Hard top fitting

[Linda]

Hello - just had my 1969 280SL Californian renovated and hard top roof fitting back on incorrectly! Showing a small gap around the sides? Have we missed a part or seal? Or maybe fitted a seal the wrong way round? Any help out there? Thanks - Linda

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Linda,

Click on "Search" above then type

Hardtop fittings

You will find your answer in the thread  shown as "Hardtop fitting" Scroll down to the thread with that subject line then open it and read the posts .. We all have a gap all around ....  no worries hope this is what you meant

Note, however, the boys are talking about a 1/2 inch gap, that is a bit much I think on my 280 SL 1969 it is more like a1/4 inch gap all around. Do make sure all your three locks are engaged correctly and locked (the two along each rear side window and the one for the center rear that you find the lock on the rear back inside wall behind the driver seat)

[Flyair]

We all have a gap all around ....  no worries hope this is what you meant. Note, however, the boys are talking about a 1/2 inch gap, that is a bit much

R-D
I checked carefully this morning standing in front of a mirror and can confirm that at least in my case I didn't notice any gap.

Now I will check if maybe my Pagoda has one...

[Rodolfo]

Technically speaking RD is right : looking at the mirror, you notice that around your body is an immense space ( it is in fact the start of space ) . So or your mirror is shaped as your body or you  ignore the gap !

[Garry]

I think Stan was only looking from the front in the mirror and did not look at the rear side where I am sure he will find a gap.

[Flyair]

Garry,
couldn't spot mine, but would not look at yours neither

But let's try to pretend that we are strictly professional, so...
Linda, check the picture below and see if the gap in your HT is larger than this one... I think that 1/3 inch is quite OK.

Moreover, maybe the larger than expected gap is due to the very fact that your HT just underwent renovation and if you fitted new seals, they need time to settle.