any guide on replace soft top without frame?

rndguy · Post by **rndguy** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 3:47 pm

Hi

I recently bought a soft top without frame as my old one got slashed by someone this year

Its apparent that it was a hasty buy without enough research as i see everywhere ive searched that replacing the soft top is much much easier with the frame already installed on it rather than just the fabric. Is there a guide out there on how to replace the fabric only? I do not dare to do this myself but i do have a few mechanical savvy friends that probably can if they have some instructions, but i can only seem to find guides on how to replace with frame.

cath's mg · Post by **cath's mg** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 5:27 pm

Hi, I know
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4206
has done this, if he doesn't reply to your post it might be worth contacting him.
Good Luck

Gary

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 5:50 pm

cath's mg wrote:Hi, I know
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4206
has done this, if he doesn't reply to your post it might be worth contacting him.
Good Luck

Gary

Yep, that's me. When I get home I'll post the "how to" guide that I followed. Clear a whole day- it's one of those jobs that just can't be rushed. I would advise taking the time to clean the frame, repaint where needed and oil all the moving parts etc whilst you can.

Will post the link later when I get back to my home laptop

radiomarty · Post by **radiomarty** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 5:59 pm

Hi I am also going to attempted this, hence my post on 'soft top frame' so any help would be most gratefully received - I did find this :
http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=293588

Marty

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 7:46 pm

Right gents, this was the guide I followed:

http://www.the-t-bar.com/en/forum/22-cj ... to-replace

Good luck!

rndguy · Post by **rndguy** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:36 pm

thanks! this looks way above my level of expertise

hope i can bribe some friends to do this

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:48 pm

You'll be fine- just take your time! It's a hugely satisfying job- I'd never done a roof re-skin before and in hindsight I can see why the manufacturers' charge £200 to fit it for you.

I'd do it again though (and probably in half the time!)

Let me know how you get on and good luck!

radiomarty · Post by **radiomarty** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 8:47 pm

Many thanks for the guide Stuart - had a couple of spare hours today so have managed to get the old cover off (Not too bad a job )- Hope to get the new one on in the next couple of days

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:40 pm

Good work!

Something that I found when refitting that wasn't in the how to guide is when you re-skin the roof to start from the centre and work outwards when you rivet the rear bar at the base of the back window- I found then that the holes lined up really easily. Also, use chalk to mark where the centre of the front rail is when you glue it down and work from the centre outwards. Whilst you've got the chance really polish all the rubber seals too and get them back to tip top condition. On one of my side window seals the rubber was flattened over time, so putting some hosepipe inside it reformed it really well.

Make sure scalpel blade is razor sharp for refitting too.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:42 pm

Good work!

Something that I found when refitting that wasn't in the how to guide is when you re-skin the roof to start from the centre and work outwards when you rivet the rear bar at the base of the back window- I found then that the holes lined up really easily. Also, use chalk to mark where the centre of the front rail is when you glue it down and work from the centre outwards. Whilst you've got the chance really polish all the rubber seals too and get them back to tip top condition. On one of my side window seals the rubber was flattened over time, so putting some hosepipe inside it reformed it really well.

Make sure scalpel blade is razor sharp for refitting too.

radiomarty · Post by **radiomarty** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 10:17 pm

Job now done on my wife's car - pleased with the result.Just need to paint the rivets black. The replacement was I believe for a Chinese model with no zip for the rear window. One quick question - the rear roof rail is movable on my frame (Mark 2 frame (one seam)as fitted from July 1997 but as the rear glass is not fixed to the frame, as on zipped version. it needs a helping hand to its correct position - does the later frame have a fixed rail at the rear and is there a simple mod I can do ?

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 10:05 am

Not quite sure what you mean by the frame etc....but really good job pal- looks great!

cath's mg · Post by **cath's mg** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 11:46 am

radiomarty wrote: One quick question - the rear roof rail is movable on my frame (Mark 2 frame (one seam)as fitted from July 1997 but as the rear glass is not fixed to the frame, as on zipped version. it needs a helping hand to its correct position - does the later frame have a fixed rail at the rear and is there a simple mod I can do ?

Do you mean you have to move the rail to put the hood down?
If so something like the attached is a quick cheap fix

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-PACKAGED- ... 3cd3170871

Hood looks good, nice job

Gary

radiomarty · Post by **radiomarty** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:03 pm

Thanks chaps - the 'bar' in question is normally fixed to the headlining holding the rear window upper zip section - as mine is a non removable window there is nothing on the headlining to fix it to so I have to push it into position - photo of rear bar after I have pushed to the correct position :

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any guide on replace soft top without frame?

any guide on replace soft top without frame?

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