Midyear Ragtop Question....
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Re: Midyear Ragtop Question.... (Patrick Tighe)
Patrick, it appears to me that the adhesive, staples, tacks or whatever that holds the corner in place has relaxed over the years and allowed the corner to pull up slightly creating the "pucker". I don't think you will have this specific problem on a new installation, but you'll wonder if all the wrinkles will ever go away.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Re: Midyear Ragtop Question.... (Patrick Tighe)
I definitely agree with your assessment. Storing a convertible with the top and windows up is the only way to go. In my neighborhood in West Texas, it is a necessity just to keep the dust and the neighbors' cats out of the interior (I HATE CATS). :D :D
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,834
Likes: 373
From: Mobile AL
Re: Midyear Ragtop Question.... (Patrick Tighe)
The soft top is attached to the frame so that there is force stretching the vinyl horizontally toward the window and vertically toward the deck lid. The vinyl isn't attached to anything right at the corner. There is nothing applying force in a downward direction toward the door handle to pull out that particular wrinkle. That's why many tops have a wrinkle there. It's a function of the way they are sewn (and later shrink) more than the initial installation. A heat gun might take it out for a while until the vinyl shrinks some more.
If that is the only place your present top is wrinkled, you have an excellent fit.
If that is the only place your present top is wrinkled, you have an excellent fit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Midyear Ragtop Question.... (Patrick Tighe)
Patrick,
Interesting post as I just received a new top from ZIP (purchased on the forum) I looked at my top (old) and it is not "puckered". My question is this; Who has replaced their top? What do I need to look for, replace the weather stripping, any "tricks"? Thanks for any replys.
Interesting post as I just received a new top from ZIP (purchased on the forum) I looked at my top (old) and it is not "puckered". My question is this; Who has replaced their top? What do I need to look for, replace the weather stripping, any "tricks"? Thanks for any replys.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 7,480
Likes: 457
From: POTSDAM NY/Punta Gorda FL
Re: Midyear Ragtop Question.... (Patrick Tighe)
Patrick,
I always stored my car if it was going to be more than a few days with the top up, I have seen the same wrinkle along with overall shrinkage on a friends car who put the hard top on for the winter.
Tom
I always stored my car if it was going to be more than a few days with the top up, I have seen the same wrinkle along with overall shrinkage on a friends car who put the hard top on for the winter.
Tom
