Exmoor Soft Top Conversion - Help Pls

Hi fellas,

I'm in the final stages of an Exmoor soft top conversion....but I'm stuck.

The problem is that the tension on the hood wants to keep pulling the windscreen back....making it impossible to create enough of a gap to fit the doors!!!!

This isn't helped by the fact that the windscreen is only attached by 2 fairly lightweight brackets.

As you probably know there are a series of drain channels and a fairly flimsy hoop / cross member which is supposed to create a structure around the cab, but this isn't rigid enough to produce enough tension to work against the pressure of the hood

I've spoken to Exmoor and they said that they don't usually have any problems....

So would love to have a chat with someone who has done this and / or experienced similar problems....

Just completed day 20 of the rebuild...and spent over twice my allocated budget

Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Terry,

Have you bolted all the framework in place and made sure the doors close , all door gaps are correct, then tightened all bolts up?

windscreen should not move backwards at all!!!!

cheers

see this, if it works

You should be able to see the roof rail, above the door. this is bolted to the top of the windscreen.

behind seat hoop, which is " normally " inserted in a hole on the tub and clamped in place with a "horseshoe" clamp. mine did not have this, so I made my own clamping tubes.

attached to the hoop vertically is another channel section. the channel accepts the hood on the rear side, and also takes the door rubber and seals against the door on the front side.

the above door section attaches to the hoop. there are also tongues of steel that slot into the vertical channel section.

once all is bolted up it is tight and does not move.

as I say, fit finger tight, open close doors , make sure all gaps are correct. tighten securely, recheck door opening and closing, windscreen should not move when tilt is put on and tightened.

cheers

Thx Neil - I've just sent you a reply.

windscreen brackets from bulkhead to screen lock the screen in place with 2 bolts above n below the windscreen 'bolt channel' have u got the screen locking bolts fitted correctly?? can take pics tomoz but vehicle is at work... mine is rock solid, no chance it can move?



you can just see the bracket in the absolute top left of this pic... it needs a nut above and below to lock the screen correctly, dyou definitely have both?



cheers steve

Thx Steve - will double check brackets in the morning;

Any pictures would be gratefully received.

Cheers....Terry

Chaps,

Thought it might be helpful to post a few photos of my setup.

Apologies for the poor quality; was having problems with the direct sunlight.

Cheers, Terry

Sorry having trouble adding more than 1 image at a time

And another....

Last one....promise....

Hi terry,

How have you attached the header rail to the windscreen?

mine is a 300 tdi, held in place by 4 QR bolts.

My header rail is set further forwards than yours.

Cheers

Also how have you attached the hoop to the tub?

looks like in your photo you have not got it clamped.

Cheers

Gotta say tho,

looks like you have given your motor a new paint job, what does the outside look like?

photo of bracket as promised...... nut top n bottom to lock screen



cheers steve

Neil and Steve; huge thanks for all your help.

Neil thanks for the call this morning - it got us on track.

Long story, but we've finally cracked it.

I will take some pictures and explain but I'm off to France on a fishing trip at 03:00 on Saturday morning for 5 days - so will post when I return.

Quick explanation is that because we are using a Satety Devices L188 8-point roll cage (similar yo NAS spec) the front hood stick / hoop had absolutely no bracing to support it - the bottom claws provided just stop it popping out of its holes.

With the help from Steve and Neil, plus searching thru Google images, we realised that we had to brace the front hoop sticks against the roll cage upright to create some structural integrity.

We cut up some old sills which we used as braces; they look ugly but work for the moment; we will fabricate some smarter ones in the not too distant future.

Shame they weren't supplied with the kit as there is no way to get it to work without them.

Once again, big thanks for all your help!