Thread: Rag Top

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Started to install my rag top last night. I measured the hole about a hundred times before I got the nerve to cut it out, no turning back now. The front and rear curves fit the roof real well but the lengthwise rails are gonna need some work. It will flex but the rails bow inwards when I do that so I figure I might have to cut 5 or 6 relief cuts to get it to fit. I'm trying to figure out if the radius of the canvass will stretch out longer as it curves, I'm pretty sure it will, so I might have to actually cut the rails and shorten them slightly. Hhhhmmmmm.

Sean

I got the nerve up to start cutting the frame for my top, I put 5 relief cuts on each side so it fits real nicely with no forcing. My friend has one on his VW and says it's hard to get them to work at best. I had to laugh as I did my first cut something seemed a little weird and not quite right then I realized it was aluminum and not steel like I thought. Well I have a Tig welder that I never use and I have never tried aluminum with it so I guess I better go buy some scrap and have someone show me how to do it. Gotta learn sometime I guess. I cut some pieces of wood and clamped around them to hold the frame while I drilled out the holes.
Next I put in the rails and slid the top in, tightened all the screws (which are all crap, I'm gonna get stainless hardware for it) and gave it a try. Seems with the curve it got a little longer so it's gonna take some more massaging, I can ovalize the rear holes a bit but I might have to shorten the frame about a 1/4" unless there is some way to stretch canvass.
Here it is, I like it a lot and it slides nicely as well. I'm gonna build a frame to go around the inside to stiffen it up but that shouldn't be too hard.

Sean

Nice Job... I really like it!!!

Dave Brisco

Nice idea for covering the top--when it looks like it belongs there, you know your work is first rate.