My Removable top - Finally Done!

So I posted a while back about how I bought a Jettop removable top and had a few issues with the company. I decided to try and rectify the issues with this top and make a few mods to it in order to get it to work the way it should.

1-Brackets Problem: Soft top could not be operated unless the brackets were removed (which I tought was ridiculous). So I figured out a way and finally made it work and I'm happy with it. However, I will not be posting it on here and pics are blurred out in the bracket spot because I have no desire to help the company, sorry.

2-Lexan glass unsticking: I removed the 3 pieces of lexan to have the roof painted Rosso Scuderia like my car and cleaned out all the glue, grinded out a lot of the roof part where the rear glass sticks because the glass was not fitting properly (especially in the corners). Prepped the surface and Glued it with urethane adhesive. I opted not to use the rubber trim even if the Berlinettas have it because I couldn't get it straight enough and because the lexan only was a cleaner finish.

After a while, the urethane adhesive's bond just gave out in some spots (I assume due to the heat) so I used some of "the last glue" which like a crazy glue on steroids + PL Premium construction adhesive and it seems to have done the trick (hope it holds!!!)

I also wanted to avoid another "rear glass flying out experience" so I used little bathroom mirror handles which I modified and had powder coated then slid onto the rear lexan and into the frame where I made a hole and used a screw to hold + steel wire to give it a snug fit then capped it with a plastic black cap glued on. Not very oem look but at this point, I don't care and I don't want to shell out another 500$ for a rear glass.

On the side windows, the soft top above the pillar tends to "push-out" the side glass even with a good bond of glue and it seemed like it wanted to come undone. Plus, when driving at high speed, wind can get in there quickly and snap out that piece of glass so I decided to make a hole and use a plastic screw to give it a mechanical hold. Again, it's not am oem look but it needed to be done.

3-Scratches: The piece needed A LOT of grinding in several areas and the under part of the roof needs a lot more foam padding which I added. It now sits a little higher than it should in terms of esthetics but I've scratched my paint enough with this thing!!!! NO MORE!!! But I like the way it sits now and I can live with it.
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4-Rear emblem: I decided that it was silly to drive a car that looks like a hard top with the word "spider" in the rear so I bought a F355 Berlinetta emblem and modified both by gluing magnets on them. Now I can swap them out whenever I've got either my spider or my Berlinetta. I'm a total Poseur, I know........

So, in conclusion, here are the pics and, based on what I've found out and contrary to what I was told, there are only 2 roofs like this in the world and I have one of them so it's kind of cool...

Total cost was just under 4k for this crazy thing including paint and miscellaneous but it's done now so I plan to enjoy it!

Here are the pics!!!!!!! Judge for yourself.....I love driving a spider in summer but the look of the Berlinetta always gave me goosebumps when I used to dream of owning this car so to have the illusion of owning both is terrific!!

p.s. I don't want this to turn into another Jettop bashing thread, that's been done already and I don't want to get into rehashing that. If anyone is interested in drama, do a search for the other thread but let's keep this one clean and let's please stay on topic which is your toughts on the final result and the removable roof mod.

p.s.2 Don't worry about the FCA 50th sticker, it's only temporary and coming off soon.
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Mike, I have absolutely no desire to go on a track with my car....it's just not my thing. But the roof is removable and sort of hangs on top of the car so it does not provide any strength at all to the frame, it's purely esthetic.

The roof is actually quite light...never weighed it but it's gotta be less than 30 pounds so not an issue (I rarely have a passenger and I could lose 60 lbs myself so I'm not gonna worry about the roof).

Obviously, my car did not morph into a coupe, we all know it's still a spider, lol!

The roof is a lot more comfortable for longer drives when it's really hot and you need A/C. It also helps lessen the wind noise and my exhaust noise which is obnoxiously loud and can give you a headache when driving long distances.

It used to squeak and rattle before I made a new bracket system + performed all the necessary grinding, padding and adjustments but now it's smooth and quiet.

 

I can see why it didn't and can't go into mass production.

No 2 cars are the same so there is a lot of time spent grinding, adjusting, putting it on, taking it off, going for a test run.....during that time you scratch your paint here and there....it's a really big job.

Plus, the lexan just doesn't want to stay put no matter what glue we used so that's another obstacle because the glass needs grinding also so any buyer would have to stick the glass themselves.

Opening the engine compartment is another issue as it pushes against the glass and puts pressure on the glue to come undone, especially trying to open the rear after a drive when everything gets hot. In order to make space for the rear glass, it has to go beyond the existing soft top and most of you know there already isn't much space there to begin with.

Price is another issue, in order to make money, these would have to be sold for more than 5-6k and investing that much in a car worth between 50-70k purely for esthetic reasons is something not many owners will do (not to mention the very limited market, these aren't civics!!!).

It's also a big piece and quite delicate so storing it when it's not in use takes up a lot of space...Also takes 2 people to take it off and put it on...

I probably would not have bought it had I known all these things would occurr and all this extra time and money was required but since I was stuck with it, I made the best of it!!!

 

Thank you all for the kind words...

Had a chance to take the car to a Ferrari Festival in Ottawa this weekend which is about 2 hours away.

Roof remained pretty stable and quiet during the entire time. I still may need a minor adjustment but it looks pretty good.

Next thing I'd like to do is perhaps make a pulley system on my garage ceiling so I can install/remove the roof easily without needing another person. Plus it wouldn't be in the way and would be a good storage place. We'll see...

 

Like I said it's not permanent....when the roof is on, Berlinetta emblem is on, when the roof is off, spider emblem goes on....

 

Thank you Jeff for the kind words and you indeed created a really cool and unique mod with this top. As for the "whole" story, we've pretty much said it all and left nothing out when it comes to my experience with this thing as it's entirely documented here on fchat + in my emails. But, as I've said in the beginning of the thread, not here wanting to bash anyone anymore (been there, done that, moved on) I'm glad it worked out in the end and the top looks great!!!