New soft top questions

I am replacing the soft top on my 1969 roundtail Spider and have some questions.

Some of the frame joints are pretty loose. Noticably where the front bar attaches to the side frame (about 5mm fore/aft movement) and the curved piece, that hangs vertically when the top is up, rattles on its pivots. Should I tighten up these joints? Is there a special tool for the round nuts with a slot in them?

I don't have any springs in the mechanism. On the Duetto parts manual I see there are a couple either side and I look to have the mounting brackets. Should there be springs and if so, are there any available equivalents?

Will 500ml of contact glue (Evo-stik) be enough?

Will it ever end...

Hi Cosmo - only parts vendor I seen a detailed list of softtop frame are Frank Hanel, Germany. http://www.ar-hanel.de/pdf/spider.pdf
Pages 47-48 shows detailad parts drawing and parts no.
You find prices on his on-line shop http://www.ar-hanel.de/webshop/index.html
Sorry, all are in German. I use http://www.freetranslation.com/free/ when I can't translate myself.
Springs shown on drawing at the B-post seem to be pretty standard items, just getting the right lenght. Some nuts and bolts are shown in the drawing but can't see if they are the ones you need.
Good look

Now that my smart new soft top is in place I can answer a couple of my own questions.

The play in the hood mechanism seems to be intentional. There is not enough thread on the screws to get everything tightened up without play so unless a lot of spacers have gone missing it must be made that way.

I did need more than 500ml of Evostik Timebond to get the whole job done. It may be possible to get away with just 500ml as I used more than normal by following Coburn's advice and used two coats of glue, the first as a sealer - although I only did that on the material pieces. I also elected to retrim the inside of the top rail and the rear channel in vinyl which isn't strictly necessary.

I haven't yet had a chance to look around for replacement springs yet.

Hi Cosmo,
i am about to attempt fitting a new hood to my '87 spider. I have noticed after breaking of the first of 22 m8 nuts that they are a little rusted!!! I'm sure i read somewhere that I can replace these with machine screws? any ides how you get to the back of the water channel to do this??

regards,

Lee

I think the hood is different on the later cars as I didn't have many nuts to undo. Which bit exactly do you mean by "the water channel"?

cosmo,
when you take out the rear carpet to gain access. there is a channel which leads to drain holes which then dump the water out through the sills (rockers) this in the the workshop manual is called a water channel and there are 22 off 8mm nuts which need to be removed to remove 3 off steel fixing brackets. all of the nuts are rusted and the first attemp ended in a broken screw and some frustration. I'm sure i read somewhere how to get at these from the rear and replace them with news screws but can't see how at the moment.

i have to sand and paint all of the hood frame yet but can't get the back of the soft top off before I can progress................Help anyone???

This definitely sounds different to my 1968 roundtail - it doesn't even come with carpets for a start, just rubber mats. You could try the usual things for stuck nuts like soaking in penetrating oil and applying heat but it sounds like you'll need to replace at least one anyway.

Can you re-drill the holes in the channel and use something simple like a self tapping screw? There is also a type of fixing that is a captive nut which you screw into an oversize hole and then you can thread a bolt into it.

Sorry, this is probably not much help as I can't visualise the problem - could you post a picture?

Cosmo,
thanks for the help. I have now completed the installation of the new hood............. absolute nightmare!! you need about 4 hands and fingers like a small child. I drilled out the broken studs and then after tapping them one size larger i.e. from M5 to M6, put in some small allthread and managed to re-attech the new hood without major issues.

if it's of interest I got the hood from an American store on Ebay. due to the dollar/pound exchange rate it was less than half the cost in the UK. the address is below and he does all hoods from Guilletta, duetto to series 4.

http://stores.ebay.com/Diamond-Mall_...ftidZ2QQtZ km

hope this is of interest to you fellow alfa spider drivers??

regards,

Lee

Originally Posted by ltarpey

http://stores.ebay.com/Diamond-Mall_...ftidZ2QQtZ km

hope this is of interest to you fellow alfa spider drivers??

regards,

Lee

Bloody damn right it's of interest, Lee!

Thanks for that!

Lord Snooty,
No Problems glad to be of service............. the total cost including shipping was about £125.00 and it arrived in 6 days. you may need to email the guy whose name is Firas and ask him to note on the customs declaration that it is a gift or sample to avoid any further import taxes or similar. He was a most helpful man.

regards,

Lee

Thanks Lee,

Do you know if replacing a soft top is a difficult job?

One perhaps where I'd best get an expert to do it?

Originally Posted by Lord Snooty

Thanks Lee,

Do you know if replacing a soft top is a difficult job?

One perhaps where I'd best get an expert to do it?

Try this site, http://www.alfaholics.com/news/document_13_7.php

I think, as far as I am concerned I would probably pay someone to do it. Buy it from the States though!

Originally Posted by renone

Try this site, http://www.alfaholics.com/news/document_13_7.php

I think, as far as I am concerned I would probably pay someone to do it. Buy it from the States though!

Thanks for that, Renone.

Think I'll be going along the expert route!

(My hood frame could also do with a refurb)

Originally Posted by ltarpey

Lord Snooty,
No Problems glad to be of service............. the total cost including shipping was about £125.00 and it arrived in 6 days. you may need to email the guy whose name is Firas and ask him to note on the customs declaration that it is a gift or sample to avoid any further import taxes or similar. He was a most helpful man.

regards,

Lee

Thanks again, Lee.

Do you have any close up piccys of your Spider?

I am considering changing my phonedials for more modern alloys, and am interested to see ya wheels!

Originally Posted by Lord Snooty

Do you know if replacing a soft top is a difficult job?

One perhaps where I'd best get an expert to do it?

The contact glue you use dries pretty quickly (sometimes too quickly!) so you can move at a fair pace. I took my time and spent a few days over it but you should be able to do it in a weekend. I got a lot of help over the phone from Coburns, where I bought the top from.

I guess it's one of those jobs where if you are wavering over being able to do it then it may be best to call an expert.

Dear Lord Snooty,
sorry for the delay in response, been a way from home on business just for a change.........

In answer to your questions:
Fitting the soft top is a bit of a job, I've just done mine myself over the weekend. as long as you are prepared for a bit of hard work and frustration it is not too difficult. I see your spider is an '86 so it should be exactly the same as mine. I have an Alfa workshop manual I have which I could mail you if i can figure out how to exchange mail addresses without doing it in a public forum??

expect to spend at least a full day on the job and be prepared for some exasperation. I will be finishing mine this weekend, family allowing and may be able to post some piccies if interested??

I Have attached a few photo's showing my wheels and the old hood.......off on my travels again for 2 days so probably won't be back in touch until the weekend...

regards,

Lee

Originally Posted by ltarpey

I have an Alfa workshop manual I have which I could mail you if i can figure out how to exchange mail addresses without doing it in a public forum??

There is a private message system that you can use. If you click on the user name in the left of a post then you should get a menu that includes "Send Private Message".

I Have attached a few photo's showing my wheels and the old hood.......

Nice wheels!

Cosmo,
Thanks for the help and by the way when you want to get rid of your lovely spider I've got £78.52 going spare in the bank and may be interested if you'd be so kind as to bear me in mind!!!

Mind you I'll have to check with the wife and kids so maybe you'd best hold on to it for a while longer while i save up a little more!!

take care,

regards,

Lee