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