LeMans Hardtop for ERA

[Fullchat289]

Originally Posted by FIA-ERA

I like it personally! Plus, it looks like you could squeeze another gallon of gas in that fill neck!! Do you have any pics on how it's mounted?? Pretty cool stuff.

Sure. Here are some details. Now keep in mind that I had about two weeks worth of evenings to rush-fit this to the car so that I could make the timing for my Dragon trip, so some of the solutions I chose were time conscious, but they proved to be very effective, none-the-less.

Here is the card board patterns I made that were used to fab the brackets securing the HT at the rear of the door. Also pictured is the “T-bolt” used fabricated from some sheet steel and M6 bolts with the heads cut off.



Here is a picture of the rear mounting bracket and the doubler plate used on the outside flange of the top.



Here is the same area, only showing from the inside. Again, these brackets were made from the cardboard patterns in the first picture. For the sake of time, I used some spacers and washers bought at Lowes to securely fasten the bracket to the Soft Top bow furrel on the car.



Here is a shot of the area at the top of the windscreen. The “T-bolts” slide in the windscreen frame channel and pass through the top in this area. I’m using some M6 thread knobs purchased through McMaster-Carr. It works great.



This is a shot of the fuel filler relocation from the inside. I had a local pipe bender make the pipe and used some fuel filler hose from a ’67 mustang with some simple screw-type band clamps. This solution works fine, but I will likely upgrade this area over the Winter to something more robust yet easily reversible for when I want to remove the HT.



This is a shot of the outside of the Fuel Filler relocation area.



This is the other project that lies ahead for the Winter months – Splitting and re-hinging the trunk lid. I’ll detail this later on once I undertake that project.



If anyone needs any more detail, just contact me.

- Allen.

[davidwillson]

Originally Posted by B.M.B.C

How about Lemans top for the ERA 427 cars??? Go on Mr Bruce you know you can....

I am working on one for the FiA, so it should fit the Slab also, as for the 427 , yep ,can do that one too, but, I need your car here to see if it fits. Price?, no idea yet, but less than $2500

[mr bruce]

Next top avaliable will have the opening rear hatch, so you don't have to cut the trunk lid, and the top will fit all the ErA's ,slab, FiA and 427

[*13*]

Fullchat289 & Mr Bruce, Nice work all the way around! Looks awesome! You're givin' me the bug....

Originally Posted by Fullchat289

Sure. Here are some details. Now keep in mind that I had about two weeks worth of evenings to rush-fit this to the car so that I could make the timing for my Dragon trip, so some of the solutions I chose were time conscious, but they proved to be very effective, none-the-less.

Here is the card board patterns I made that were used to fab the brackets securing the HT at the rear of the door. Also pictured is the “T-bolt” used fabricated from some sheet steel and M6 bolts with the heads cut off.



Here is a picture of the rear mounting bracket and the doubler plate used on the outside flange of the top.



Here is the same area, only showing from the inside. Again, these brackets were made from the cardboard patterns in the first picture. For the sake of time, I used some spacers and washers bought at Lowes to securely fasten the bracket to the Soft Top bow furrel on the car.



Here is a shot of the area at the top of the windscreen. The “T-bolts” slide in the windscreen frame channel and pass through the top in this area. I’m using some M6 thread knobs purchased through McMaster-Carr. It works great.



This is a shot of the fuel filler relocation from the inside. I had a local pipe bender make the pipe and used some fuel filler hose from a ’67 mustang with some simple screw-type band clamps. This solution works fine, but I will likely upgrade this area over the Winter to something more robust yet easily reversible for when I want to remove the HT.



This is a shot of the outside of the Fuel Filler relocation area.



This is the other project that lies ahead for the Winter months – Splitting and re-hinging the trunk lid. I’ll detail this later on once I undertake that project.



If anyone needs any more detail, just contact me.

- Allen.

[jmimac351]

Allen, how was this for heat inside the car? Understand it's getting cooler up there now but do you think it's going to be a bear in the summer?

[Fullchat289]

Jim:

I think there's only been one 90 degree day here in the NE since I've had the top. It's much better than having the sun beating down on you and with no side curtains installed along with the vent holes in the rear screen, it's plenty ventilated. Another thing for you to consider is you may want to add the foot box ventalition like the ERA's have that bring fresh air in from the front opening in the body as with the original cars. Also, be sure to add dynomat-type material on the trans tunnel and floors...but you probably knew that aready being the seasoned racer/builder that you are....

- Allen.

[cobracrazy]

YES YES! LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS TRULY GOING TO HAPPEN AND i'LL START SAVING

[mr bruce]

???????????, 5 pages of posts, it has already happened, with pichers to prove it, one buyer, Allen B.

[cobracrazy]

yahoo!!!! I'll check it out. (to quick with my post_ sorry, reading clubcobra from my phone at McDonalds).

[B.M.B.C]

Hey Mr Bruce. Any pictures of the Dragonsnake top. Will it fit either Kirkham and Era 427 style cars?

Cheers

[olmoose]

Bruce, any idea if your top will fit an Aurora? I know original 289 side screens must be modified to fit. Would the lifting hatch allow access for fueling, as the cap is located in middle of rear cowling?

Olmoose, finally a new name, for the same old guy.

[Gav]

Love your work Brucy.
I mean Mr Brucy.

Fancy comin' down to do a fitting here?

[Bill E]

We got the original short top from Mr Bruce then jumped up and down on it tell we made this

[Bill E]

I am shur Mr Bruce could modufy one of these to work

[mr bruce]

I doubt the ErA guys would go for that Bill, I only sold one of the authentic looking LeMans tops to an ErA car owner.

[*13*]

Someone went to a lot of work to make that top. Now everyones cup of tea, that's for sure. I think I'll stick with the MR Bruce model.

[Bill E]

It is a littel out ther for most. But has the head room the taller guys need,