Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Fitting a ready made top

I bought a new Ready Made Top from Morgan Spares in New York for My +8 Bitsa. I have a 10 pin windscreen and Taylor Cam Tighteners. I installed the Fittings from the door back but not installed the fittings for the Windscreen. It is a very tight fit with lots of loose areas. The windscreen fitting will be the last chance I have of getting a good fit. Frankly it is so tight so far I fear that I will split the top when I throw the Cam Tighteners. I have the garage at 70 degrees and a small heater on the parcel shelf. I also have a heat gun but am afraid to use it. This is not Everflex but it is a Vinyl that looks like Everflex. I wonder how much stretch I can expect? Not sure if I should throw the Cam to tight before I put the fasteners for the windscreen or not? Anybody with experience on TM?

Have you treated it with a proofing agent so as to make it more flexible at all prior to fitting it ?

Can Morgan Spares advise you?

You probably have more chance of cracking your screen than tearing the hood material when tensioning with the cams. I remember Ben Duncan warning me that my 4/4 screen was flexing back alarmingly when I used mine😳

Good luck !

The heat should help. But in the end you've just got to turn those levers!

And hope for the best.....

Have you considered unscrewing the tensioners, setting to high, just as if it were a standard fitting, tighten the nut to lock and pushing up manually and repositioning the screws? Might be worth unscrewing one side to see if you have enough distance from the original holes for a secure fitting. You could fill the original screw holes with a glued wooden plug if it’s feasable. If you are lucky the tensioner plate might mask the original screw holes. If not perhaps a leather patch or ally plate to increase the size a bit.
Seems the only thing controlling the position is the tapes on the roof bars that need to be tight. Having said all that I have never done it myself but I think as it’s already overtight before fitting to the windscreen the position of the roof bars is the controlling factor ?

As Richard pointed out try a quality protectant.
I have a problem in the Winter with an Everflex top which is very difficult to close.
I use "303 Aerospace Protectant" - a Chicago company.This seems to do the trick. Any left over on the cloth wipe over your windscreen wiper rubbers.

Thanks for the advice. I will get "303 Aerospace Protectant" and look at repositioning the Cam Lever a bit. I may have to defer this until Summer when there is a hotter Sun. On My existing top I did split the Vynal with the Cam Lever. But Top very old and a bit rotten. In building My +8 Bitsa I used a 1998 Chassis and Windscreen. I think the North American Model has a taller Windscreen than the European. Not sure why nor if it makes a difference. This particular top was made in the U.S.( I think) But makes Me wonder a bit if I have a top that will fit a NA Model.

I think all your models had the 4 seater taller windscreens Button as part of the USA legislations.

The Everflex hood on my car is a “snug” fit but not excessively tight. The tensioning does seem to stretch the stitching holes and water seeps through, showing up as damp areas. Seam sealer needed again. The worst lift the dots to fit in winter are the outer ones on the screen side. I also replaced the press studs on the door rear parts with Tenax as the tension popped them loose.