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MG TD TF 1500 - Convertible top project

It's time to start thinking about rebuilding my convertible top for my 51 TD (2-bow). Here's where it is right now: The old vinyl top has been removed. The metal frame needs sandblasting and painting but should be fine, and the sidecurtain frames also. I've purchased the front top rail.
My father had at some point purchased a convertible top in what I think is the standard canvas Stay-fast material. However, that's all that I have. There should, I think have been other top pieces including the two long canvas strips that take the tension along the bows.
Can someone who has installed the Moss top kit tell me:
Firstly, how many cloth pieces came with the kit?
What other parts, nuts bolts and sundries came with it?
Should I just buy a new complete kit, or is it worth it to try to make my own strips and additional pieces?
The top is in excellent condition, with a little sun fading on one section which I think can be fixed with a quick dye-job.
All advice, help appreciated! (Also any photos of a convertible installation project would be great!... I have the Horst Schach book, and Dave Braun's excellent website has many pictures of his custom installation, but more is always better!)
Geoffrey M Baker

You might want to take a look at Jud Chapin's clever approach. See http://www.ttalk.info/Hood/index.html. Bud
Bud Krueger

Thanks, Bud; I've added that to my favorites list. Still, I'm hoping someone has some useful information about what exactly came with the moss canvas top kit.
Geoffrey M Baker

The stay-fast kit I bought from Moss and installed (I think quite satisfactorily) included the top, the excluder strip (the two-bow top's excluder strip was for a passenger side mounted wiper moter only - the three bow set has excluder strips for that and the center mounted motor), the side stays (those two long canvas strips that take the tension along the bows that you mentioned) and the hidem strip. I had to buy the center mount excluder strip separately and Moss was quite proud of it - especially since they toss it in for free on the three bow set. I'd be inclined to make my own side stays but the excluder strip and hidem strip are fairly complex. If you decide to order those from Moss maybe they will be merciful on the side stays.

Jud
J K Chapin

Thanks Jud, that's the information I needed; I'll contact Moss and beg them nicely. I agree, the side stays look simple but the excluder strip not so much...
Geoffrey M Baker

i purchased new top, side curtains, and top rail from Little British Car Company.

Top consisted of:
-top
-2 tension straps
-top rail cover
-hidem strip

I did use black vinyl.

all worked fine.

note: top is easier to work with if you wait for a hot sunny day, work outside.
R W Hinton

Geoff;

If, you have a "Stayfast" top, you should have no problem getting some material from an auto upholsterer. They should be able to make up the missing pieces for you quite inexpensively. The top itself is the hard part. The only hardware needed is two chrome trim screws and washers to attach the top to the rear bow, screws and finish washers ( don't come in kit ) for attachment to the rear tub rail, 2 dome snaps with screw on bases, staples ( I used brass canoe tacks ) to attach to the header rail. Also a piece of closed cell foam for under the header rail too seal the windshield top.

..CRT
CR Tyrell

Geoff, I have a new top front bow cover in Moss' tan 'stayfast' that is for an early TD with the wiper motor on the passenger side. It came with the top that I bought for 'the53'. It's just gathering dust. Do you (or, anyone else) need it? Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud, I'm thinking that I could easily dye that black... I would love to take you up on your offer.
Geoffrey M Baker

Okay, I have your address. Bud
Bud Krueger

one other note concerning installing the hidem strip:

if you have or can borrow a staple gun with a 'bull nose' you will save lots of frustration.
R W Hinton

If you can't beg, borrow or steal one definitely go to an upholstery (sp??) shop and buy a used u0pholstory staple gun. A regular "Stanley" type gun won't make you happy. Jud
J K Chapin

On its way, Geoff. You should have it Tuesday. Bud
Bud Krueger

Stayfast is an acrylic fabric which gets its color during the manufacturing process. It will not generally accept a dye after the fact.
Lew Palmer

Thanks Bud!
Lew, I'll do some testing, if nothing else I can use Bud's piece as a pattern...
Geoffrey M Baker

The guy who markets "Renovo" convertible cleaning products (see archives) says dyeing tan stayfast to black should not be a problem. I'll let you know how it goes...
Geoffrey M Baker

Bud, thanks, just wanted to know I got it. Looks great, and I'll let you know how it goes; right now I have about three weeks of hard normal work ahead of me and no car project time :(
Mind you, it's going to be 110 degrees tomorrow, not the best time to be working on the car anyway.
Geoffrey M Baker

This thread was discussed between 21/05/2014 and 31/05/2014

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