How to fit/adjust a Kuching hardtop

[david.bradley]

Hi
I recently bought a top, and am now dodging rain showers to get it fitted.
I think I might be missing some brackets at the back as the catches on the top itself, & hooks that I do have, don't have nothing to fasten to on the car.
I'm hoping the seller still has these
Nontheless it's in place and the front brackets are on and clamped up.

I have a couple of problems.
The offside front clamp is very tight to shut, so much so I was worried about breaking something. I adjusted the bracket best I could, but it still feels a little difficult.
The real problem though is that the top sits about 1/2 inch too high relative to the windows, so much that they just reach the bottom of the seals but not high enough to be anything like watertight. On the offside you can look down vertically and there's a 1/8 inch gap - the nearside is better, but there are still gaps.
The gap between the top of the glass and the seal runs paralell, there's no taper

I realise that clamping the back down would help, but cant imagine it is going to cure the problem - if it did the deck would be below the boot surround.
I'm hoping that raising the door is not the answer - I'd rather alter the top if I had to

Has anybody ever fitted a roof and adjusted it themselves please - all suggestions gladly received

Thanks

[Rusty Wishbone]

I have a hardtop and have many of the same problems with fitting it. On mine, the front left catch is also very tight, and the seals around the windows are too high at the front and too far in to the rear. I'm going to pull the window seals off the hardtop and stick a fillet underneath and behind to bring the seal down and out. Mine also rubs against the rear wing, but that might be a result of a repair rather than the original shape.

Two hooked brackets are needed at the rear which the seller should have. In fact it is in the seller's interest to remove them from his car because they will damage the seals of the hood if it is raised with them in place. There are engineering drawings of the rear brackets available if you have to get some made up.

I have a set of instructions for fitting the hardtop, and the engineering drawings. If you need them, send me a PM.

[JohnB]

Attached is a PDF of fitting instructions. (Not certain it's the Kuching top but probably is)
Hope this helps.

[david.bradley]

Thank you to everybody for the help
In the instructions there's a reference to being able to raise the height of the side window glass - does anybody know how to do that?
Thanks again

[Enright]

Have you downloaded the manuals, or looked under "Door Glass" in the Wiki?

[Kuching]

One of the ‘endearing quirks’ of the Elan is that no two vehicles are exactly the same. Therefore, a hardtop taken off one car is unlikely to fit directly onto another.

I would be inclined to start by removing the door-glass seal/drip channel assembly – without damaging it if possible – as this is the area where I have seen the largest variation between cars. The fit to the header rail should then be checked. The clamps can be adjusted by slackening the screws and moving the clamp forward or backwards to the limit of the slots. Sometimes I’ve had to increase the length of the slot to gain extra adjustment. Once the front edge of the roof aligned to the screen, if the clamp is too loose/tight, this could be adjusted by adding/removing spacers under the clamp.

Now check that the back edge of the deck fits the rearward body. Occasionally this edge requires a bit of refinishing to get a consistent panel gap – ideally this would be done before painting of course.

Once you’re happy with the fit to the front and rear of the main body of the hardtop, the door-glass seals can be refitted. This is done with a thick bead of Sikaflex, then left to cure whilst held in the correct position to achieve a good seal to the glass.

Another point to note; I have seen a couple of ‘crash repaired’ Elans, which look fine at first glance, and the convertible hood adjusted to fit nicely, but when a hardtop is offered up to fit, it can be out by half an inch or more. In fact, the hardtop could be used as a ‘checking gauge’ to expose any dodgy body repairs or twisted chassis.

Finally, if you’re still having trouble, and if you could bring the Elan to Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, we could take a look at it in the SPC workshop.

[niall]

David,
I have removed the brackets from my Elan and can send them to you if you PM me your contact details.

[david.bradley]

Thanks for the posts

Niall, much appreciated, I've pm'd my address.

Simon, thanks for the very useful information, I hadn't realised for example that I could fit a spacer under the clamp to tighten the fit.
I've adjusted the height of the glass on both sides, the drivers side is now good, the passenger could do another 1/4" but the top stops in the door are fully adjusted.
Tighter clamping will certainly help, and I may open the lift stop slots to allow a bit more travel.
The biggest problem is probably the drivers A post seal (replacement rubber items from Jamie) which is holding the glass 1/8" away from the hard top seal - funnily enough the passenger side is spot on even though the seals are the same.
Any ideas in this area much appreciated.
I'd really like to take you up on the offer of a visit, but we are in West Yorkshire, so not easy. If I get really stuck I'll be in touch.
Thanks again