Open Air hardtop

[Tom109]

With a rare, wide-open weekend in front of me, I finally felt motivated to tackle a long standing problem - how to finish the hole I cut in my roof!


The goal was to boost hardtop ventilation by installing a folding fabric sunroof. Due to interference between the sunroof frame and the hardtop's construction, I shelved it until I developed a solution. Well, here it is




After the final, successful installation, I had to pull everything to prep the roof for paint and headlining. More to come in the following weeks…

Tom P.

[mlp141]

Very cool.

[scatterling]

nice!!

[Frank84]

wow! I love it!

[crazyfish]

Awesome.

[galen211]

Is that a kit or did you make it?

[Tom109]

Galen,

This was a Britax (Weathershields) Sunway kit as used on MGB's in the 60's-70's. I was lucky enough to stumble into a guy that had an extra NOS kit kicking around after restoring his MGB GT. I had to have it when I saw it, but I had no idea if it would ever fit a LR roof. Long story short - it now fits and even offers a little GB provenance...

Tom P.

[Tom109]

With all the recent rain and thunder storms I never thought I get any painting done. Well, here is the roof. The gutter was separated from the roof and cleaned, but retains it's original patina. It was re-rived and sealed to the roof with 3M 5200, then all seams were sealed on the inside with 5200, and 3m seam sealer along the exterior gutter.


I also coated the tailgate in DBG, and the upper lift-gate skin - limestone inside and primer outside - which is now ready for re-assembly.

Tom P.

[Tom109]

OK, the roof insulation is now pre-cut, and I'm ready to start gluing teh fabric to it and then to the the roof. However, I seem to have hit a bump in the road. Apparently I cut the alpine window opening just a tad too small?

I know it can be difficult, but the glass and rubber physically will not fit! When I cut them, I decided to err on the "small" side, so I cut them +0.25" over the glass dimensions. After really forcing things together, it appears I need at least +0.3125-0.375".

So, now I have to tape all than shiny new paint, bring out the jigsaw and shave a tiny bit more.

Tom P.

[Frank84]

Better too small than too big!