I used to hang a hard top for a Datsun Roadster upside down from the ceiling
of the garage. It was way up out of the way. So much so, I never used it!
If its your only means of transport then maybe they're ok for the wet
winters, but otherwise I think they are a waste of money. This is one
reason why I like owning multiple cars. One for every season plus a spare.
76 Spitfire 1500
74 Alfa Romeo Spider
60 Morris Mini
91 Acura Legend - daily driver
92 Acura Vigor - wife's car
Peter S
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Harvey <tom@tomh.demon.co.uk>
To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, September 27, 1999 12:00 PM
Subject: Re: Roof fit
>
>
> >> 1) Has anyone /ever/ managed to get a water-proof fit on a spit soft-
> >> top?
> >>
> >> Mine has a small gap along the top edge of the door windows (worse on
> >> driver side). Fitting a new (and better proportioned) hood helped a
> >> little, but I still get wet in all but light rain. The front edge (top
> >> of windscreen) also leaks a little in heavy rain. I don't think I have
> >> ever seen a perfect fit soft-top on a spit.
> >
> >What Mk Spitfire is it? My Mk2 seals well across the front - the hood
tucks
> >under the aluminium screen finisher. Late Spitfires with the over centre
> >catches can be adjusted slightly to make the header seal a better fit.
The
> >levers seem to wear the pins that hold them down . Have you tried a new
> >header rail seal? Is the mounting channel secure/ in good condition/
sealed
> >to the header rail? Is the aluminium screen capping sealed to the top of
the
> >windscreen?
>
> Ooops. Forgot to say didn't I. (D'oh!) It is a 1500. I am not too
> bothered about the front seal as it does not leak badly, and I suspect
> that I could solve it with a some adjustments.
>
> >As for the windows, how much play in the runners is there? How much does
the
> >window get sucked out when you are travelling. Try replacing o packing
out
> >the nylon window channel bearings so that they ae a better fit, check the
> >weatherstips for a good fit. Has the doorskin been replaced? Is the gap
for
> >the window too wide so as not to allow the outer and inner door window
seals
> >to help support the doorglass?
>
> When I had the door fittings apart last year the nylon runners looked
> ok. There doesn't seem to be much play. I also thought that the weather
> strips were a reasonable fit too. I will have a closer look when I next
> take her out. (She has been tucked away in the dry whilst the weather is
> so bad).
>
> >Strangely enough, the fit of the doorglass to the hood profile and
hardtop
> >profile on my car is not as good as the passenger side, even after much
> >adjustment. I used new doorglasses, but they both seemed the same when I
was
> >assembling the windows...
> >>
> >> 2) Is the seal on a hard-top any better?
> >>
> >> Now that winter is creeping up I am seriously considering purchase of a
> >> hard-top to make winter driving a little more pleasant (no more
> >> embarrassing stains on my trousers when I get to work... well, not from
> >> the car anyway). Am I about to waste my money?
> >
> >A hard top does make the inside a little bit quieter and perhaps a little
> >less draughty. As mentioned, my drivers side doorglass is not as good a
fit
> >as the passenger side also, so I still experience a little blowby in
rain.
> >As the hardtop is more rigid, any play in your door windows will show up
> >more than with the soft top in my experience, but you may be OK and you
have
> >the advantage of being able to use thicker profile doorseal. The front
> >header seal on the hardtop is more substantial than on the soft top, and
I
> >have not found any problems here.
>
> Perhaps I will invest in one. I'm not sure where on earth I am going to
> keep it over the summer months though :-(
>
> Cheers.
>
> --
> Tom Harvey________________________________________________________________
> http://www.tomh.demon.co.uk/ Home: tomh@tomh.demon.co.uk
> http://www.tomh.demon.co.uk/jukebox/ Work: tharvey@meditel.co.uk
>
>
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