[RavenTBK]

This has been such a beautiful week. Days of 65-78 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, slight breeze from the southwest.. just plain wow.

Well today I decided to run around topless. I already use the nifty come-along hooks from the roof of my carport to lift off my heavy top by myself, but heres something I'm not sure that has been addressed.

What about the 10 minutes it takes to remove all the bolts that hold the top on? Does anybody know of any type of 1/4 turn fasteners that can be swapped in in place of the bolts? It would make things even nicer to spend two minutes unsnapping the top, then three pulling it up instead of 10mins in the backseat and three hoisting it up.

Any thoughts? I really cant think of any 1/4 turn fasteners that would do a good job of holding it on to the body and holding it tight enough to provide a good rain seal.

Or maybe I'm thinking 5 years ahead of my time...which is what I usually do.

 

[RavenTBK]

Yeah... dzus sounds familiar. Its those type of 1/4 turn jobbers that are used to hold the cowling down on the lil Cessnas. I just dont think theres anything like that which would provide enough holding power to keep the seals tight.

The C clamps sound simple enough, but I do some serious high speed rough terrain antics which I'm sure would make those clamps come loose and my top fall off out in the middle of the forest.

I've actually considered going soft top on numerous occasions, but I'm sorta hung up on the look of the hardtop. And I really dont like the idea of drilling 50 or so holes into the body. :\

I guess I'm just a lazy SOB

Foghorn:
I'd do airtool route like you, but I'm cheap and dont have any air anything. Just the standard ratchets in the Sears 200pc kit. As for my gizmo lift, I'll bring the bossman's digicam home tonight and snap a few. I think I can get it back into the office before he notices it gone. [g]

 

[RavenTBK]

Don't go getting your butt in trouble over a pic dude

Naah, I've done it before and got caught. He said he doesnt mind as long as its back in his office and in once piece by the time he comes back. Basically, dont let on anything to show I used it. *shrugs*

...And I've always wanted to get an old hard top and cut it down to just the part that touches the body and then mounting a custom softop to that but I've never ahd the cash.....But it might work w/no new holes---Fog

That actually sounds like a good idea. I've read ideas about using aluminum strips to do the same thing. Either way... I do still kinda like my hardtop. I never really liked the sounds of leather and plastic flapping in the wind like it does on Heeps.

I'll snap a couple pix of my setup and post them on this thread tomorrowish.

I also think I'm going to take the muddy way home tonight and snap some random pics there too. [g]

 

[RavenTBK]

i bought all new bolts and backings from napa, it was like 8 bucks, the new bolts are deeper thread and shorter so they go in nice and easy, keep everything lubricated and it simplified things a lot!

Now that you mention it, I think I'm going to go this route. ....Whenever the bossman decides to pay me for this week that is....

 

[RavenTBK]

Where did you get this information from? More like 25 or so holes, a dab of silicone on each screw seals them right up.

50, 25.. whatever. Its more than two, which is my body defacement limit. A bunch of holes instills fjeer into me. Reminds me of when I took over my 82 from my Dad. He had no issue drilling millions of holes to install whatever idea he had for the day. I'd rather not go through that or anywhere near that thought again. :cry
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For Foghorn, heres some pix0rs of my "top gizzmo". If you're on dialup, it might take a couple days to load.
http://www.simplersolar.com/uphook.html