MTFCA Forum

I've gotta get busy and get my top on my '21 Touring. I have the top kit and everything needed, except the straps that go inside, in the rear, on either side of the window(s). I will be placing an order with Lang's sometime this next week to get them. I have a helper lined up as soon as the weather warms up a little.

If I were you, I'd wait for warmer weather...or maybe your got a good sized garage, if so, turn up the heat, the top fabric need to be warm to get it to stretch and believe me, you're going to be tacking and stretching it a lot...took Derrick Pang and I tacking and stretching my two man top about 3 times, until we got it to where you could bounce a quarter off of it. Also mind that first bow...if you don't take the webbing to it, it will move. You can see plenty of examples of this on some of the members cars, where they tacked it only after the installed the top pads...if you instructions tell you that, tack the webbing straps before you install those pads, otherwise you'll lose control of that first bow and the distance of your front bow over the windshield, even with the front belts hooked properly, it'll move, unless it is held by those webbing straps on top of the bows.

Yeah, The forecast here is for some sunny days with temps in the low 60s soon. I'm thinking if I bring the top in the house and spread it out for a couple of days then catch a sunny 60+ degree day in the direct sunshine, we will go for it.

If you got a top kit, the straps should have come with it.

Take your time and get it right. I've made two tops for my cars from scratch, and it's a fun thing to do, with many mistakes along the way. One thing for sure, use a plumb bob on the back bow. You need about a three inch overhang there. One of the most difficult parts of doing a top is wrapping the front bow. The material must be done on the bias, or you will never get it on, and even then, it is very hard to do. I used contact cement quite a bit on that front bow, and it helps, as well as a heat gun.

The top kit came with the car when we bought the car so the straps had probably been misplaced. Anyone that can misplace the complete set of top bows could certainly misplace a couple of straps!

Have fun, and I mean that sarcastically. Not in a mean way, but I would rather pound my pinky toe flat with a hammer than do that again. Dad and I always worked well together but on that day it got ugly.