[C1] Soft top flapping noise
03-17-2018, 11:56 PM
#1
5th Gear
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Soft top flapping noise
I just got a new soft top on my '61. The flapping noise of the top hitting the supports seems louder than before. What have people found to minimize the noise? Anything you can wedge in there whole driving or wrap on the support that softens the noise yet doesn't prevent it from folding? I played around when driving home and stuck my hand in there and it was much better so I assume someone has attempted a solution.
03-18-2018, 03:03 AM
#2
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St. Jude Donor '07
you might try a length of the smallest pipe insulation around the offending bow. should be easy to put in and take out and soft enough to fold if left in.
Bill
Bill
Last edited by wmf62; 03-18-2018 at 03:04 AM.
03-18-2018, 07:50 AM
#3
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Don't have that problem with R66, we only put the top up to wash it. Just my suggestion.
03-18-2018, 10:00 AM
#5
Team Owner
Before you start putting household plumbing products in your cockpit, I'd check the top adjustment carefully... How the top sits along the top of the sidewindows, etc..
Particularly - look at the latch adjustment front and rear. Flapping is due to air movement and leaks on these cars are usually across the windshield header bar and out under the deck lid latches...
Having said all that, if you go fast enough in these old cars...things are gonna flap around!
Particularly - look at the latch adjustment front and rear. Flapping is due to air movement and leaks on these cars are usually across the windshield header bar and out under the deck lid latches...
Having said all that, if you go fast enough in these old cars...things are gonna flap around!
03-18-2018, 02:45 PM
#6
Race Director
I found that my hard top works wonders for eliminating the flapping.
Often the second bar is not positioned correctly (not high enough), which doesn't give enough top tension in that area.
Doug
Often the second bar is not positioned correctly (not high enough), which doesn't give enough top tension in that area.
Doug
03-18-2018, 02:47 PM
#7
Race Director
Post a top of top level level side view pic with the top up. I can give you an idea about the second bow.
Doug
Doug
03-18-2018, 02:50 PM
#8
Race Director
BTW, ether are two way to install a new top: some what loose, which allows everything to latch front and back and not leak and is more or less as from the factory and may flap a little bit at speed, and drum tight, which is incorrect but what many people want to see, and allows air and water leaks.
Doug
Doug
03-18-2018, 08:02 PM
#9
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If it’s a new top it should not be flapping at all if the shop installed it correctly. It should be tight but not too tight. Did they install new pads?
Last edited by Geralds57; 03-18-2018 at 08:03 PM.
.. although it does make a perfect greenhouse 'hot house' 
03-19-2018, 12:44 AM
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After looking at yours Bill, I KNOW mine isn't adjusted right. I didn't know you could adjust the middle bow up or down....actually I never looked at it that close. It's usually down so it's only an emergency top anyway.....but look at the way it almost droops in the middle.....
I could really use the extra inch or so of headroom.....it hurts when going over railway tracks and I hit my noggin on that one.
Last edited by Kerrmudgeon; 03-19-2018 at 12:46 AM.
03-19-2018, 05:50 AM
#13
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St. Jude Donor '07
After looking at yours Bill, I KNOW mine isn't adjusted right. I didn't know you could adjust the middle bow up or down....actually I never looked at it that close. It's usually down so it's only an emergency top anyway.....but look at the way it almost droops in the middle.....
I could really use the extra inch or so of headroom.....it hurts when going over railway tracks and I hit my noggin on that one.
I could really use the extra inch or so of headroom.....it hurts when going over railway tracks and I hit my noggin on that one.
Bill
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03-19-2018, 07:48 AM
#14
Team Owner
This is how it should look - Stayfast, professionally installed by a forum member that's probably done hundreds.
Kermudgeon - I agree, yours doesn't look like its adjusted properly - but I'm no expert...
Kermudgeon - I agree, yours doesn't look like its adjusted properly - but I'm no expert...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 03-19-2018 at 07:49 AM.
03-19-2018, 11:25 AM
#15
Race Director
Frank, yours looks right.
Kermudgeon, your second bow is too far to the rear.
Bill, yours is better, but probably not quite correct.
The tops get changed over the years and the second bow migrates bit further back each time,e specially if people just use the old pads as guides for the new pads.
The rear bow weather strip should sit fairly tight to the rear deck, but many propel install the top incorrectly so the weather strip doesn't mar the deck paint.
Doug
Kermudgeon, your second bow is too far to the rear.
Bill, yours is better, but probably not quite correct.
The tops get changed over the years and the second bow migrates bit further back each time,e specially if people just use the old pads as guides for the new pads.
The rear bow weather strip should sit fairly tight to the rear deck, but many propel install the top incorrectly so the weather strip doesn't mar the deck paint.
Doug
03-19-2018, 11:37 AM
#16
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The more I see of your old '61, the more I miss it, Frankie. And I admire the car locked in the garage WITH 'The Club' locked onto the steering wheel....By the time some tweeker broke in and started to wrestle with the thing, no doubt the racket generated would be noticed. Better safe than sorry!
03-19-2018, 12:18 PM
#17
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St. Jude Donor '07
Frank, yours looks right.
Kermudgeon, your second bow is too far to the rear.
Bill, yours is better, but probably not quite correct.
The tops get changed over the years and the second bow migrates bit further back each time,e specially if people just use the old pads as guides for the new pads.
The rear bow weather strip should sit fairly tight to the rear deck, but many propel install the top incorrectly so the weather strip doesn't mar the deck paint.
Doug
Kermudgeon, your second bow is too far to the rear.
Bill, yours is better, but probably not quite correct.
The tops get changed over the years and the second bow migrates bit further back each time,e specially if people just use the old pads as guides for the new pads.
The rear bow weather strip should sit fairly tight to the rear deck, but many propel install the top incorrectly so the weather strip doesn't mar the deck paint.
Doug
I use a homemade vinyl rub strip made from rear window vinyl (thicker) to protect the paint for both tops
Bill
03-19-2018, 09:13 PM
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03-20-2018, 12:43 AM
#19
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