Thought I’d mention this place, which rebuilds the hydraulic rams and pumps to better than new....
Thought I’d mention this place, which rebuilds the hydraulic rams and pumps to better than new. https://www.tophydraulics.com/83-ferrari-360-f360-spider Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat
I used them to rebuild the secondary cylinders. FedEx'd them out on a Saturday, got them back (selected $40 FedEx shipping) the following Friday morning by 10:30am. Easy to work with, reasonable folks and they answered all my questions quickly and accurately.
and is one aftermarket canopy provider better than the rest? all priced about the same around $2200 https://www.convertibletopguys.com/convertible/1058/2001-2009-Ferrari-360-Spider https://gahh.com/ferrari-360-spider-2001-2009-convertible-top https://www.topsonline.com/model/Convertible_Tops_And_Accessories/Ferrari/2001_thru_2009_Ferrari_360_Spider,_360F_Spider_And_F430_Spider.html ($2,200)
I don't know which is the best but I wouldn't hesitate to replace the top canvas myself if I needed it.
Warning if the top starts sticking, get the bands changed, don't wait. I procrastinated and eventually a got two puncture holes on both sides of the top. Now I need to replace the top. $15,000 by the dealer $8000 for an after market by a local Ferrari shop. Through this forum I found GAHH who sell tops for $2,200. If anyone has an alternative, in NJ please let me know.
Are these the holes people refer to? My top opens and closes with no problems. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
ttforcefed: When I saw mine putting a strain on my canvas I immediately bought 4" x 4" patches of black velcro and with some additional cloth glue I glued it on to the canvas top from the inside. That was 4 years ago. Still holds and protects the top from getting holes such as those.
so the elastic bands prevent the top from developing holes, but if a top does have holes it it doesn't mean the top wont work properly?
I replaced the elastic bands on mine and I don't see how those holes would prevent the top from working.
thanks for this very useful knowledge. I have my 430 spider serviced by a good Ferrari authorised shop which specialises in classic restorations, older than 430s. I will ask them to replace these elastics. Do I need to specify which ones? I imagine your knowledge is ahead of theirs on this model.
360 and 430 Spider tops are interchangeable. I suggest replacing all 14 elastic bands. I have the details in the article I wrote after I did it myself. It's really a good DIY project if you're confident about your skills. https://www.ferrari360.org/2020/09/capote-elastic-bands-and-more.html I went through a total breakdown of the methods, equipment, measurements and materials required. Please ask if I missed something. Any decent shop should be able to accomplish this. I would guess they'd charge at least 6 and maybe 10 hours if they haven't done one before. Pretty inexpensive for the amazing improvement in the top's functioning. I lowered my top in front of Home Depot the other day with at least 20 people passing by. Before, I would have been horrified to do that since the top always had a 50-50 chance of jamming. Now, I know it's going to close and hardly even give it a glance (except to verify the bar went where it should!).
@EastMemphis your writeup/blog is spectacular, thank you for pointing me to it! I will definitely be performing this procedure when it starts to warm up here in NJ @ttforcefed , as you've likely surmised by my posts so far, yes, it happened on my F430. I got the car in Sep 2020, used the roof when I got it, and when it was delivered to me in Nov and both times worked perfectly. Tried it yesterday and wouldn't go all the way down, I suspect its the elastics on the main bar from what I've been reading. I think it was the fact that it was cold out that made it just enough to not work this time, it was probably iffy since I got it, but I didn't realize it. Unfortunately, upon more careful inspection now, I did notice the two vampire bite marks on either side of the roof, so this clearly has not been a perfectly operating roof, I guess I got lucky past 2 times I had tried it. Many thanks to all who have contributed to the forums on this issue!!!! and I owe you John for the writeup, you clearly have save me and many others time, and money!
When the straps start to "un-stretch" the first signs are "dents" in the canvas: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login This is the time to take care of this problem. However there is a small trick to prevent damage to the canvas without replacement of the straps. The straps are lengthem in time and by loop them and using tie-rip you shorten the length by 1 inch/2cm. You can reach the straps on both ends by stopping the top halfway and reach between lining and canvas. Make a loop in the strap (I could get both hands in) and tie the loop with tie-rip having the loop downward (where the plastic plate is). Picture shows location (red) and loop in strap (blue). Image Unavailable, Please Login This can be done without taking the canvas from frame etc. Just by opening top midway. The small straps can also stretch. A loop with tie-rip is to tight and therefore I stitched an additional strap (shorter) on top to shorten the length. Image Unavailable, Please Login You can can just reach this small strap again without taking the top apart. Hand stitch both ends of your new strap just before the stitching of the original. See pic green: Image Unavailable, Please Login Now the canvas wil not be punched and folds as it should be. Took me less than 2 hours and needed only (small) tie-rip's and small piece of strap's. End result of small strap stitching (yellow is old/original strap, purple is added new/shorter strap) Image Unavailable, Please Login
This is at best a bandaid. The elastics are still shot and may last a few weeks or so until the problem returns. Better to bite the bullet and simply replace them. Would you do that with your underpants or just get another pair?
By adding a new strap I don't see this is a bandaid... The loop & tie-rip on the long straps are maybe a bandaid but time will tell if/how long it will work. If needed it can be repeated. As we say in Holland, there is more than 1 road to Rome... By this posting I was only showing a different road (approach) to the same goal, a working top. jm2c
Time has passed and time for recap; The add-on small strap is an succes and do not need futher attention. However the "loop by tie-back" was sufficient but not long-lasting. To improve the "mid-bar" movement backwards during opening (to stow flat into the casing) needs a (small)force. As written above, some help this bar to move backwards manually (by asking mrs ) during opening. I was wondering why this movement must be done by straps? (who wears out)... Why not use a small spring? And how to attach this to the mechanism? As written before I have made a loop in the strap (to shorten it) using the tie-wrap. I have used this loop to attach the spring and made another loop (in the strap) to attach the other end of the spring. The spring is now installed paralel to the strap and is "taking over" the stretching and will do so as long as.... As the spring is attached at the bottom of the strap (not on top/at canvas side) and there is a plastic piece at the bottom/on top of inner lining. Ther is no risk of damaging any fabrics. It is 2.0 and will monitor the next few months how it works but already weeks into this fix, it is working perfectly. The spring needs to be no longer as 7cm/2" (shorter is possible as you can adjust the distance between loops yourself) Image Unavailable, Please Login This is the spring installed (sorry for the "crapy pics, but it is thight between lining and canvas: Image Unavailable, Please Login The spring is attached above the plastic part (protects the inner lining) and the strap is above the spring (to protect the canvas) Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thank you for this new idea. Where in this picture is the spring attached? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Interesting idea. Aren't you concerned that the spring will chafe the liner or top? I recently replaced all my straps (and there are a lot) using East Memphis' guide. I still wonder how long the elasticity will last.
