New project

[Petrus]

Like I don´t have enough ´in the air´ with the car.

Took Bubbly gf to the coast and she asked why the hard top.
That led to me observing that a tonneau would be nice too.
´What is that?´
So I explained and also that it was a pipe dream becasue not for sale and the local shop saw nothing in it.
´Oh but I think I can do that!´

Back at her place she showed me material choices in black, silvergrey and signalred; the colours of mine.
´The zipper is a bit more limited´ she says. So, will take the measure and she will have a look what is availeble.

Oh my. She is not one to let grass grow over things either; wants to know the length tomorrow.
The tonneau project is under way!!

[Ardent]

Been a long held desire for such a thing.

No skills to fabricate myself. But have pondered how to secure it.

It did occur to me that the rear Hard top brackets could in some way be used to anchor.

I also thought if a variation of an old style picture rail hook, could be slipped behind the dash to provide something at the front.

[1979scotte]

Would be great for winter roof down motoring no doubt.
Possibly feel a bit Stirling Moss

[Petrus]

It will involve riveting poppers to the door. Cannot see an alternative to that.

At the rear Í will use the hardtop fixtures and a metal strip sewn in the cover.
For whom lacking a hard top, it will involve riveting some more poppers at the rear.

At the front I am thinking of screwing two buttons on either side of the dash top.

At least it is underway this and Bubbly is one to keep it/me moving!!

[McMr2]

But...what about the added weight of all those rivets?

 

[105e]

With the added lightness, comfort parts removed and now poppers i am thinking you really want a lotus 7 type car...

[Petrus]

But...what about the added weight of all those rivets?

 

Need to drill holes first :-)

[Petrus]

With the added lightness, comfort parts removed and now poppers i am thinking you really want a lotus 7 type car...

You think wrong; tried that late seventies and I can assure you that my maín ´hobby´ precludes that. Unlike those who complain about their logic, I go with their flow. If I get a tonneau done it is rather proof of that ​puddin´ no?!

...and think about the aero dudes!!

Also kinda cool ánd the only one :-)


p.s.  approx. 125 cm. zipper and Bubbly is already sourcing, icl. looking at material options like





It will probably end up being black: Though the heavier pvc material comes in 14 colours, the red is darker :-(

[Petrus]

The ´Lift-the-DOT´ studs don´t look half bad on the dash top I think:



Would all in all make it more ´classic´ :-)

[Ardent]

looking forward to seeing how this goes.
Love the idea. But I know I could not bring myself install  the fittings.

[Petrus]

looking forward to seeing how this goes.
Love the idea. But I know I could not bring myself install  the fittings.

Ah, can´t bake an omelet without breaking eggs; took a drill and saw to the bonnet so the fittings will be a peace of cake ;-)

Speaking of bonnets; what a pita the grp mould...

[m1tch]

Think I have seen someone create a tonneau cover before, there is also the option for the off the shelf fibreglass/carbon fibre tonneau 'covers' which make it into a spider (with the bumps behind the seats).

You should be able to just use some rivnuts/nutserts to create some threaded holes in the bodywork to attach any posts you need.

[Petrus]

Think I have seen someone create a tonneau cover before,

By all means more data s I could find NOTHING and only interested in reinventing the wheel if needed.

there is also the option for the off the shelf fibreglass/carbon fibre tonneau 'covers' which make it into a spider (with the bumps behind the seats).

That is ónly humps behind the seats though, so in effect covering only the softtop; i.e. a pita for all but garaging.

You should be able to just use some rivnuts/nutserts to create some threaded holes in the bodywork to attach any posts you need.

Yes revnuts are one solution to secure the fittings. Most common are rivetting or screwing the buttons directly into the bodywork. For studs there is no solid alternative to the revnut.

I will probably be using a combination of lift-the-dot, push buttons and turn thingamies with a tongue through the hard top fitting at the back.
But, as observed above, anyone who dunnit before would be a great example!

[shnazzle]

What's wrong with the soft top?  A hell of a lot quicker, water proof and..it's there...

[Petrus]

What's wrong with the soft top?  A hell of a lot quicker, water proof and..it's there...

Nothing.

But then there is nothing wróng with a nice lasagna either and I still like a long list of other dishes too. Heck they even make having lasagna every now and then even better.

Not eveyything need to be about wrong or bettah.

That observed, driving top down solo ís better with the other half of the tub covered. For racers it would be a performance item even. For @AdamR28 without his windscreen even more.

So; it is something I líke simply because and yes it doés have it´s specific use which a soft top does not offer.
Bubbly has found me the right zippah btw.
Tomorrow she´s taking me to a shop selling the cloth and fittings.
And there we have the second reason; she is really Bubbly about making me something.

[shnazzle]

Fair enough!
And I guess it's a nice addition for those who have removed the soft top.

[Petrus]

And then there is that the Spyder is just about the only cabrio it is not availeble for.
Even both the MGF and TF have their specific ones.

[onion86]

Think I have seen someone create a tonneau cover before,

By all means more data s I could find NOTHING and only interested in reinventing the wheel if needed.

This 2 piece set of side ones used to exist back maybe 10 years ago, they didn't fit that great though in most cases iirc and was the only thing that I remember seeing easily available on the forum in the 13 years I've been here.


This was the full one that someone made: http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showphoto.php?photo=85480&title=dscf5825&cat=500

[Dev]

Think I have seen someone create a tonneau cover before,

By all means more data s I could find NOTHING and only interested in reinventing the wheel if needed.

This was the full one that someone made: http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showphoto.php?photo=85480&title=dscf5825&cat=500

 I thought I would never see that again. That link is from a member who was making other peoples discontinued projects and reproducing them in the Philippines. I believe her name is Jenny and she was courteous enough to ask me before she replicated some of my discontinued items. At one time when our cars were flourishing  there was so many parts to chose from and now the party is over. I never realized how fortunate I was to buy the navpod in unused condition for $40 and now its priceless.

 I also remember those side pieces. It looked ok but it really didn't add anything or take away anything so it just wasn't very popular.

[Petrus]

I believe her name is Jenny

May be the same person I bought my HelloKitty exhaust tip from.

But the examples are not what I am after ofcourse.

Meanwhile the plot is thickening and we are progressing. Have ordered material samples.
Bubbly is planning time first week of May for seweing. Íf the material has arrived.

[Petrus]

But fírst....

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I think I am being spoiled here 

[Petrus]

Been looking at quite a few solutions for the fittings and the Boxster one seems quiet neat for the door:

http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/66393-tonneau-cover-installed.html

[Petrus]

Signal red it is. Just ordered the cloth and extra strong thread.

Wow, that was quick. I entered the intended use in the ´observations´ section and the seller has responded with a more suitable alternative; nautic pvc.  Water resistant, washable, UV resistant, significantly heavier etc.
Went black this time as the availeble red is not to my taste.

For those with the environmental impact high on the list; it is 100% recycled pvc.

Not cheap though but hey a ready made tonneau from this is scary expensive; the material cost uplift only is what I pay for the roll incl. shipping!

[Petrus]

YESSSS!!!

The heavy duty pleather is in. Looks ... black 
No seriously it looks and véry rip proof so double layer folded in at the circumferance will make it perfect for the hardware.

Just been told that a friend of mine made some tents for his ultralight flying things. Dropping by his shop in the evening.

[Petrus]

Right, Samuel does have the professional crimping machine, not the fittings but he did  point me to the source. A shop near Bubbly I know from saddlery.

Saturday making the pattern with Bubbly.