i have 5 snaps.
Tom
----- Original Message -----
From: "Navarrette, Vance" <vance.navarrette@intel.com>
To: <6pack@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 11:51 AM
Subject: AABESTCO convertible tops update (long).
> 6-pack members:
>
> As promised, here is my latest update on my AABESTCO (made by ACME)
> TR6 convertible top as ordered for my 1974 Triumph TR6.
>
> A quick recap: The top was delivered late, but with a free upgrade
> to overnight shipping. The delivery had slipped past the originally
promised
> date, and when I inquired AABESTCO apologized, gave a new commit date and
> over
> night shipping. It arrived right on time for the second commit date. I
feel
> that this merits a good rating for service (they are sincere, and
responded
> to
> complaints).
> I had ordered the TR6 top with zip out rear window and reflective
> stripes. The quality of the materials seems to be very good, although the
> reflective stripes do not extend around the rear of the top as they do on
> the OEM top. The stripes merely extend around the top and rear of the
window
> glass. The workmanship seems to be of excellent quality as well.
> I started fitting the top this weekend. The fitting of the top to
> the rear deck proceeded without incident, although as I have previously
> mentioned, a couple of the snaps seemed to be off by about 1/8". I
attribute
>
> this to the usual difficulties in working with vinyl that changes shape
and
> size slightly as the temperature changes. In any event, a little tugging
and
>
> pulling got the snaps fastened without any fuss.
> I did encounter an issue that will keep me from recommending the top
> to others, however. I am not certain at this point if the issue is mine,
or
> AABESTCOs.
> When snapping the top to the frame bows, the snaps refused to line
> up
> on the rear most bow (just above the rear window). A quick glance showed
> why;
> the top has 6 snaps, my frame had only 5. In addition, the top's interior
> flap
> which holds the female snaps is too wide to fit between the webbing that
> runs between the frame bows. Hmmm.
> I thought at first I might simply be missing a snap, but this is not
>
> the case. The snaps are mounted on different centers from my frame, and
> so there is no way to simply add a snap to my frame and finish the
install.
> I ended up drilling out all five snaps from my frame, drilling new
> holes on new centers, and pop riveting in the required 6 snaps to
> accommodate
> the AABESTCO top. This is not a huge deal, but could hardly be considered
> routine. In addition, I will need to trim the interior flap to make it
short
> enough to pass between the frame webbing.
> My question to all of you; How many snaps do you have on the rear
> most
> bow for your convertible top? 5, 6 or ?? If you have 5 as I did, then the
> AABESTCO top is not recommended. If your top has 6 snaps, then the top
> should
> fit w/o problems, although you may still need to shorten the interior flap
> to allow it to pass between the frame webs. By the way, the original snaps
> on my
> bow were of the black plastic variety, and so appeared to be the OEM
snaps.
> But
> I acknowledge the possibility that these were buggered by the previous
> owner.
> I will be forwarding a copy of this review to AABESTCO for comment.
> I
> suspect they will respond, as they have been very good about replying to
> emailed
> questions and comments.
>
>
> To recap -
> Service: Good.
> Price: Excellent
> Materials: Excellent
> Workmanship: Excellent
> Fitment: Fair to poor (?)
>
> Comments from cyber space?
>
>
> Vance
>
> ------------------------------
> 1974 Mimosa Yellow Triumph TR6
> Cogito Ergo Zoom
> (I think, therefore I go fast)
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