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lewis71bug
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2006
Posts: 478
Location: Dayton, Ohio
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 Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:05 am Post subject: Soft top questions |
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I'm in the process of installing my soft top. I don't know who manufactured it, it came with the car and was in a wrapper with no instructions. I've got the frame installed and I've fitted the top (what a pain, some of the 'clasps' on the back were very difficult to make reach). Can some kind soul post some pictures showing details of how everything fits together? I've never seen one complete and I'm not sure of some things:
how are the ties on the clasps on the rear of the cover supposed to go?
Is there supposed to be brace/lock of some sort on the fold in the frame (where it folds up in the middle above the doors)? Seems like it would try to fold up on you if you hit a bump.
When you fold the top back (to stow it), are there supposed to be some ties or something to hold it back?
On the 'U' shape bar in the rear (it's connected to the main part of the frame with two black seat belt type material straps), are those straps supposed to go all the way back and connect to the body of the car? Mine look like they may have been cut.
Is the top supposed to be riveted to the frame along the side of the car or only across the front?
What about 'care and feeding' of the 'canvas' material? What should I do (cleaning/etc) to make it last forever and not dry out/rot?
Wayne |
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wings_n_fins
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 166
Location: Mangilao, Guam USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:33 am Post subject: |
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I'll see if I can rip the Thing Shop top installation video to a digital format, and then post it on here. Wish me luck.
_________________
DAVE
'73 Thing
'07 Harley Sportster
'09 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited |
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lewis71bug
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2006
Posts: 478
Location: Dayton, Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:46 am Post subject: |
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| wings_n_fins wrote: |
| I'll see if I can rip the Thing Shop top installation video to a digital format, and then post it on here. Wish me luck. |
Good luck! |
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rhedrick
Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2006
Posts: 126
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:43 am Post subject: |
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| I have the same video and if you really need it, I can try and get my IT guys to copy it and I can send you one. Just let me know. |
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krewe01
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2006
Posts: 49
Location: Abita Springs LA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:55 am Post subject: |
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I have an extra copy on disc you can have. PM me your address and I will send it out to you.
Lyle |
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mdustman
Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Chandler, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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Call our 800 number or send us an email and we'll mail you our new customer packet of info which contains our DVD including top, seat and show bar installation instructions. If it's not our top, the instructions may not be 100% accurate but you'll get the idea.
Michele - The Thing Shop
800-VWTHING
[email protected] |
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lewis71bug
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2006
Posts: 478
Location: Dayton, Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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| mdustman wrote: |
Call our 800 number or send us an email and we'll mail you our new customer packet of info which contains our DVD including top, seat and show bar installation instructions. If it's not our top, the instructions may not be 100% accurate but you'll get the idea.
Michele - The Thing Shop
800-VWTHING
[email protected] |
Wow! Thanks to everyone for the great support. This forum is an awesome tool! |
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lewis71bug
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2006
Posts: 478
Location: Dayton, Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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| I worked on my top a little more today. My frame is seriously bent on both sides, bowing upward, not allowing the windows to seal against the frame. I tried to straighten it, but I think it's a lost cause. I'm looking at the "heavy duty frame" from the thing shop. Anyone have one of these frames? What do you think? |
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rhedrick
Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2006
Posts: 126
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 7:09 am Post subject: |
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I don't have one of the heavy duty tops, but I did buy the stiffeners from the Thing shop. I haven't put them on mine yet, but I have friends that have used them and say they work great. So that might be an option. I suspect the heavy duty frame is great and will probably last you more years than you can count. Pretty sure that video describes the heavy duty frame so you can see what you would be getting. I may be doing the same since my wife managed to run over my top frame  |
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gus111
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2004
Posts: 215
Location: Western MI
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 7:47 am Post subject: |
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I've installe 2 stiffener kits in, and they really work great.
