Hello out there, I am wondering if anyone knows the correct methods to tighten the top on an 88 Mclaren? My mother recently gave me hers, (car #628) and the top is in great shape but it seems to need a good tightening down. Since this isnt the same that has been on other convertables I was looking for some help in the matter please.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Chris
adjusting the top
More details or pictures?
Has the top shrunk and is pulling up from the sides? Or is the upper surface 'baggy'?
If it has shrunk there is no way to fix it other than replacement.
If it's baggy or saggy, first you would want to make sure all of the bows are in the right place and attached to their velcro mounting strips.
I just replaced the top on our 88 and from that I can say the only practical way to tighten it (make it more taut?) would be to take the fabric loose from the front edge and pull it forward, then re-glue and re-assemble. You may be able to do some tightening on the sides where it attaches behind the weatherstrip in front of the side windows.
It would be best to remove it completely and start over from the back edge - that's how a new one is installed - but if you do that you may as well replace it. If it's an original top the stitching is likely very weak and if it's an aftermarket top most just don't last very long.
Has the top shrunk and is pulling up from the sides? Or is the upper surface 'baggy'?
If it has shrunk there is no way to fix it other than replacement.
If it's baggy or saggy, first you would want to make sure all of the bows are in the right place and attached to their velcro mounting strips.
I just replaced the top on our 88 and from that I can say the only practical way to tighten it (make it more taut?) would be to take the fabric loose from the front edge and pull it forward, then re-glue and re-assemble. You may be able to do some tightening on the sides where it attaches behind the weatherstrip in front of the side windows.
It would be best to remove it completely and start over from the back edge - that's how a new one is installed - but if you do that you may as well replace it. If it's an original top the stitching is likely very weak and if it's an aftermarket top most just don't last very long.
Okay just to give an update, this car does still have the original top. And the stitching (white) has basically turned to dust. The whole issue was stemming from the outer stitching of the rear bow. I started hand stitching today and the results are great. Once I finish tomorrow I will post pictures. Thanks for direction would have been lost without!