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MG TD TF 1500 - Convertible top complete!

Whew! Another project complete!
My convertible top is assembled and finished. I do want to give it another coat of Renovo and then weatherproof it, but the work is done.
To sum up on work I had to do: because I only had the single large piece of canvas from the kit my father bought 25+ years ago, I made my own sidestays using heavy duty nylon webbing, which are adjustable and mount to metal plates - much, much stronger than the original. Bud Kreuger sent me the header piece in tan, which I had to dye and I can report back that the Renovo colorant product works very well, you cannot tell it was originally tan.
I also had to cut and reweld the frame because it was such a poor fit to the windshield, and made my own fittings by welding half inch pipe to the flat plates that screw into the bottom of the ash header. This makes for a tight, clean fit to the windshield.
I used snaps to mount the convertible to the back frame; but I'm thinking I may redo these as I am NOT sold on the snaps holding up on the road; just not that tight a fit overall.
The canvas was a VERY tight fit (possibly shrunk over 25 years!) and so I ended up running the hidem strip more over the top of the ash header bar than on the leading edge; but it all looks pretty good (for newbie work, anyway) and I am exceedingly pleased with the result!
Now I'll enjoy some well earned shade while driving round Tucson!
On to the next projects - the side curtains and my heater.

Geoffrey M Baker

Another picture

Geoffrey M Baker

Another...

Geoffrey M Baker

and the last quarter...

Geoffrey M Baker

I've only driven with my top up twice but had no problem with the snaps on the rear rail holding either time. Jud. Ps. I didn't exceed 50 mph.
J K Chapin

My heartfelt thanks to Bud Kreuger in particular, who kindly supplied me with the canvas piece I was missing; and to everyone else for their many suggestions and tips!
Geoffrey M Baker

Geoffrey - Trust me, the gripper snaps are quite secure. I did my top like that some 10 - 15 years ago and have not had a bit of a problem with them, even driving 65 on the freeway with and without the side curtains in place. The snaps may not feel secure, but I often have to use a plastic pry bar (for undoing trim on newer cars) to pop them loose. Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

This thread was discussed on 27/10/2014

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