289 Hardtop

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PTommo
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289 Hardtop

Post by PTommo »

Gradually coming to terms with EKP 515K. Where/how/who do I go to for a hardtop? I know they don't come cheap but if I don't do it now I never will.
The hood has never been on the Hawk before and in trying to fix it, as an exercise, it was so tight that I gave up for fear of scratching the paintwork. Advice please, is there any way of stretching it before I try to install it again?
Thanks guys in anticipation.
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simonjrwinter
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Re: 289 Hardtop

Post by simonjrwinter »

Before you go down the hardtop route, find a car with one on and make sure you can get in. They’re a tad tight! (Speaking purely from personal experience)
TR6 (V8) Hawk 289 FIA (V8) Doing my bit for global warming.
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peterc
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Re: 289 Hardtop

Post by peterc »

I assume that the hood has been fitted before and you are merely trying to put it on?
If that’s the case then the need to stretch it is I suspect because it’s been in a cold garage for a length of time. I have this issue virtually every time I come to fit it.
Suggest you try to warm it up. E.g take it indoors and hang it over a couple of chairs near to a radiator.
Gentle persuasion needed.

Ref the hard top I believe it makes a big difference whether you opt for a bubble type hardtop which leaves the fuel filler readily accessible or a Le Mans style which needs an extension filler pipe. The Le Mans top is over an inch lower. There in lies another issue.
If your hood has been designed to fit the screen in the normal more upright position then you can’t really fit the Le Mans style.
Gerry is you obvious first stop to buy one or put out a request in the wanted section.
Peter C
Last edited by peterc on Wed May 05, 2021 10:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
KevinW
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Re: 289 Hardtop

Post by KevinW »

Yes, get one that fits. That can save you a lot of work :)
Realignment side view.JPG
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PTommo
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Re: 289 Hardtop

Post by PTommo »

Thank you gentlemen. Especially the hint about warming the hood Peter.
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peterc
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Re: 289 Hardtop

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Further thought on the hood.
I don’t want to teach my grandmother so to speak but are you fitting it in the correct order.

Fit the hood bows leaving the secondary hoop close to the main hoop.
Lay the hood over the hood bows and windscreen frame. Engage the central pins of the front frame with the windscreen header rail and then engage the over Center side catches but do NOT tighten.
Then push on all the lift a dot fasteners around the rear deck.
Then you can push the secondary hood bow backwards to give shape to the hood and attach the tabs inside to hold hood and bow together. Yes, that bit is a little fiddly.
Only then do you tighten the windscreen over Center catches.
Just trying to reason why you are struggling.
Hope that helps.
Peter C
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kdavies3
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Re: 289 Hardtop

Post by kdavies3 »

I had a hood for my original Dax a good few years back.
It was only used a few times over ten years.
Eventually it shrank to the point where it was almost impossible to fit.
It was a double duck hood.
Kev Davies
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peterc
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Re: 289 Hardtop

Post by peterc »

Kevin, what roll over bar do you have? With a rearward brace it looks like a 427 style.
I’m guessing that you have a 289 hard top.
You may well need to make a bump to clear the roll bar.
Peter C
KevinW
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Re: 289 Hardtop

Post by KevinW »

Hi Peter,
Only just saw your post - yes, I have a 427 body and 289 hardtop- totally different shapes behind the doors. Spent many evenings reading and re-reading Gerry's article on how to mod such a hardtop - there are a few other issues one needs to worry about not discussed in the article, but no 'bubble' needed.

It all fits....now ;) - combination of raising the rear by exactly 1 English house brick, making a new rear skirt as per Gerry's article, chopping out the window apertures and re-fixing these in position and adding a 4" transverse fillet in the middle. Some photos for your amusement on part of the process below (which seem to have appeared in the wrong order). Like the rest of the car, it needs some paint.

atb, Kevin
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simonjrwinter
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Re: 289 Hardtop

Post by simonjrwinter »

Goodness that looks like a labour of love...end product looks good...
TR6 (V8) Hawk 289 FIA (V8) Doing my bit for global warming.
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