hardtop restoration?

[jamesw]

Since refinishing a top is the same amount of work no matter which kind you start with - get a good one. I'll leave it up to the group to define "good" but I like the "Alvin style" and the Parrish.

Cheers
James

[topdown]

Smoothline is a company in cheswik Pa that makes a nice hard top. They are hand crafted for around 1100.00 . Even have availible sun roof .

[Mackn367]

Hey all,

So I realize I am years late on this post haha, but I just purchased a hard top for my low windshield 67.5. It is the typical style most are talking about (has a textured look and 2 circular quarter windows). I was wondering if anyone found a good way to "restore" these. I put restore in quotes because it does not have any cracks or dents so i dont need that kind of restoration. I was just looking for a good way to restore it back to a black color and not a sunned out grey look. Any product that you have used that works well? Only other thing is that the quarter windows are shattered. I believe its like a plexiglass or something because it seems shattered from the inside or something. I need to do more research on them sorry.

Thanks!

Oh and am i the only one who drools over Alvin's hardtop??? Wow I hope i see it at Solvang this year. )))

[spl310]

If you really like Alvin's top, we should talk.

[Alvin]

If you really like Alvin's top, we should talk.

Wait, if you really like my top, then we should talk about my....









HEY YO!

[spl310]

Alvin, Vinny the fish will be over to have a sit down with you...

[boxcar]

I restored a " snug Top " . The textured tops some of you are referring to. 2 years ago for an MGB. As an experiment we coated it with Rhino liner.
Believe it or not , this worked really well. It's UV protected , durable and stays jet black for years. Just make sure not to use the textured product.
Has grit in it that works as a non skid type surface. You want the non grit product. Many color options are now available.

[Mackn367]

I restored a " snug Top " . The textured tops some of you are referring to. 2 years ago for an MGB. As an experiment we coated it with Rhino liner.
Believe it or not , this worked really well. It's UV protected , durable and stays jet black for years. Just make sure not to use the textured product.
Has grit in it that works as a non skid type surface. You want the non grit product. Many color options are now available.

I actually used Rhino liner in the bed of an old truck I used to have and it was great but do you know how heavy Rhino liner is? I’ll try and look it up too.

[FergO2k]

I restored a hardtop for one of the members on here, turned out pretty good (that is being immodest) but the real challenge was getting the rear window back in single-handed! It had been thrown across a parking lot on a windy day, and suffered some damage that required surgery. I also chose to bond the inner and outer skin in a lot more area than originally, to try and reduce the amount of rattles and ringing/resonance. (that may be a benefit of the heavy rhino liner)
Seals /weatherstrip was from local hot rod swap meet vendor.
Paint was the Plastic focused type of rattle can sold at Home Depot, Krylon Fusion. Sand well and alcohol wipe until no more dust comes off.
Light mist coats, 15 minute dry to tacky in between.

These pics start with the after and go back to the before.

Final product:

Final product.jpg

Cut open with wood insert:

Cut open with wood insert.JPG

Materials and skin bonding:

Materials and skin bonding.JPG

Skins parted with wedges:

Skins parted with wedges.JPG

The start:

The start.JPG

PS: I will cut you new side windows, let me know size and thickness, I have access to that amount of material quite readily.

[Linda]

Pick up a bottle of Aerospace 303 vinyl cleaner . It does an amazing job of cleaning and restoring vinyl tops and hard tops.
Linda

[boxcar]

It may have added 3 lbs to the top. I didn't add a 1/4" coating..... I think the biggest advantage to the rhino liner is that it is a flexible coating that mimics vinyl.
I'll let you know in June. I will be restoring a Snug top for my SRL by then and will be using the same method I used on the MGB.

Nice job on the top Ferg,

[FergO2k]

Good deal, thanks. They were all made basically the same, by the camper shell companies, and nearly all have faux vinyl texture. (It hides the flaws/ waviness of the larger surfaces. (That is why they did this to fridges way back then too)
I realize now that when I bonded the edges of the rear window frame, I had it sitting on a bench, turning it so the resin was running into the joint. But in doing so, I may have rigidized the frame into a curve where the existing pane may no longer fit. If I was to do it again I would do all that bonding in same orientation, that shown in the final product photo. Or, just leave it unbonded so that it was more compliant.

[Datsun AshLee]

If it's textured just spray it with a thick coat of filler primer and sand smooth.

[Bigtaku]

It appears that the factory and the custom hardtops have very different bottoms, where the top meets the car. The factory tops have a horizontal strip around the back end behind the windows and the custom hardtops are vertical at rear. I found the push on weatherstrip seals for the factory tops on McMaster-Carr but not for the Custom tops yet. Any help out there?

[fj20spl311]

It appears that the factory and the custom hardtops have very different bottoms, where the top meets the car. The factory tops have a horizontal strip around the back end behind the windows and the custom hardtops are vertical at rear.

trivial point here ......the molding varies by aftermarket manufacturer

Did you look at these:
Water- and Weather-Resistant Hollow Foam Rubber Push-On Seals with Bulb on Top

https://www.mcmaster.com/#bulb-seals/=1cxd3kf