I recommend heating the bent frame and staightening it 1st, before you weld in the stiffener though. |
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surferdudedav
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2004
Posts: 517
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| hey im in cincy and ive got a couple top frames.. (3 or 4) one of them is a thing shop top frame.. pm or email me. |
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Ferretkona
Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2005
Posts: 1306
Location: Columbia, CA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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| lewis71bug wrote: |
| I worked on my top a little more today. My frame is seriously bent on both sides, bowing upward, not allowing the windows to seal against the frame. I tried to straighten it, but I think it's a lost cause. I'm looking at the "heavy duty frame" from the thing shop. Anyone have one of these frames? What do you think? |
Your frame might be ok.
My frame was well used, but it was well stored for years. I had to strip the old top off and repaint some of it, lube up the pivot points. My frame bows upward as well and kind of inward. The top hangs out past the frame on the sides. The doors on mine do not seal on the frame, but the doors do tuck under the "drip?" and rest on a fly of the top. I will try and take some pics of it this weekend. |
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ztnoo
Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2005
Posts: 801
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 6:29 am Post subject: |
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If you decide that your frame is a lost cause, or at least more work than you care to tackle, Reed Cowan has what is claimed to be a very straight frame for sale on eBay.
Volkswagen VW Thing Type 181 Top Frame VERY STRAIGHT!
Item number: 270095618017
2 days 13 hours left in the auction
Current bid $76.00
Shipping $46.73
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...1&rd=1 |
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peaceful warrior
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2005
Posts: 5274
Location: Taoswest, USA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: Soft top questions |
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| lewis71bug wrote: |
I'm in the process of installing my soft top. I don't know who manufactured it, it came with the car and was in a wrapper with no instructions. I've got the frame installed and I've fitted the top (what a pain, some of the 'clasps' on the back were very difficult to make reach). Can some kind soul post some pictures showing details of how everything fits together? I've never seen one complete and I'm not sure of some things:
how are the ties on the clasps on the rear of the cover supposed to go?
Is there supposed to be brace/lock of some sort on the fold in the frame (where it folds up in the middle above the doors)? Seems like it would try to fold up on you if you hit a bump.
When you fold the top back (to stow it), are there supposed to be some ties or something to hold it back?
On the 'U' shape bar in the rear (it's connected to the main part of the frame with two black seat belt type material straps), are those straps supposed to go all the way back and connect to the body of the car? Mine look like they may have been cut.
Is the top supposed to be riveted to the frame along the side of the car or only across the front?
What about 'care and feeding' of the 'canvas' material? What should I do (cleaning/etc) to make it last forever and not dry out/rot?
Wayne |
Wayne,
I installed a Thing Shop Top last year, so I can answer some of these questions.
The straps on the rear and side slide thru the hoops in the rear and then back up, leaving a loop below the hoop. It is basically friction that keeps them in place.
The frame should lock against itself in the middle, but your frame may be fatigued. You can get frame stiffeners from The Thing Shop. When the top is lock down at the windshield, it should not fly up or the frame collapse.
There are straps to tie the top down when it is retracted. They are separate from the top, or you could get a cover.
The strap off of the cross bar should go back to the insides hoops on the rear of the interior body.
The top is only riveted at the front, and it should have, if I remember correctly, 3 or 4 hooks on the side and then down behind the rear side windows, that hook under the frame. You may be missing them.
A good quality canvas cleaner should be fine, but then mine was garaged when not being driven.
Hope this helps, and I have the CD also, and I could send it to you.
_________________
"Two things are infinite: The universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." Albert Einstein
"Notchboy" says "Man up!"
"Tram" says " My bus is bigger than your bus."
66 13W Deluxe, 68 Westfalia, 87 Syncro.
TOOB Member #15
Brian |
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lewis71bug
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2006
Posts: 478
Location: Dayton, Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks to all for the informative answers. I placed an order today with the thing shop for there frame and top and few other items. I'll post some pictures of it installed after I receive it.
Wayne |
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