Soft top fitting

[Mike Hamblin]

For anyone brave enough to fit their own soft top on an AK gen II
Same process for most cobra`s

I decided to do it myself, due to cost and the distance to travel to AK, having fitted soft tops on my previous Westfield builds, I was fairly confident I could do this myself, the only thing I could not do was make the soft top as I'm no good at sewing and don't have a sewing machine that would sew that thick a material.  I was lucky I bought a brand new never been fitted soft top that needed some alterations, I found a local trimmer to make a small alteration to make sure it fitted. He sewed in the rear felt seal for me.  Hood bow sets are easy to buy, JK sports cars, Brasscraft, Europa etc etc, same with the ferrules, just get the right diameter internally to match you hood bows.

You can buy a kit from JK sports cars, which almost fits perfectly on an AK, other club members have fitted the JK kit.  But not sure about side windows, I am not fitting side windows at present, (maybe ill make some like the type used on my old Westfield kit cars at later date if I need them.

Best to do this before going to paint, but I did it after the car was on the road.

My Fitting procedure

1)You need to fit 2 ferrules into your body work for the rear roof bars, not that difficult and you can get 2 types, the bond in type or the type with nuts on, I went with the bond in type. Make sure they are the correct diameter for your hood bows, to fit in, and if required drill a hole down the center to allow them to drain if they get filled with water you can't get it out. You could fit a drain tube as they are going to be behind the bonded in rear wing section on some cars. Mark out their location just behind the doors, and either screw them in or bond them in. Just be careful as they could be inside a void where the rear inner arch is bonded to the body.  I do have a drawing to help find the correct position. I Used Araldite and P40 to bond mine in.

2)Set up the rear roof support bars, into the ferrules, they may need a bit of bending to get the correct shape and distance and angle. Screen angle also effects a soft top, several different versions for different cars. ( I have some drawings if anyone needs some help )

3)Fit your rear roof bars and lay your soft top over the bars, you should have Velcro tabs on the inside to hold them in place.  Fit your front screen bow bars without fitting the side catches.

4)Lay the soft top out and over the top of the screen bows, just use masking tape to hold your soft top to your windscreen. You need a min of 2inch past the top screen bows which you will later glue to the bows and tuck & glue the extra inside the bows.

5)Check side your side measurements and get the soft top central.

6)If you are fitting a Tonneau cover you might be able to use the same row of studs, other wise you will end up with 2 rows. Well worth looking at and planning before you start. (Trust me to decide to make one to fit onto the same row of Tenex studs, I will do write up for that later when its complete.)

7)Fit the central rear Tenex fastener first, then work out the distance you are going space out the rest on the right and left hand side, I udes chalk to measure out the distance and make a mark, About 6 inch apart as an aprox size. Which equals about 14 to 16 studs and fastener's.  Depending on your body thickness, standard size Tenex studs are not long enough so go for the extra-long ones and cut to length,  I also fitted a plastic washer under the head to seal it to the paint, with a washer and spring washer underneath.  Work from the center outwards on both sides, making sure the inner felt seal fits snug to the body work, it's a bit difficult in the valleys as its on a bend but just take your time and measure 3 times and drill the hole once. Fit you Tenex stud and fasteners. Until all the rear ones are complete.  I have some photos if you need help.

8)With the rear section in place, the next step is gluing the front soft top to the screen bows, Allow plenty of time for this, prepare by stretching the soft top down the screen as much as you can and hold in position with masking tape, I have photos if you need help.  Make a chalk line on the inside of the soft top to hood bows, this is where you can work out the extra 2 inches you need before cutting it to length. Also gives you a glue line.

9)Measure 3 times and cut once,  paint a thin line of glue on the inside edge of the fabric, then paint a line of glue on the top half of the screen bows. Get some one to help you, one on each side is best. Lay the soft onto the glued top bows keeping it as tight as possible working from the rear to the front keeping it central, put a line on some tape on the hood and screen as a  central guide. Keep it tight until the glue goes off, depending on what type of glue you use. Once its gone off remove your front hood bows glued to your hood, then trim to give 2 inches of fabric to glue to the inside of your hood bows, again glue both sides and let dry then fold it over into the channel of the hood bow, let it dry fully. 

10)Re fit your hood and bows and make sure its nice and tight no sag in the middle, next glue in a strip of foam rubber or sealing foam inside the hood bows ontop of the fabric that you can squash down on to your screen frame, once you are happy with it, you can now fit the front bow catches, 3 pop rivets on the hood bows and 2 screws on the screen frame

11)Clip into position with the hood bow catches.  Stand back and admire your handy work you just saved yourself a fortune.
I haven't cleaned it as yet so it is very dusty from being stored.

Additional advice, I read a few articles ages ago, in the old club forum where some had fitted a central support rod to prevent the soft top sagging, I think they used either an aluminum or fiber glass mop handle or extendable paint pole and made up either plastic or metal ends to attach it to the top of the screen and rear hood bow. Plastic pipe fittings cut with  a slot or in half will work.

I will try and up load a few photos when I get chance.  Just contact me for drawings and any other help or advise you need before starting, glue type, fastener type etc

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