spridgets
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Fun with Electrics! now Top Stretching

To: Patricia Sauthoff <Patricia.Sauthoff@blvdmedia.com>
Subject: Re: Fun with Electrics! now Top Stretching
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2000 20:29:00 -0700
Cc: "'spridgets@autox.team.net'" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
References: <1FB74933B3D9D311ACBB006097DC08BF2B14EB@DVR_MAIL>
I will probably just buy a new top.  This one sat too many years and shrunk too
much.  Any recommendations from the list for the simple Bugeye vinyl top?
Mike
P.S.  I saw your pictures, nice car.

Patricia Sauthoff wrote:

> I'm having the same problem (minus the Florida sun!)  I'm thinking if I just
> get the darn thing on I'll leave it and try to train it to like it there!
> Good Luck
>
> Patricia
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Maclean [mailto:macleans@earthlink.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2000 8:52 PM
> To: Brad Fornal
> Cc: Larry Cogan; Spridgets@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Fun with Electrics! now Top Stretching
>
> Yes the top bows are compressed and the tabs are rotated to lock them in
> place.  Still to tight.
> Mike
>
> Brad Fornal wrote:
>
> > Do you have the correct top bows? The top bow should have the springs
> > compressed in order to install the top.  Brad
> >
> > Mike Maclean wrote:
> >
> > > Oh well, who needs a top anyway.
> > > Mike MacLean-60 Sprite
> > >
> > > Larry Cogan wrote:
> > >
> > > > Mike:  In the bits and pieces that came with my Bugeye was a NIB Amco
> > > > tonneau.  Six years old, apparently.  It turned out to be about two
> > > > inches short in length and about 1/2 inch short in width.  Put it on
> > > > the driveway on a hot Florida summer (redundant?) day.  When it was
> > > > hot enough to burn my hands I "made it" fit using pliers and obscene
> > > > force.  As it cooled down it ripped out one of the snap posts from the
> > > > body and the center zipper seperated. It is still too short by the
> > > > same dimensions and still looks NIB cept for the zipper.  Good luck.
> > > > Larry.
> > > >
> > > > Mike Maclean wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Wednesday, September 20, 2000 1:29 AM
> > > >
> > > > > ...... Last but not least, I tried to install the Amco top I got at
> > > > a
> > > > > British car swap meet a couple of years ago, brand new in the box.
> > > > It
> > > > > had been sitting in that box, sent from M*** to the gentleman I
> > > > bought
> > > > > it from over 15 years ago!  I locked my top bows in the retracted
> > > > > position and then tried to install the rear retainer bar in the slot
> > > > in
> > > > > the rear of the top.  The only openings for it are the triangular
> > > > ones
> > > > > that expose the bar to the chrome escutions on the rear deck.  The
> > > > slot
> > > > > extends past these openings just enough to equal the length of the
> > > > > retainer bar.  How the heck are you supposed to put it in there
> > > > without
> > > > > cutting a slit in the pocket?  Just to test fit the top, I stuck the
> > > > bar
> > > > > in one of the triangular openings  and slid it through until it
> > > > stuck
> > > > > out the other traingular opening.  About 4 inches at either end
> > > > stick
> > > > > out.  I slid the front bar in the pocket at the front of the top and
> > > > > tried to pull it over the windshield to tuck it around and under the
> > > > lip
> > > > > on the windshield frame.  It seems to be an inch to an inch and a
> > > > half
> > > > > too short!  How do you stretch these things?
> > > > >      It's going to take a couple of days just to figure out and work
> > > > the
> > > > > problems I created just working on the car today!  This isn't a
> > > > > restoration, it's subtle torture to drive me insane.
> > > > > Mike MacLean-60 Sprite
> > > > >
> > > > >


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>