hardtop

[shane]

Hi,just brought a hardtop and wondering what the rear clamps clamp to.can anyone advise ? many thanks,shane

[jHamshaw]

If it's a Kuching hardtop like mine below, you should have received 2 brackets that fit onto the hood mounting bolts, and 2 metal hooks (about 4" long) that bolt to these brackets and extend upwards to meet the rear clips. You also need to fit the hooks the right way round to avoid damage to the soft-top seals!

If you didn't get them (and they look like they're a pain to fit/remove as the hood frame has to be unbolted from the car) they may be available from Simon at http://www.spcdesign.co.uk/

[dapinky]

When i got my hard top from Tony at Donington, we couldn't be ar$ed to work out how to get the brackets off his car in the car park (so it was attached with cableties to get me home).

I then sent an e-mail to Simon at SPC, and he kindly sent me a copy of the drawings for the plates. He didn't have the drawings for the hooks due to a computer crash .

Contrary to the above post (and what we thought whilst looking at Tonys car!!!), once you see the drawing it becomes clear that due to the slotted design of one of the holes, there should be no need to remove the frame from the car , just removing one bolt (easily accessible), and slackening off another one to allow the plate to be lifted away.

As such, i still need to find someone to knock up a couple of the plates (quite simple if you know what you're doing!) and then try and find someone who has a hook lying around to allow it to be copied.

However, as summer is nearly here, I'm not in a huge rush to do alot about it at the moment (too much else on my plate).

If it helps, I'm happy to send you a copy of what Simon sent to me.

[shane]

When i got my hard top from Tony at Donington, we couldn't be ar$ed to work out how to get the brackets off his car in the car park (so it was attached with cableties to get me home).

I then sent an e-mail to Simon at SPC, and he kindly sent me a copy of the drawings for the plates. He didn't have the drawings for the hooks due to a computer crash .

Contrary to the above post (and what we thought whilst looking at Tonys car!!!), once you see the drawing it becomes clear that due to the slotted design of one of the holes, there should be no need to remove the frame from the car , just removing one bolt (easily accessible), and slackening off another one to allow the plate to be lifted away.

As such, i still need to find someone to knock up a couple of the plates (quite simple if you know what you're doing!) and then try and find someone who has a hook lying around to allow it to be copied.

However, as summer is nearly here, I'm not in a huge rush to do alot about it at the moment (too much else on my plate).

If it helps, I'm happy to send you a copy of what Simon sent to me.

it certainly looks the same as yours but i did not recieve the mounting bolts and hooks .definitely take you up on your offer of copy of what simon sent to you,many thanks.

[shane]

When i got my hard top from Tony at Donington, we couldn't be ar$ed to work out how to get the brackets off his car in the car park (so it was attached with cableties to get me home).

I then sent an e-mail to Simon at SPC, and he kindly sent me a copy of the drawings for the plates. He didn't have the drawings for the hooks due to a computer crash .

Contrary to the above post (and what we thought whilst looking at Tonys car!!!), once you see the drawing it becomes clear that due to the slotted design of one of the holes, there should be no need to remove the frame from the car , just removing one bolt (easily accessible), and slackening off another one to allow the plate to be lifted away.

As such, i still need to find someone to knock up a couple of the plates (quite simple if you know what you're doing!) and then try and find someone who has a hook lying around to allow it to be copied.

However, as summer is nearly here, I'm not in a huge rush to do alot about it at the moment (too much else on my plate).

If it helps, I'm happy to send you a copy of what Simon sent to me.

sorry was getting mixed up with your quote and the hardtop pic on previous quote,think a copy of what simon sent you would be very usefull though.thanks for the offer.

