Spridget Tech Talk (MG Midget & Austin-Healey Sprite)
All I have is the metal frame. And I have no idea how the top attaches to the front windshield. Do I need to locate a header rail? The catalogs I have looked at dont sell one for a 1962 model. My 62 has side curtains windows as well.
Any pics or detailed information would be very helpful! I dont want to get caught in the rain without a top.
Thanks,
Doug
GA Midget
Doug
Your car has a solid about 1" wide X the width of the front of the top.metal strip that slides into the front of your tops material and it sort of slips up and locks under the top lip of your windsheild frame. On the rear there are 2 similar strips but very small, aprox 3" each that slip into slots cut into your top and hook onto those 2 chrome things on the top of the body behind the cockpit. That front one may be hard to find. or you may have it lying around not realizing what it is.
Mike
I have the measurements of both front and rear bars somewhere. I think the front one is 38" long, 1" wide and 1/8 inch thick.
Back one is 46" end to end following the curve, gently curved to match the back of the hood and is 36 " from tip to tip when bent. It is also 1" wide and 1/4 inch thick.
I'll measure tomorrow and let you know for sure.
See picture.
Bryan
Thanks for the info. The only parts that came with the car is the metal 2pc top frame. No strips was in the vehicle. I suppose I could make the strips. But I am still puzzled how the front attaches....rear too. I really dont see how it could seal.
The front of the top seals quite well. Its the sides and back that don't seal well. When its raining it doesn't matter if the top is up or down, you're going to get wet. I drove a 64 sidecurtain car back when I was in college up in Vermont. Half the time I would just leave the top in the garage.
The metal strip embedded in the rear of the top (mine is a Robbins and it's two short metal pieces, not one long one). Slips under the clips mounted on the deck between trunk and cockpit. The front strip is embedded in the top too. That one folds over the top of the windshield and tucks into a slot going across the top of the windshield frame. There's also two lift a dot type fittings one either front corner of the windshield. I'll take pictures if you need them. The frame is spring loaded so it's "collapesed" as you get it all attached then you unspring it to tighten things up. It is very old school and sorta cool but weather tight it ain't so much.
I was wrong, Robbin's top also has one long metal strip in back. I was thinking of the tonneau that has two little ones.
The full length rear bar seals better than the two small metal strips, but not bu much. It depends on what type of replacement you get as to what rear anchor type it has. If it's original style, you will have a "pocket hem" sewn into the back edge of the top. You just slide the rear bar in. The front works the same way. Once you get the top on, you hook the back first, then the front - flip the flap of top with the bar in it under and push it into the slot that runs along the whole length of the outside of the upper windshield frame. Make sure it is well seated along the full length and the cloth is not twisted. Then you snap the two corner lift dot snaps on the windshield, and the rest of the snaps and turnbuckles in the back. I always snap from inside to the outside turnbuckles on mine.. Like jeff said, make sure the top frame is fully opened, and locked into the compressed positions when putting the top on. Once everything is in place and snapped, just release the two springs on the top frame and enjoy..... Simple, right???:eyeroll:, well, it will be after you have done it a few times....
Hope that helps. I have confused myself.................:eyepop:
Bryan
Thanks for the tips and insight to this daunting task. :beer:
It sounds all involved but in reality it takes me less than 60 seconds to do after the frame is in the mounting holes.
