Hardtop Project-Lesson learned
Well, I finished my hardtop project (almost). Rushed the rear window trim and put it on for a 110 mile trip to the N. Cal Chapter meet at Suisun City last weekend.
The first thumbnail below is at the event. Looks like a different car than the one with a white convertible top.
The second is a closeup of the hardtop. I think I got a good color match to the original Marina Blue (but using BC\CC, sorry guys).
The third shows a problem that I encountered and realized when I got there. I just finished the rear trim on the morning I left for the event, and I did notice the upper rear window trim seemed somewhat loose in fit but was held in place by the window caulking. In doing about 75 going to the event on I-5 in the rain, I thought I heard something fall off. I didn't realize that the right side upper rear trim was gone.
When I got home after taping the left side down, I investigated the problem. I think I found the problem in the repro "chair clips" I used which hold the trim on. The fourth photo is a photo of the original clips vs the repro ones, original clips on the left, repros on the right.
I think you'll notice in the photo, the difference in angle of the "back of the chair" between the original and the repro. The original held the trim tight against the rim of the hardtop body, whereas, the repros do nothing (unless you bend it correctly).
So after a $250 part lesson, I now have to pull the rear window take the clips off and bend them correctly.
A lesson learned, but still having fun
The first thumbnail below is at the event. Looks like a different car than the one with a white convertible top.
The second is a closeup of the hardtop. I think I got a good color match to the original Marina Blue (but using BC\CC, sorry guys).
The third shows a problem that I encountered and realized when I got there. I just finished the rear trim on the morning I left for the event, and I did notice the upper rear window trim seemed somewhat loose in fit but was held in place by the window caulking. In doing about 75 going to the event on I-5 in the rain, I thought I heard something fall off. I didn't realize that the right side upper rear trim was gone.
When I got home after taping the left side down, I investigated the problem. I think I found the problem in the repro "chair clips" I used which hold the trim on. The fourth photo is a photo of the original clips vs the repro ones, original clips on the left, repros on the right.
I think you'll notice in the photo, the difference in angle of the "back of the chair" between the original and the repro. The original held the trim tight against the rim of the hardtop body, whereas, the repros do nothing (unless you bend it correctly).
So after a $250 part lesson, I now have to pull the rear window take the clips off and bend them correctly.
A lesson learned, but still having fun
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