hardtop restoration?
Moderators: notoptoy, S Allen, Solex68
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- Roadsteraholic
- Posts: 2758
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:06 am
- Location: Houston TX
Re: hardtop restoration?
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
Cheers
James
SRL311-00275
'96 Porsche 993 C4
2001 Excursion 7.3l
'96 Porsche 993 C4
2001 Excursion 7.3l
- topdown
- Roadster Fanatic
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- Location: New Oxford Pa
Re: hardtop restoration?
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 .
1970 spl 1600 #28739 s15 sr20de
2004 subaru forester 2.5xt
I have empty pockets but have a hand full of hope
2004 subaru forester 2.5xt
I have empty pockets but have a hand full of hope
- Mackn367
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Re: hardtop restoration?
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. )))
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
- Roadster Guru
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Re: hardtop restoration?
If you really like Alvin's top, we should talk.
"Wow, a Roadster!" Stuart Little
1967.5 2000
1967.5 2000
1964 1500
1964 1500
1967.5 1600
1968 chassis
2006 Acura MDX
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon
1995 F350 Powerstroke!
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1967.5 2000
1967.5 2000
1964 1500
1964 1500
1967.5 1600
1968 chassis
2006 Acura MDX
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon
1995 F350 Powerstroke!
More...
- Alvin
- Roadster Nut-Site Supporter
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Re: hardtop restoration?
Wait, if you really like my top, then we should talk about my....
HEY YO!
Alvin Gogineni
San Jose, CA
1967.5 SPL/SR20
1997 Acura Integra GS-R
2022 Chevy Bolt EUV
zcarblog.com
Instagram
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San Jose, CA
1967.5 SPL/SR20
1997 Acura Integra GS-R
2022 Chevy Bolt EUV
zcarblog.com
YouTube
My SR20 Build Thread
- spl310
- Roadster Guru
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Re: hardtop restoration?
Alvin, Vinny the fish will be over to have a sit down with you...
"Wow, a Roadster!" Stuart Little
1967.5 2000
1967.5 2000
1964 1500
1964 1500
1967.5 1600
1968 chassis
2006 Acura MDX
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon
1995 F350 Powerstroke!
More...
1967.5 2000
1967.5 2000
1964 1500
1964 1500
1967.5 1600
1968 chassis
2006 Acura MDX
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon
1995 F350 Powerstroke!
More...
- boxcar
- Roadster Nut
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2018 12:56 pm
- Location: Astoria oregon USA
Re: hardtop restoration?
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.
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
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Re: hardtop restoration?
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.boxcar wrote: ↑Sat Apr 14, 2018 10:13 am 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.
- FergO2k
- Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
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Re: hardtop restoration?
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: Cut open with wood insert: Materials and skin bonding: Skins parted with wedges: The start: PS: I will cut you new side windows, let me know size and thickness, I have access to that amount of material quite readily.
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: Cut open with wood insert: Materials and skin bonding: Skins parted with wedges: The start: PS: I will cut you new side windows, let me know size and thickness, I have access to that amount of material quite readily.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Fergus O
69 2L, SUs (driver, not susceptible to polish)
02 Tacoma 4 door (sold at 300k miles!)
2017 Honda Ridgeline (2021 purchase)
Los Alamitos, CA
69 2L, SUs (driver, not susceptible to polish)
02 Tacoma 4 door (sold at 300k miles!)
2017 Honda Ridgeline (2021 purchase)
Los Alamitos, CA
- Linda
- Fraternal Den Mother-RIP
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Re: hardtop restoration?
Pick up a bottle of Aerospace 303 vinyl cleaner . It does an amazing job of cleaning and restoring vinyl tops and hard tops.
Linda
Linda
Sadly-Linda has passed away 2022. She was the 311's den mother and drove the first Rare-Parts ball joint project. RIP.
- boxcar
- Roadster Nut
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- Location: Astoria oregon USA
Re: hardtop restoration?
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,
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
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Re: hardtop restoration?
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.
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.
Fergus O
69 2L, SUs (driver, not susceptible to polish)
02 Tacoma 4 door (sold at 300k miles!)
2017 Honda Ridgeline (2021 purchase)
Los Alamitos, CA
69 2L, SUs (driver, not susceptible to polish)
02 Tacoma 4 door (sold at 300k miles!)
2017 Honda Ridgeline (2021 purchase)
Los Alamitos, CA
- Datsun AshLee
- Roadster Fanatic
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Re: hardtop restoration?
If it's textured just spray it with a thick coat of filler primer and sand smooth.
- Bigtaku
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Re: hardtop restoration?
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?
Michael Montez
- fj20spl311
- Roadsteraholic
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Re: hardtop restoration?
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
Phil
67.5 SRL311-00148 Blue (FJ cruiser VOODOO Blue)
67.5 SPL311 FJ20E teal SDS EFI
69 SRL311 SOLD
19 Raptor SCAB
67.5 SRL311-00148 Blue (FJ cruiser VOODOO Blue)
67.5 SPL311 FJ20E teal SDS EFI
69 SRL311 SOLD
19 Raptor SCAB