Renault Floride body rebuild.

The soft top..

A bit of research has gone into the manufacture of a new soft top...

In a moment of insanity I decided I could make one myself and the attached thread will document the journey of the last few weeks... http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=102990


The rear window was marked/cut and the shape formed. The window plastic is 1.6mm thick and was glued in place with Selleys All clear, then a second window frame glued and sewn over top (see picture of interior in post #142 ).




Tensioning straps were installed along the edges of the frame, these are to help the mechanism open as well as acting as a wear pad to provide longevity for the top.




Chrome plated brass fitting clips were used in favour of Stainless steel and they seem quite robust.

 

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The soft top frame and bows painted...

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Looks fabulous, well done.
Shows what determination, some common sense, knowledge and the right tools for the job applied with care can achieve.

Trimming isn't part of my skill set and I respect your ability to begin from scratch.:headbang:
cheers
richo
 
Hi Peter,

The extractor to which you are referring isn't worthy of any ceramic coating because of the amateurish build quality, so it has been replaced with Mach 2.

Since returning from Junee I have installed a new extractor built to the exact same specification but with mandrel bends and vastly improved welding. I made a home built mandrel bender so was able to do a proper job of it as my welding and fabrication skills in general have improved vastly since my first attempt.

I really enjoy the satisfaction of designing and building the system myself and the added power and torque that comes with it...not to mention the sound.:tongue:

As for a ceramic coating, I will leave it as is for now as I am saving my ideas for the next project for which I haven't decided on the exact name, maybe "Daufenator" or " Frankendauf"
...havent decided yet..:)


(before all the Renault tragics give me cheek about the dirty engine bay, the car gets driven every day when I can, and I have a persistent fluid leak from the water pump)


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If others knew what I now know about the performance benefits of a 4-1 extractor I am sure they would beat a path to my door, the labor cost would be the killer tho..:cry:
 
If others knew what I now know about the performance benefits of a 4-1 extractor I am sure they would beat a path to my door, the labor cost would be the killer tho..:cry:

I considered 4:1 (after correspondence with Frans) but ended up with 4:2:1 for 4CV & R8 on the grounds that they give a better mid range while still not stifling the top end unless one has a "hairy Harold" cam. Mind you, any Ventoux or Sierra style motor benefits greatly from either type (& from induction changes).

Incidentally, a maximum effect sometimes does not yield a maximum result; some action is futile. And some results are not worth achieving anyway.

Although less snappy, how about: 'the effort devoted to achieving an end should be a function of that end's importance relative to others one might have, the achievement of which might be in conflict with the given end & of one's appraisal of the probability of achieving that end (& of achieving others in rivalry with it) & the extent of that achievement'? Nah, still overly simplistic.

I await the advent of the Dauphine-Gordorlmity with considerable interest. Even though it doesn't guarantee success, I hope that you will put in a maximum effort , not to mention quality wallet time.

cheers! Peter
 
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I considered 4:1 (after correspondence with Frans) but ended up with 4:2:1 for 4CV & R8 on the grounds that they give a better mid range while still not stifling the top end unless one has a "hairy Harold" cam. Mind you, any Ventoux or Sierra style motor benefits greatly from either type (& from induction changes).

Incidentally, a maximum effect sometimes does not yield a maximum result; some action is futile. And some results are not worth achieving anyway.

Although less snappy, how about: 'the effort devoted to achieving an end should be a function of that end's importance relative to others one might have, the achievement of which might be in conflict with the given end & of one's appraisal of the probability of achieving that end (& of achieving others in rivalry with it) & the extent of that achievement'? Nah, still overly simplistic.

I await the advent of the Dauphine-Gordorlmity with considerable interest. Even though it doesn't guarantee success, I hope that you will put in a maximum effort , not to mention quality wallet time.

cheers! Peter


Peter,

Even though I agree with you wholeheartedly I must remind you that as a great orator and communicator one must communicate at a level to suit the audience, therefore I will opt the KISS principle and leave it as it is....:)
 
Peter,

Even though I agree with you wholeheartedly I must remind you that as a great orator and communicator one must communicate at a level to suit the audience, therefore I will opt the KISS principle and leave it as it is....:)

A-Fers sub-literate? - nah!
 
Time to bling up the dashboard..

I haven't updated this thread for quite a while so now would be a good time to round the whole thread off.

The gauge pod needed a thorough restoration as not much of it worked and to make matters worse it fell off the shelf while waiting for me to repair it and broke the plastic surround into 8 pieces. I repaired it with superglue and then glued linen inside with clear epoxy resin, a bit like fiberglassing I guess. Once the resin dried mixed up some red resin and coated the outside twice, then sanded and polished. It looks like new I think.

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The faceplate was carefully cleaned and the bezel surround re-gilded, while the result was terrific more needed to be done.

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The temp gauge was broken and the fuel gauge refused to park back at zero. Bob and Harley came to the rescue with a NOS 6 volt gauge dated 1958 (still in it's original package) and a voltage reducer to suit my 12 volt system. A small earth magnet was strategically place near the positive terminal to entice the fuel gauge to return to zero once turned off....worked a treat.

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And the finishing touch was Delivered in the mail a few days ago from Greenblood. I asked him to print me a new decal in reverse to be applied inside the gauge glass, noice! Legend Chris.:headbang: I have quite a few spares if anyone wants one (Just send me a PM and I'll post one out).

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[Hi all, the whitewalls are available in Nankangs from John Cain in Newcastle.

Mike.[/QUOTE]
 
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