Agreed it looks
Rebody Oh no. It's not another 507 Rebody. Oh yes it is!
- Thread starter Duncodin
- Start date
Soft top got pretty dirty with all the GRP work I've done.
Rear window was already out. Stitching all rotted away. So off with the material.
Whenever I opened the roof it wouldn't always fold back easily. One of the joints would stick and I'd have to press down on that one joint.
I've since discovered that the reason is that the straps are supposed to include an elasticated section that pulls the middle bow back slightly. Just enough to click the joint in the right direction.
Here's that elasticated section.
Anyone with an old Z3 that doesn't have lining. Look up at the straps and it might have that sagging section in the middle. Like the elastic on your favorite 25 year old underpants it won't have any elasticity. It just hangs there.
Looking online I think I can buy new straps. But if they're old stock then they might not have much life left in them.
So gonna unstitch the elastic and stitch in new.
You can see the stretched/dead elastic sections on upper and rear straps.
Need to go online now and order elastic. Softtop grade - not knickergrade.
Rear window was already out. Stitching all rotted away. So off with the material.
Whenever I opened the roof it wouldn't always fold back easily. One of the joints would stick and I'd have to press down on that one joint.
I've since discovered that the reason is that the straps are supposed to include an elasticated section that pulls the middle bow back slightly. Just enough to click the joint in the right direction.
Here's that elasticated section.
Anyone with an old Z3 that doesn't have lining. Look up at the straps and it might have that sagging section in the middle. Like the elastic on your favorite 25 year old underpants it won't have any elasticity. It just hangs there.
Looking online I think I can buy new straps. But if they're old stock then they might not have much life left in them.
So gonna unstitch the elastic and stitch in new.
You can see the stretched/dead elastic sections on upper and rear straps.
Need to go online now and order elastic. Softtop grade - not knickergrade.
Oh. Forgot to tell you what roof is going on.
The car is staying grey so burgundy roof will look good m'thinks.
Got the roof from the USA. 170 quid with free shipping but had to pay 50 in fees and taxes.
I've never fitted a roof before but I really want to try. So just got a cheap one so won't be such a loss 'when' I mess it up.
I didn't read the roof sellers ad properly coz the rear window is heat bonded in. Kind of laminated. Looks naff I think with the roof coloured border instead of black piping. But you get what you pay for.
Having said that. Nobody will see it. It's just there in case it rains so I'm sure it'll be ok for a year or so.
The car is staying grey so burgundy roof will look good m'thinks.
Got the roof from the USA. 170 quid with free shipping but had to pay 50 in fees and taxes.
I've never fitted a roof before but I really want to try. So just got a cheap one so won't be such a loss 'when' I mess it up.
I didn't read the roof sellers ad properly coz the rear window is heat bonded in. Kind of laminated. Looks naff I think with the roof coloured border instead of black piping. But you get what you pay for.
Having said that. Nobody will see it. It's just there in case it rains so I'm sure it'll be ok for a year or so.
If you’re thinking about going topless then surely you need brassiere grade
Had mine fitted in Swansea last week. He had to remove the frame and bump it forward a couple of inches to gain access due to the height of the rear tub. So that's 3 507's that have the same colour soft top.
Attachments
Yours is looking good.
Don't count me in with the soft top colour yet. Knowing me i'll do something wrong and I'll be colourless (as in topless) for a while.
Haven't managed to close it yet.
needs a good pull and a stretch but I've been called in for me dinner. 
Carry on tomorrow.Looking really good Ian. Well doneView attachment 309367
View attachment 309369
Haven't managed to close it yet.
When I used to fit hoods to my Triumph Spitfires and MGB's I used to heat up the cockpit with a fan heater before fully closing for the 1st time. I'd run clingfilm along the front of hood frame to keep the heat in.
Thanks. I was hoping for a sunny day. But just had clouds and rain.Looking really good Ian. Well done
When I used to fit hoods to my Triumph Spitfires and MGB's I used to heat up the cockpit with a fan heater before fully closing for the 1st time. I'd run clingfilm along the front of hood frame to keep the heat in.
Tomorrow I'll put the heat gun in the car for an hour. Then a little weight on top and a push from behind and let the heat do its stuff.
Back in the day they used to boil a kettle in a car to aid a new "headlining" stretch to fit. Could this help?
Tony.
Tony.
I can see how that could work on canvas mohair to pull it to shape. I think they use steam to shape posh hats.
My roof is cheap vinyl kinda laminated with a twill weave. Not sure if steam will affect vinyl. Would be nice if I could park it in the sun but bit of heat inside should help.
Roof closed. Really tight. Baking in the sun.
Bit of a crease in that panel above the petrol flap. Shoulda maybe tacked it a bit tighter at the very ends of the tack bow. Too late now. There's a flap of material to wrap around the frame just by that crease and maybe I can pull the crease when I get to that bit.
Bit of a crease in that panel above the petrol flap. Shoulda maybe tacked it a bit tighter at the very ends of the tack bow. Too late now. There's a flap of material to wrap around the frame just by that crease and maybe I can pull the crease when I get to that bit.
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Still some fettling/straightening of the edges around the hole. The edges have been gouged and roughened up a lot to give a good base for the finishing coat of GRP. I wrap the grill in clingfilm. Put it into the hole and then press filler all down around the sides. Cling film stops the filler sticking to the grill so I can pull it out again once the filler has gone off.
Also need to rig up some brackets to attach the grill from the inside. A hook at the front and a screw behind the badge I think.
To be honest I don't really like these gills. But they'll fill the hole till I get round to doing something more 507-like. Too much other more important stuff to do.
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Opinions about wheels please.
First thing to remember - I'm not trying to make a replica 507 so I don't mind doing things different. Like the original Z3 door mirrors. I just feel more comfortable with modern-ish mirrors and not tiny chrome ones stuck way down on the bonnet.
I know others have gone for 507-style steel wheels with faux spinners. I don't think I'll ever bother with the spinners. But I do like the older style wheels with the 'pepper pot' look.
So. What about this guys?
I suppose I could paint the wheel middles body colour then they'd look not much different to the steelies others have used. But I kinda like the 'alloy' wheel look. What'dya reckon?
By the way - that's just a photoshop chop job. Wheels aren't really there. I'm just deciding whether to pull the trigger on a set. They're not too expensive either.
First thing to remember - I'm not trying to make a replica 507 so I don't mind doing things different. Like the original Z3 door mirrors. I just feel more comfortable with modern-ish mirrors and not tiny chrome ones stuck way down on the bonnet.
I know others have gone for 507-style steel wheels with faux spinners. I don't think I'll ever bother with the spinners. But I do like the older style wheels with the 'pepper pot' look.
So. What about this guys?
I suppose I could paint the wheel middles body colour then they'd look not much different to the steelies others have used. But I kinda like the 'alloy' wheel look. What'dya reckon?
By the way - that's just a photoshop chop job. Wheels aren't really there. I'm just deciding whether to pull the trigger on a set. They're not too expensive either.
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Currently that's the gelcote colour. RAL7015
I haven't decided on the final colour. Maybe close to the gelcoat colour or something like Mercedes Blaugrau. Here's a merc roadster in it.
I'd look for a bmw varient of that
I'm a fan of the steelies with spinners......I do like the pepper pots that you've photoshopped though.
They look good IMO. The only thing I would say is that they look a bit big for a '60s look car.