[Monty]

If it is the SPC Desgin hardtop that was done by simon there is some photo`s off the brackets in situ on my project thread
viewtopic.php?f=79&t=2737&start=440

If you haven`t got the brackets and clamps then you have a problem as there specially design brackets for the hood, you will need to contact Simon to see if he can get some made up for you http://www.spcdesign.co.uk/

[dapinky]

I have attached the .pdf document of the plate (only one side - the other is obviously a mirror image!), but i have nothing on the hooks

I think we'll need to find someone who has one lying around to get some coppies made (Specky )

MH5-13-001-B Bracket Hardtop Mounting LH.pdf

[shane]

If it's a Kuching hardtop like mine below, you should have received 2 brackets that fit onto the hood mounting bolts, and 2 metal hooks (about 4" long) that bolt to these brackets and extend upwards to meet the rear clips. You also need to fit the hooks the right way round to avoid damage to the soft-top seals!

If you didn't get them (and they look like they're a pain to fit/remove as the hood frame has to be unbolted from the car) they may be available from Simon at http://www.spcdesign.co.uk/

Hi,apart from moving the softtop stowage lid is there anything else that needs to be removed to fit the hardtop.just placed mine loosely on the car but sits up proud at the back.could it be the stowage lid hinges in the way ?

[jHamshaw]

Nope - just the rear lid and bolts, hinges stay in situ in the "closed" position.

With hood down and folded properly (I put a rolled towel in the rear window fold to keep it at a decent radius) the rear clips can be located in the hooks with a bit of downward pressure, and clipping them up pulls everything down nice and tight.

Did you get the brackets and hooks sorted then?

[shane]

Nope - just the rear lid and bolts, hinges stay in situ in the "closed" position.

With hood down and folded properly (I put a rolled towel in the rear window fold to keep it at a decent radius) the rear clips can be located in the hooks with a bit of downward pressure, and clipping them up pulls everything down nice and tight.

Did you get the brackets and hooks sorted then?

Hopefully the hooks and brackets will arrive soon.i brought the top from pure lotus in leeds,and could not find the car the top was on on their website so feared the worst.however the dealer still had the car and on inspection found that he had forgot to take them off !He said he will post them to me so now eagerly waiting for them.the rubber seal on the front of the hood has come away on one corner,any idea of best way to re-fix ? should look good when fitted,similar to yours black roof,on midnight blue s2

[Rice crispy]

Rest of the seals on a normal hood are held on with sikaflex 221 so that may work
David

[shane]

Rest of the seals on a normal hood are held on with sikaflex 221 so that may work
David

ok,thanks for that

[Scott]

Hey guys.. i am very surprised to see a hardtop like that.. where can i buy it/order it and how much does it costs?

[Ronee]

Im interested too, where can we get it from?

[rip]

The pic shows an SPC Designs hard top, made by Kutching from this forum.

I understand that the item was very difficult to make & a rant about them by a small number of members on here was enough to persuade Kutching to stop production.
Used ones appear on here occasionally & sell in the region of £1200-£1500.
Don't think that these are a solution to a leaky roof. They do not provide a perfect seal & without the ability to easily peel back the roof when the sun does come out, any moisture gets trapped inside.

[jHamshaw]

Mine was perfectly dry all winter, and the car stood outside, even under 6" of snow.....

But having said that, my new hood and seals are too.... /smug mode

[niall]

I have one of these which I would be prepared to part with for a figure close to the top end of Rip's scale.

[Scott]

so it doesnt seems good at all...ok! just a thought...

[jecuk]

The pic shows an SPC Designs hard top, made by Kutching from this forum.

Don't think that these are a solution to a leaky roof. They do not provide a perfect seal & without the ability to easily peel back the roof when the sun does come out, any moisture gets trapped inside.

They provide a great seal. Where did you get the impression that they don't?

[rip]

They provide a great seal. Where did you get the impression that they don't?

From several members I have spoken to who have either got one or have had one.

so it doesnt seems good at all...ok! just a thought...

That's not what I said & certainly not what I meant.

Elans are hand-built & individual. Some OEM roofs seal better than others & this is not always due to the roof.
The same can be said of the SPC hard top. It is a good product but being hand-made means that each one will be very slightly different.
Those who do have one which seals perfectly may find that it has minor leaks when fitted to another Elan.
You may be lucky & get one which fits your Elan nicely.
In most cases, I would expect a hard top to make a better seal than a soft top & I know that they quieter & more spacious with a hard top fitted. It also makes the car more aerodynamic too.