308 top stowage

Pins down top forward yes there is a cover - its in the handbook and there are many threads here discussing as the handbook picture is not 100 % clear

 

I have been placing the pins up and top forward, not sure why though as it would be easier to have pins down I think as i have been rotating the top around in prder to get the pins facing up, i will do this next time i take it out.

 

The cover was missing for my 308GTS when I bought it so had one made. I'm now having some more made if you want one.

 

Yes please, let me know Mark. A while back someone on here was going to get the pattern drawn up from an original but it never happened. I've seen a repro on eBay at a very silly price and was planning to get one sewn up locally.

 

I follow the illustration in the owner's manual: pins up

 

I would be VERY Interested in a cover. If the price was not too steep.

Can you show us a pic?

 

I do pins up top forward. Doubt it would matter a lot which way you stow it though. I have the original cover but it's extremely tight, don't know if it's shrank with age or if it was just always that way, but I'm afraid of breaking one of the buttons that hold it down so I don't use it.

 

Pins up, top forward. This puts the thickest part of the top (the rear portion with the latches) downward where there is more room behind the seats which tend to lean back. Top forward puts the curve of the sides towards the back and allows the cover to stretch over the curve not the edge and also protects the seals by facing them away from the seat backs.

 

I do it completely wrong - pins up and bottom forward. Pins up because it seems to sit better that way and bottom forward because it leave more room behind the seats and is easier to slide in behind them.

I don't have a cover, though, so it does leave the fabric exposed which is probably not the best. I'd love to get a cover as well if they are reasonable cost.

 

there are two holes in my carpet from the top being stored pins down.

 

Pins down - top to rear is what I have always done. Works fine that way and if you put it pins-up (per the manual) you will just punch two holes in the oem cover. I have never figured out why the cover was not made with two holes in it to accept the top. Basically, they instruct you to ruin the cover since it was clearly NOT made to accept the top with pins up.

Actually, I quit bothering with the cover at all and it's a heck of a lot easier not to mess with it. I don't see any useful purpose in the thing so I took it out of the car and put it in a drawer (next to the oem trouble light - another "what the heck were they thinking of?" item).

 

I don't know what owner's manual you all are looking at but in mine (1988.5 328) it is clear that the top is to be stowed with the top fiberglass surface facing forward and the latches (not pins) at the top. That is also obviously the way the cover was designed to fit.

To get the top facing forward and have the pins pointing up would mean that you would have to rotate the top 180 degrees after you lift it off which doesn't make sense.

 

Pins down, the cover is designed to fit with the latches to the rear, top of top forward.

Doug

 

pins down
top forward
latches horizontally on the shelf
carpet protected by velcro inforcement where pins touch
stowage leather spanned by 4 tenax

perfect

 

"Pins down, the cover is designed to fit with the latches to the rear, top of top forward.'

Agree re pins down but if the top of the top is forward, the seat cannot angle back far enough for comfort - at least for me and I'm only 6' even.

"I don't know what owner's manual you all are looking at but in mine (1988.5 328) it is clear that the top is to be stowed with the top fiberglass surface facing forward and the latches (not pins) at the top."

Per the owners manual for my '89 328, page 42, the pic shows the top stored with:
1. the pins up and
2. top of top toward front of car.

Neither 1 nor 2 actually work for me in real life.

 

I agree pins down, top forward. I also put a pair of child's size socks over the latches to protect the material on the shelf from rubber smudge stains.

 

I think you are misinterpreting the drawing and seeing the tips of the latches as pins in the drawing in the manual. In the drawing in my manual (which is probably the same as yours) the part on top is shown as little tiny specks whereas the pins are a good inch long and would show as big spikes.

Also, why would they have you rotate the top 180 degrees to place it behind the seat, and have the pins poke holes in the cover, none of that makes sense even for theese goofy cars.

But I will have to say that no matter how you place the top behind the seats it is less than perfect. But better than leaving it at home most of the time.

 

Page 39 owners manual for 308 quatrovalve show picture with pins up and top facing forward. I have always done it this way but do agree that rotating it 180 degree after taking off is wierd.

 

Wrong - see post 2 & 18

 

I do pins down and the top facing the rear. This gives me more room for stowage behind the seats. Someone else showed me how to do it that way and I have just stuck with it. I also have the original cover, but just dont use it at all. Its folded neatly in the trunk.




PDG

 

If it fits and you are comfy with it, what the heck does it matter?

Pins up, down, sideways .........?

 

Is anyone who stows their top behind the seats without the cover concerned about the top rubbing on the seat backs? It seems to me that the top could be easily damaged without the cover.

Also, I don't have snaps on the floor to snap my cover to. The result is that the bottom of the cover gets smacked around by wind buffetting while the car is moving. Can someone please post a picture of where the snaps should be located on the floor?

 

I don't have a cover and my top is painted red. I stow it with the upper side facing the carpet to prevent any potential seat back rubbing issues. It's also less visible that way; the underside blends in with the seat colour.

 

Thanks Paul - I'll try stowing it that way... I would love to have a painted top, I think they look great in body color!