| Author |
Message |
david handa (Davehanda)
Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 496
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 11:32 pm: | |
Mike,
I have seen enough damaged rear window ledges to feel that the factory must have something there. :-) So yes, there is a little "dance" that must be performed to get the top in proper orientation. Each time I remove or install the top, I rest it on my shoes, while I open or close the latches, then lift it into position to be stored or installed. I started doing it this way with my 308, and never stopped...
It may be that the latches will not touch the ledge if properly closed, but with my method, it is impossible for them to touch. :-) |
Marq J Ruben (Qferrari)
Junior Member
Username: Qferrari
Post Number: 204
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 9:47 pm: | |
You're right, Jim E., if you 'close' the latches, they don't come anywhere close to touching the sill @ the rear window. No problem at all with wear.
|
BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member
Username: Bobd
Post Number: 1002
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 9:38 pm: | |
I've always done pins down. |
Bill Steele (Glassman)
Junior Member
Username: Glassman
Post Number: 160
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 8:55 pm: | |
Some years of the 308 had two brackets in the floor that the pins were to rest in. I have seen them but cannot remember what year the car was. |
Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member
Username: Jimpo1
Post Number: 1289
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 7:57 pm: | |
The latches won't rub the sill if you 'close' them before you strap it down. |
Brian Keegan (4redude)
Junior Member
Username: 4redude
Post Number: 54
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 6:09 pm: | |
The reason you are supposed to store the top with the pins up, is so the latches are down. If you store the top with the pins down, outside of top facing the seats, the latches will rest on the window sill and wear away the fabric. If you notice black smudges or worn fabric on the window sill, you now know the cause. |
Johnny (Up2nogd)
Junior Member
Username: Up2nogd
Post Number: 133
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 6:05 pm: | |
Thought this was actually gonna be a quick and easy answer? At least I don't feel like a complete and total idiot (well almost) -- but I'm with Craig - the reason for the confusion was that when I stored it pins up - painted side towards the carpet I got another click on the seat and a little more recline. Does anybody see a major drawback with storing it this way??
Thanks for the Help!
Johnny |
John Bicsak (Funshipone)
Junior Member
Username: Funshipone
Post Number: 175
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 5:47 pm: | |
I store mine pins down out side of top towards seats. |
Marq J Ruben (Qferrari)
Junior Member
Username: Qferrari
Post Number: 203
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 2:27 pm: | |
Thank you Rob, Jim E, Mike, Mark & Stu. One of the previous times this was discussed, and I expressed the 'makes more sense way' with pins down, I think I was in the minority.
It's so much easier to take off/store with the pins down and, in addition, the targa cover fits so much nicer.
Marvelous idea for gettin' that extra notch, Craig. Gotta try that.
|
Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
Member
Username: Craigfl
Post Number: 542
Registered: 1-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 1:54 pm: | |
Rob,
I offset the top slightly so that the seatback reclines into the indentations on the inside of the top. The only thing to watch out for is the top rubbing on the seatbelt retractor. I use a small handtowel as padding to avoid this. |
Eric Eiland (Eric308gtsiqv)
Member
Username: Eric308gtsiqv
Post Number: 579
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 12:26 pm: | |
308 QV manual depicts pins up / top facing forward -- which is how mine is stowed with targa cover. It is a little extra trouble having to spin it around to mount / dismount, but mine usually stays mounted on the roof. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator
Username: Rob328gts
Post Number: 3480
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 11:41 am: | |
Criag has a good idea i've never thought about, it's true that with the top off and in the back there's not as much seat room. I'll have to try that. |
stu cordova (Balataboy)
Member
Username: Balataboy
Post Number: 399
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 11:26 am: | |
Can a 308 guy chime in??? (Afterall, top storage is no different in a 308 than it is in the 328 big brother, is it?)
I agree (pins down/top facing forward) but the problem I have - because I don't have the pouch to put the top in - is that the back of the drivers seat leaves a wear mark on the top.
It's a drag, but a little Armorall usually takes care of it.
|
Mark Collins (Markcollins)
Junior Member
Username: Markcollins
Post Number: 123
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 11:15 am: | |
Mike et all
I used to have a 328 and always stored it pins down although the manual showed it the other way.
I now have a 355GTS and it also stores with pins down, however they now go in to the rear of the roof so you have to rotate it 180 degrees.... a real pain!!! |
Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member
Username: Jimpo1
Post Number: 1284
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 9:41 am: | |
I'm with Mike here, the 'pins up' postion just makes no sense. I can easily remove/replace the top by myself if I store it pins down, but to have to do the 180 degree spin necessary to store it pins up seems like a dance of frustration. The cover for the top fits snugly, as I would expect it to, when the pins are down. Call me pig-headed, but I'm not changing. |
Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
Member
Username: Craigfl
Post Number: 539
Registered: 1-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 6:40 am: | |
And of course, we tall people, if we must carry the top, store it with the topside toward the rear, latches up, offset slightly to the driver's side. This way, I can get the seatback one further notch back so I'm more comfortable..... |
Mike Procopio (Pupz308)
Junior Member
Username: Pupz308
Post Number: 86
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 1:38 am: | |
Now this is interesting. It's clear we agree that the smooth, top surface faces FORWARD. The issue is, which directions to the pegs face?
I looked it up, and I believe the manual illustrated it pegs up. This never made sense to me--I've always had it pegs down.
Pegs down works best for removal and replacement--just lift vertically, then, standing from the driver's side of the car looking across the car to the passenger's side, rotate the roof clockwise, putting the pins (now facing downward and to towards the windshield) into their respective holes; completing the rotation nicely seats the back end of the roof appropriately. Removal is the reverse, but it's even easier.
So, with the pins down, removal/replacement is fine, but I have to adjust the straps (lift them up) so that the latches don't put indentations/punctures into the leather.
Now, consider if the pins are UP, with the smooth top surface facing towards the front of the car, like dave says (and like I believe the manual shows). Removal/replacement is really a pain! Everything's all wrong. You've got to either rotate 180" (hard to do!), so that the pins are facing down, then proceed as above, or flip it (also hard to do!).
This is, of course, unless I'm completely missing something! I just don't see how you'd have the pins (by pins I mean the two protrusions that get inserted into the windshield pillars) up and still get the roof on and off easily.
Dave, how do you do it? |
Mike Procopio (Pupz308)
Junior Member
Username: Pupz308
Post Number: 84
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 12:40 am: | |
(See my post above) |
david handa (Davehanda)
Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 495
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 10:32 pm: | |
Pins up, top facing forward. |
Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member
Username: Jimpo1
Post Number: 1282
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 10:23 pm: | |
This has come up before, my top fits best with the latches UP , pegs DOWN, and the outside of the top against the seat. |
Tom Jones (Ferrarioldman)
Junior Member
Username: Ferrarioldman
Post Number: 82
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 9:58 pm: | |
Page 42 in my '86 / '87 328 owner manual shows a picture of it. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator
Username: Rob328gts
Post Number: 3477
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 9:52 pm: | |
I don't know for sure, I just do what makes it easiest for placing and removing. I place with top outwards and pegs down. |
Tom Jones (Ferrarioldman)
Junior Member
Username: Ferrarioldman
Post Number: 81
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 9:51 pm: | |
It shows in the owners manual I believe. The latches should be pointed toward the floor and the top of the roof toward the rear of the seats. |
Johnny (Up2nogd)
Junior Member
Username: Up2nogd
Post Number: 132
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 9:07 pm: | |
Can somebody post a pic or give a quick description on how the top should be stored? I've asked several people and no clear cut answer?
Thanks,
Johnny |