dumb person
Well-known member
The person that sent an email, i emailed back but never have luck with them reaching anyone.
Is there a definitive leatherback top method?
- Thread starter dumb person
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TimM
Member
Sorry about the delay in responding, between Hershey, fixing the Leatherback and just general life the Fordbarn has not been regularly addressed! Did look for messages, but that's all.
The instructions for the top from the manufactures called for the cutting of the top material to within 2" of the edge of the window frame. Then use a heat gun or hair dryer to pull the material in till you can tack it on the inside of the frame. Due to the weatherstripping around the glass itself you can judge just how far inside you need to be before the rubber helps seal it. The instructions note that you may have to make small radial cuts in the material to make the rounded corners. We made them very slowly and carefully. As I said before however, make sure your wood window opening is smooth and today I would even route a small round-over in mine to make the pulling go better.
Good luck
The instructions for the top from the manufactures called for the cutting of the top material to within 2" of the edge of the window frame. Then use a heat gun or hair dryer to pull the material in till you can tack it on the inside of the frame. Due to the weatherstripping around the glass itself you can judge just how far inside you need to be before the rubber helps seal it. The instructions note that you may have to make small radial cuts in the material to make the rounded corners. We made them very slowly and carefully. As I said before however, make sure your wood window opening is smooth and today I would even route a small round-over in mine to make the pulling go better.
Good luck
TimM
Member
I have tried to attach a few pictures from our efforts in putting this top on. We followed the rules and backed it into the sunlight. Big help. The top kit material came stitched together with a flap extending from the top piece over the rear section, that we cut to length once we had pulled it toward the front of the car. You can see in the finished picture the dimples that are caused by the hunting down of free area to tack to along the beltline.
Hope these help
Hope these help
Attachments
dumb person
Well-known member
Thankyou all for the pictures & the service bulletins someone sent me. i sort of finished the top but it has a few wrinkles, ones i can live with.
dumb person
Well-known member
(i put red circles where i put the tacks, just temporary ones, didn't drive them all the way down, so i could pull them out later. Whether or not i was understanding the instructions correctly is another story.)
Thanks, I about came to the same conclusion. Pulling them out later is the answer I was looking for as I don't see any other way not replacing them would work. I guess getting the top groove firmly located is the key to the whole installation.
John
Thanks, I about came to the same conclusion. Pulling them out later is the answer I was looking for as I don't see any other way not replacing them would work. I guess getting the top groove firmly located is the key to the whole installation.
John