The Cab Top is Too Involved - Printable Version
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The Cab Top is Too Involved - tamathumper - 07-11-2011
I'm getting tired of putting my cab top up and down - the entire process is too involved. Yes, I envy those of you who just drive with your top down all the time, but the weather here includes rain at least some portion of *every* day in the summer, so leaving it in one position is not even remotely an option.
I don't mean "manual" vs. "power" mode, that wouldn't save me anything. I mean that I have to get out the wrenches - fight them onto the studs in the front and unlatch the hold-downs, then I have to open the trunk, then fold the top back being careful not to crease the window, then I have to walk all around the car fastening the Tenax fasteners, then the last two snaps in the trunk have to be snapped (the hardest part), then I'm done.
To make it easier, I leave the boot velcroed and snapped onto the inside of the rear deck so I can just flip it over the retracted top. That's saves a *lot* of time I'd otherwise spend folding down the rear seatbacks, snapping it to the inside, etc. And I don't mind taking care not to crease the rear window and inserting a towel to prevent scratches, that just seems like the right thing to do...
The process would be far, far easier if there were two possible improvements.
1. We need wrenches that can be left on the hold-down lugs. Getting them out and putting them away is a royal pain in the ass, they are ill-fitting, and they scratch the dickens out of the plastic anyway. That part of the car was designed by GM apparently. Is there an alternative?
2. We need little snap extensions that come up out of the trunk and allow the boot to be fastened without opening the trunk at all. That would make the job faster and easier by far.
I see why some people don't bother with the boot cover. I haven't gotten that disgusted with it yet, but when you go on a PCA event and watch everyone else just push a button, it sure is tempting.
The Cab Top is Too Involved - Rap - 07-11-2011
I can't believe you are complaining about your top. Lol If your had a coupe you would have a real complaint with trying to manhandle a heavy and unwieldy top off and on. It seems these tops were not designed for ease and comfort! My whole gear and cable mechanism broke the third time I took the roof off. $1100 later I just leave it on. Some dry wit here!!!
The Cab Top is Too Involved - banditsc - 07-11-2011
I leave my wrenches attached, a lot of others do also.
The Cab Top is Too Involved - 94SilverCab - 07-11-2011
Hate to disagree but, I never leave my wrenches attached...definately not reccomended.
Sorry to say that this is one of this design "features" you live with if you drive a 968 cab....could be worse, it could be a MG...
Jay
The Cab Top is Too Involved - tamathumper - 07-11-2011
Just for grins I attached the wrenches and opened the top, and the driver's side wrench popped off. It does not want to stay on the stud, no matter how much I finagle it, once the top is open. It seems to stay on OK with the top closed, however.
I'm thinking about fabricating a little wrench that's more flush with the header and which could be left attached, but that's not really my area of expertise.
The Cab Top is Too Involved - Darryl - 07-11-2011
I leave my wrenches in when the top is closed but remove them when the top is open. Not sure why...that's just the way I've always done it. I guess I thought you were supposed to leave them in when the top was closed so I always have and it works for me. No rattles, no falling out, etc. Mine are snug but go in and out fairly easily.
- Darryl
The Cab Top is Too Involved - flash - 07-12-2011
i leave my wrenches attached - i have to fight to remove them, so i figure they can just stay - i do rotate them down and away when the top is down
the zip out rear window has been great, allowing me the in between phase
The Cab Top is Too Involved - lbpesq - 07-12-2011
I also leave my wrenches in all the time as they are really difficult to remove anyway. As a bonus, it gives me room for my fast track unit in the center console. When I recently had my new top installed, I asked about the boot cover. My top guy (who I've used before and I trust) told me that it wouldn't hurt the top to just lower it and leave the boot cover off. So now when I'm just lowering the top for a short distance, (to & from work), I don't bother with the cover. If I'm going on an extended drive, I'll use the cover. Either way, I do place a towel in the folded window. I also recently picked up a light cover for the interior when the top is down. It's held down by the trunk, windshield wipers, and velcro straps around the door handles. Very convenient and protects the interior from bird crap, leaves, etc.
Bill
The Cab Top is Too Involved - rxter - 07-24-2011
I got pretty good at the change. About 3 minutes. Yes a PITA but with a little practice its not too bad - reminds me of the fussing I've done with boats for years. Added the windscreen this year. Now it takes me a good 10 minutes to put the top down - much less to put it up. Since I garage the car I leave the top down with a cover on it and only put the top up to wash or when we've just had too much sun.
I'd not drive without the cover. The sun and dust and dirt will get in there and hurt your headliner and rubber pieces.
This is what Bill is referring to. Works great.
http://www.968forums...h__1#entry86171
Not sure how well it would work in the rain.