If all else fails, you can loosen the six bolts (three per side) where the
top bows bolt to the car body. This should give you a little more slack to
get everything fastened. Also, You can loosen the four bolts holding the
windshield to the cowl and pull rearward on the window. Then once the hood
is up realign the windshield frame. This may take three people, use care
not to break the windshield. Then drive the car at speed with all the side
windows down. This will stretch the top. Finally, adjust the top bows to
remove any slack and retighten the six bolts.
David Riker
74 Midget
63 Falcon
70 Torino
http://personalweb.sunset.net/~davidr
----- Original Message -----
From "kate & gary" <kgb at clipper.net>
To: "Charles Sorkin" <cdsorkin@ix.netcom.com>
Cc: "Spridgets List" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2000 7:41 PM
Subject: Re: Top stretching
> Pull the top up to where the front bows are toward the windscreen, but 3 -
6
> inches away. This should allow you enough slack to fasten all the rear
snaps.
> Then park it in the sun, or put a small electric heater inside the car to
warm
> the vinyl enough to allow it to stretch. You should then be able to fasten
the
> front latches. It needs to be tight, or the wind whipping it about as you
drive
> will cause it to wear out too soon. Sometimes a volunteer can be pressed
into
> use to hold the top in position while you do the latches.
> Kate
>
> Charles Sorkin wrote:
>
> > Good evening list:
> >
> > Well, I finally got around to putting the top back up on the Midget, for
the
> > first time since April. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I
> > couldn't get all of the fasteners on to the studs. Is there an easy way
to
> > stretch the top material to its previous dimensions? I tried running
the
> > heater with the windows up for a bit, and parking in the sun. It helped
a
> > little bit, but I still can't get about half of the fasteners attached.
> >
> > Suggestions? Perhaps I should get a second heater so that I can leave
the
> > top down all winter.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Charles
> > '74 Midget
> > '68 Sprite
> > Bloomfield, NJ
> > cdsorkin@cdsorkin.com
> > "How about we duck inside for a Hen?"
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