Quote:
Originally posted by Michael C Henry
I have an older EM that was built for Navada weather.I'm also looking at going with an EM top, hardwhare and sidecurtains.I could read alot into the Photos and still miss the important stuff.Are the zip in side windows w/the top and sidecurtains something seperate?How important were your mods, or just preferances? How high is your roll bar? Did you have problems clearing the rear brace?It looks like you got it tight,how did you acheive that?Any regrets or things you would do diferently?The extra bracing or supports ,one of a kind or available?Tell me a story to get me off the dime.Oh, bye the way, your pictures are the way better than EM shows.
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The window frames are separate - not part of the top. They mount into two ferrules on the doors, and a flap extends down the door and is installed with snaps. The windows then zip into the window frames, not to the top.
I put the extra bows in to tighten the top up. It's just like all soft tops for these cars, just too much space between the windshield and the rear bow. This allows the top to raise if the windows are closed, and to flap a lot if a window is open. No matter how tight it is installed, drive it a few miles and it loosens up. With the extra bows installed, it now raises about a half inch in the center, and none over the windows. All the flapping was eliminated when a window is open.
I don't really know the roll bar height, but it is a standard FFR bar, which is taller than most other makes. I can measure it tomorrow - remind me. Forgetfulness comes with age, I guess! I had to bend the rear main bow towards the back just slightly to clear the roll bar.
The extra bows and the frame they mount to is not an E-M option. I made the frame from 3/8" cold-rolled steel rod, and the two bows were made from 1/2" aircraft tubing. The tubing is available from McMaster Carr.
BTW, the soft top mounting instructions on ERA's web site are the best I have seen anywhere. They will work for any top, not just ERA's. Thanks Bob Putnam!
David