Series 3 Time to change to the canvas
- Thread starter John S
- Start date
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if I am doing it on my own I lift the roof from inside and slide it half off the back then get out and pull it slowly letting it down to the ground when it tips then standing it up. take the door off first if you don't have the flap.
easy to damage it if you are on your todd and as the years go by I tend to rope someone in, it is a lot easier with two or three
easy to damage it if you are on your todd and as the years go by I tend to rope someone in, it is a lot easier with two or three
Bobsticle
De Villes Advocaat
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I couldn’t believe how heavy mine was. I had to stand in the back and lift it on my back while the wife and daughter guided it off.
Thanks guys. I'm lucky to have two testosterone sons 21 n 23 who are very keen to do this. It's coming soon this weather justifies it.
I got the kit when I bought a donor series 3. The kit is brilliant, totally original apart from the screw fitting kit which is ordered.
I'm slightly nervous taking the hard top off but plan to use that time to refurbish and paint it.
I have to say the canvas top looks great, but if it leaks then that's BAU for a landy .
The original kit has that period feel can't wait to get it fitted .
I got the kit when I bought a donor series 3. The kit is brilliant, totally original apart from the screw fitting kit which is ordered.
I'm slightly nervous taking the hard top off but plan to use that time to refurbish and paint it.
I have to say the canvas top looks great, but if it leaks then that's BAU for a landy
.The original kit has that period feel can't wait to get it fitted .
Land Raver
Well-Known Member
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- In the dog house
Took mine off last year b myself. It was very heavy - thick side windows and alpine roof glass.
I unbolted the roof from the sides and slid the top off - foam and sheets on the floor as it was nicely painted. The sides were then easily removed by hand. It's been easier to store in bits too - the side panels are on the garage rafters and the roof is covered in a large cloth and stored vertically up the side of the garage so I can still get the Landy in there too.
I unbolted the roof from the sides and slid the top off - foam and sheets on the floor as it was nicely painted. The sides were then easily removed by hand. It's been easier to store in bits too - the side panels are on the garage rafters and the roof is covered in a large cloth and stored vertically up the side of the garage so I can still get the Landy in there too.
Land Raver
Well-Known Member
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- In the dog house
Having changed mine to a full tilt I don't think I'll ever put the hard top back on. It's just as warm in the winter and there's nothing nicer than rolling up the back ang sides in the warm sunshine and going for a drive.
I like that. It's a birthday promise to my wife to go open with a canvas top with the sides rolled up. Pulled the tailgate door out of the garage today. Hasn't seen daylight since 2005. Got the frame set up on the grass as a dress rehearsal.
rob1miles
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- Slough and Bath
Took my LWB off on my own, not ideal but a few tips that may help even if there are more of you;
1 get a couple of planks (2x2) a good 6" wider to put under the roof on top of the sides once the bolts are out. This will stop it slipping sideways and falling into the back.
2 Get a couple of trestles ready with planks on lengthways to put the roff on before you decide to carry it anywhere, this lets you get a good grip.
3 Unbolt it, slide the planks across under it then slide/lift it back onto the trestles.
Its not that heavy but it is awkward as it goes from head hight to waist hight and if you don't all get your grip right there are trapped fingers.
1 get a couple of planks (2x2) a good 6" wider to put under the roof on top of the sides once the bolts are out. This will stop it slipping sideways and falling into the back.
2 Get a couple of trestles ready with planks on lengthways to put the roff on before you decide to carry it anywhere, this lets you get a good grip.
3 Unbolt it, slide the planks across under it then slide/lift it back onto the trestles.
Its not that heavy but it is awkward as it goes from head hight to waist hight and if you don't all get your grip right there are trapped fingers.
Apologies if this is already you rplan but,
Although more time consuming I would consider not pre-assembling the frame and instead building it all up on the vehicles. By doing this and not tightening things down until everything is fitted it will be easier to get everything to line up correctly.
Can't beat a canvas top though, something about them just looks right! If it is an old tilt it may be worth looking at getting it reproofed, then it should also be more waterporrf than a hardtop as well. (I am looking into this myself and am leaning towards an old fashioned wax treatment rather than modern tent sealer).
Locks and drop door fitted. Right bugger getting the safari door off. Removed front valance above windscreen. It's rotten and unlikely to go back on. Got half the header bolts out. Figured out how to deal with the seat belt mounts. Left the big corner fixings with a dose of release oil for tomorrow. If it's dry weather I'm going for it. Is the hard top heavy? How many people to lift it off?
It is just about do-able with one if you stand underneath and sort of shuffle backwards until you can tip it down onto its end, but is far easier and more comfortable with two people.
Thanks, I'll get my son to help me. Raining this morning and need to wait till the weather improves.
Knew it was going to be a bastard to get off but the hard top is defying all fettling to loosen. Got the header bolts out but the corner retainers are rotted having been there for 35 years. I'm so close to getting it off and fitting the tilt will be easy. Back in the day not really designed for a quick conversion. More bashing tomorrow and I'll update.
Mine had rotted when I came to fit my tilt. I just put a big spanner on them and sheared them. Once that has happened you can lift the roof off with the remains of the corner stud coming with it. It is then much much easier to remove the rest of the bolt form the capping once the roof is removed.
If everything comes off they are very quick and easy to swap over, this is helped if you were swapping between the two regularly. This was my plan but in the end I got rid of the hardtop and now run canvas year round.
X1 I've spent most of today cutting set screws n rusty bolts off. I got to a point where I thought I'd loosed everything and the bastard wouldn't budge. Checked the manual and a hard top has an intermediate bolt! ****ing exhausted struggling with fixings and frustrated as another day passes.
Update. Had to remove the seat belts from their mountings and loosen the upright seat frames to get at the bolts-fecking bastard job. It's now loose and ready to remove subject to muscle power help tomorrow.
I've still got a threaded set crew for one corner to get out and it's a really awkward place. The sodding bolt at the bottom will not unscrew. It's underneath the slot for the front stick and has to come out. Sheite assembly with tensile set screw and steel with a steel bolt. Too tight to get a cuttter . Tomorrow morning will be hacksaw cutting in minute space.
I've still got a threaded set crew for one corner to get out and it's a really awkward place. The sodding bolt at the bottom will not unscrew. It's underneath the slot for the front stick and has to come out. Sheite assembly with tensile set screw and steel with a steel bolt. Too tight to get a cuttter . Tomorrow morning will be hacksaw cutting in minute space.
