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SPF soft top installation
So i tried to install the soft top for the first time last night. What a bear. My fingers still ache. I did finally manage to get all the snaps fastened, but I could never get the bow fully tensioned. It took a tremendous amount of force, and every time I would get close one of the snaps would pop loose.
Is there some sort of trick for insalling these things? I guess letting it heat up in the sun would help, but I doubt there will be any sun if I ever need to actually use this thing. |
do it when the top material is warm. Everflex or any vinyl product shrinks slightly when cold. IIf possible, leave out in sun for several hours if it hasn't been up ever or for awhile, at least this was the drill back then
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Ditto to Jbo .........or warm it slightly with a hair dryer .
After a few minutes of snaps being snapped, the bow should be able to be pushed back towards the rear -slowly , as the material will slowly become more pliable and stretch just enough. Try doing it on an old car like mine where there has been some shrinkage due to sun, rain and age ....If i have the time, I start to put it up, get a few easier snaps to click , wait a few minutes and then do the rest of the snaps - as the material starts to slightly stretch from the pressure of the few snaps already done . Once up , don't expect to stay dry in the rain as it is a chinese water torture or waterboarding at its best sometimes. All part of the mystique of these cars - enjoy. LOL> Bill. |
I use a heat gun but always 3 feet away. First, I clip the front part on and just drape the whole top over the bows, rear bow still folded forward. Then I heat all areas of the surface as much as possible, then install the snaps, from the middle working outward toward the corners. I use the heat gun again in areas where it's uncooperative. When all the snaps are in, I heat the underside of the top from inside the car, then push the rear bow towards the seam above the rear window. Once that's in, I then heat the rear and quarter clear windows from the outside, evenly to smooth the wrinkles out. Long strokes.
You have to be careful, a hair dryer is probably safer. I have experience shrinking plastic covering on model airplanes so I'm confident in using the heat gun. It's very easy to burn a hole, if you're not cautious...:eek: |
I know several guys with SPF's, only once have I seen the top on. I was going to buy a top but decided to skip it as they are hard to install and rairly used.
How often do you use yours? |
I put mine on once coming back from WSCB. I would rather get rained on. Had to take my visors off since I flipped them around, and one of the side curtains got caught on the top and broke the corner off gas when I stopped to gas.
I put mine on when it was about 40 degs. I was a bit of a pain. It will scratch the paint around the snaps! Scott |
I generally only use the top when it is Cold out (below 39) But it is a handy thing to have. At first I thought it was a real pain in the @ss, however the more I use it the easier it is. I don't take it completely apart though. I put it in the heater room an hour before, and that really helps.
The downside is it is louder in there with the top on and you can't get on it. The first time I used the top we had a Rally to do and it was cold out, so it really saved us. On the way home I forgot about the top being on and got on it really hard.........when I pulled fourth the top almost Exploded!!! LOL Gotta remember the top is on ;) |
I never put mine on spf995. Now my new spf 2742 I intend to leave everything in original wrappers for the next person who gets this car. (my son) I helped put a top on an spf and decided at that point I could send it to the detail shop and have it cleaned up after the rain rather than give myself another heart attack. :)
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I haven't taken the top or the tonneau cover out of the trunk since I bought my car. It does have one purpose...keeps my small tool kit and jack from moving around. :)
They should shave a few bucks off the price of the car and offer the top as an option. BTW - Driving in sub 40 degree weather....no problemo...you know you're alive! :LOL: |
It ain't pretty but lets me drive below 40 degrees.
It also helps look for noise and rattles that otherwise would go undetected with the top off. I think most of it IS the top, though And well, I paid for it, so might as well use it :D:D:D http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...m/CIMG1706.JPG |
Ray - I think that Superformance modeled the top design after the "Munster Mobile." :LOL:
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I got caught in three rain storms last summer, two being pretty bad. Thought about my top sitting in the garage still in the factory wrapper. Oh well, my 7 yr old daughter just sat under the tonneau cover on her side and thought it was neat to hear the rain. Just like camping.
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I put mine on last month for the first time. What a bear. The bow bar was difficult to push back and it kept comming foward while on the freeway causing the top to have slack. How do you keep the bar back?
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I keep mine back at the house.........:LOL:
Sorry, couldn't resist.....I honestly don't know and I have two of them. |
Jcoops top pic shows the older style top which has a Munster look to it .......like my old 156 top . The new tops are much less humpy in the middle , look good actually .
I use my top often on long trips, caught in the rain several times for 100-200 miles . It ain't pretty and does not stop all the water from coming in but at least it is functional as a snap on top with side curtains can be . Of course in colder weather it provides great comfort too . You warm weather folks don't know what you are missing . Re body concerns over the snaps and possible marring/scratching the paint . For short use with top up or tonneau, use blue painters tape on the paint- under the top area where it hits the deck and under the side curtains where it hits the door and leading door/window edge rests on the dash . I use some pre cut to fit foam for protection that is re-usable and has holels for the snaps . Once you put the top on a few times it becomes easier and the added comfort in many weather conditions makes it worth while - it is not a style show so who cares ? LOL > Bill, submarine at times |
I've heard that the top scratches the paint. Any suggestions to prevent this? Dont plan on using the top much but just in case. Thanks
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Steve-O .....looks like you are a newbie , welcome aboard ...sometimes questions are answered in previous posts . so sometimes ya have to read all the posts . In this case one answer to your question was on page 1 :
Re body concerns over the snaps and possible marring/scratching the paint . For short use with top up or tonneau, use blue painters tape on the paint- under the top area where it hits the deck and under the side curtains where it hits the door and leading door/window edge rests on the dash . I use some pre cut to fit foam for protection that is re-usable and has holes for the snaps . Enjoy your car - and don't be afraid to use the top, it makes the car more comfortable on days you could be driving instead of hibernating with it in a garage. Bill |
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