Hardtop adjustmen

[uzbek]

Thinking of putting my hardtop on for the winter when it comes. It was fitted last year but I noticed that either the hardtop or the car body are a fraction out of true so I could not quite get both sides locked down behind the B pillar.

I only need to find about 5-10mm I suspect, might try just slimming down the rubber washers on the locking pins but I also wondered if the baseplate can be adjusted in some way. Any other suggestions would be good. I don't see that I can extend the locking pin.

I did try just jacking up the rear corner to see if the body would flex a smidge to get it locked but that did not work!

Bruce

[DJT]

Bruce,

The base plates can be raised by using washers underneath as shims. Bit of a b***** getting it all together again though as you really need several veral slim double-jointed fingers.

If it is just a question of squashing down new rubbers under the locking handles and around the HRS connections, then you could try what I had to do the first few times after I rebuilt my hardtop. Use a ratchet strap and hook the ends around the subframe mounts both sides and laid over the roof (use a blanket as padding) and tighten the strap to pull the roof down until the handles lock. Some petroleum jelly or similar on the rubbers (behave at the back! ) will help.

[uzbek]

Thanks

I'll have a look at the base plates. Sounds like a job for my wife's small hands maybe! I can imagine if anything gets dropped it will disappear into the body shell never to be seen again.

The rubbers etc are all new, the hardtop was restored a few years ago and never fitted, I suspect once I get it locked in once it will fit again more easily. I have it winched into the roof of my garage, I thought about just lowering it until 6 inches above the fixings and then just letting go....

[Mark Shutt]

I couldn't find new rubber rings so used some grommets that were slimmer profile and it lowered it a bit more. I also raised the lock plates so they wee flush with the rear wing and tonneau cover. agreed, getting the two 7/16th nuts off is challenging but after 2 or 3 goes you soon get the knack! I used a spanner on the inner nut and a floppy stumpy ratchet with deep socket on the outer nut

[uzbek]

Luckily I do have a floppy stumpy ratchet!

Quiet at the back etc