New Giulia Spider with a few questions about top installation

kinou · #1 (**permalink**) 05-16-2009, 05:41 AM

Hello,

I have been reading this forum for a while before I decided to buy my 1963 Spider Normale here in France.

My car is in original condition (mostly) with 95000 KM (about 60000 miles) from new . It has been repainted in 1975 and still looks OK of from a few feets away.

I have decided to replace the top wich was looking realy bad. I odrered a new one an started to install it last week-end.

I need the help of one of you. Can someone send me a picture of how the top is attached to the metal pieces at the side of the front bow. Is it installed with screws, rivets, is there a counter-plate on the outer side? Any information is welcome.

I also need to know how the top materal is attached inside the groove in the front bow. I read that there is supposed to be a wooden stip... Is that strip installed on all models? My car does not have any (and has been repared with fiberglass in this area) If there must be a wooden strip how thick must it be?( In case I have to make one).

Thank-you for your help

alfazagato · #2 (**permalink**) 05-16-2009, 10:45 AM

On my car the strip of timber you refer to was in 6mm ply screwed to the base of the groove in the steel bow. The fabric was then tacked to it and the rubber seal bonded to the fabric in the base of the groove.
I didn't replace the timber but bonded the fabric to the bow and then the rubber to it. The rubber compresses nicely on the top of the screen and it seems to be watertight!

**user459** · #3 (**permalink**) 05-16-2009, 11:14 AM

I saved a piece of the wooden strip I found inside the front channel of the top frame. It was used to secured the material of the top with tacks. The material is three ply wood about 6mm (1/4") thick and about 19mm (3/4") wide. For scale, this broken piece is about 3 1/4" long. The center ply is thicker, with a thin veneer on each side.

kinou · #4 (**permalink**) 05-16-2009, 01:09 PM

Great!

Now I know that I have tu cut a piece of plywood to fit into that groove. This will be easy job.

How about the attachement of the material to the 2 brackets on each side?

there are 3 holes on these brackets ... was the material attached with scews or rivets? is there a counter plate to press the top between it and the bracket?

Apcture of this area on a finished war would be of great help.

GTD · #5 (**permalink**) 05-24-2009, 01:37 PM

kinou
Perhaps these pics will be of some help.
First: the wood tacking strip is glued to the front bow. Next; a rubber element is glued to the lower metal edge of the front bow and the fabric covering the front bow is stretched over this and glued in place. Then the soft-top material is tacked onto the front bow. Lastly; the rubber seal between the front bow and top of the windscreen is glued in position.

GTD · #6 (**permalink**) 05-24-2009, 01:57 PM

kinou

Quote:

Can someone send me a picture of how the top is attached to the metal pieces at the side of the front bow. Is it installed with screws, rivets, is there a counter-plate on the outer side?

kinou · #7 (**permalink**) 05-24-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTD

kinou

I believe you are referring to the widjets or wing-dings. These were added to the Giulia Spiders to lift the rain flap when opening the doors.

Don't forget to install the strip of material connecting the front bow to the other bows - as shown in the last picture.