Bad Dreams become reality...Hard Top Fell On Car

[Garry]

Tradjim,

now that is a good hoist as it holds it from underneath and lifts rather than grips it from above and pulls it up together with the bar for forward and backward movement.  It also gives me some good ideas for adapting what I have already to something like that. Do the two ends disconnect for installation or do you only remove one end?

Very nice and tidy looking car.

[tradjim]

Garry ....both ends swing out 2 bolts on each ...I haven't hoisted the top yet but when i do will post some pictures   tks

[Iconic]

Garry,
After seeing your picture of the part that connects to the top, I can confirm I have the same setup as you (and for those that haven't read my previous post, I too have had problems with it).
I hope I played no role in you purchasing that part. In other words, I hope you weren't encouraged to purchase due to seeing it in my garage.
Remember, fender notches .... notches are very good !!  .... and no, I don't have notches. 

[Garry]

I keep saying, at least I have an excuse to fix the notches now but I just ordered a new chrome piece for the top of the door that got destroyed from SLS for 200 Euro plus postage and it is hard to keep looking on the bright side.

I just went for the cheaper hoist I think, but having seen how Tradjim has his, it would be very easy to do some adaptions to the hoist so that it also has the lifting units under the top with buffers on the ends and a cross piece as well as the gutter grips. That way it should not give further heartbreak.

[hands_aus]

Hey Garry,
I made 2 slings out of seat belt webbing which I sized using granny smith knots (which don't slip) and connected to two steel welded rings.

These are then clipped to a beam mounted boat winch with stainless steel wire and hook.
One sling is for the front to back and the other side to side (sits under the rear side windows just behind the posts).
To operate the setup, all I have to do is shoulder lift the hard top and slide the flat webbing under the posts.

Mine is a manual winch so I have to reach above my head and gently wind the handle one click at a time.
I think an electric winch would accomplish the same thing a lot more easily.

[Bob G MN]

Gary,
Sorry to hear about this.
I almost had the same ting happen so I tied some ropes to the garage supports to so if the top dropped it would stop about two inches above the car.
Gives some piece of mind.

Bob

[Garry]

Thanks for all the sympathy.  Finally got in the quote and its $5800 worth of damage.  Definitely an insurance job and the new chrome door top is on order from SLS.

Could have been worse, someone could have been underneath so at least no injuries only to my pride and joy or should that read toy.

[johnnymack]

thank you , I am building a lift, and are using your experiences and ideas, it is changing, I started w/Thule gutter, bar pulleys etc. but I'm re-thinking the design. thanks again.

[Witt]

....the real challenge when fabricating my hoist was to find pick up points on the HT that will not leave any marks on it. I am quite proud of my solution and am supprised that nobody else has thought of it.
As I mentioned before, if I had to do it again I would choose lighter material. Just consider this the "Prototype"
 CHEERS !
WITT !

[Raymond]

Somewhere on here is a post of mine from a couple years ago.  I made this hoist cradle from galvanized pipe, a garden hose hangar, and some hardware I had in a drawer.  Foam pipe insulators and a piece of soft carpet protect the finish.  The hoist hooks into a single eye bolt on the center pipe.  The two pipes cross and are conneced with U-bolts.  This allows you to adjust the CG to get the balance right.  The carpet pad pushes down opposite the hoist hook and the whole thing balances perfectly.  The garden hose hangar provided two bows to reach under the top.  A hitch pin allows the bow to be easily removed and inserted into the cross pipe.  I can easily remove the top in seconds.  When lowering it, the single hook point allows me to carefully steer the top pins into place on the windscreen and door pillars.  It's not pretty, but is super strong and works a treat. 
Note that my Coupe does not have a pin protruding from the base of the rear window.  I would imagine with any hoist arrangement that is the most common danger area.

[Garry]

There is a bright side to this sad story.

The reason I was taking the hard top off was to prepare my car for its first official car showing!

I decided to still take my car to the rally a two day event known as The Great Macedon Ranges Grand Tour http://www.macedonrangesgrandtour.com.au/ and took out the Presidents Choice award even though it did have a band-aid/sticking plaster over the damaged door!   I think I got some sympathy votes.

Into the repairers next week for a $5800 insurance job.

Garry

[Witt]

Somewhere on here is a post of mine from a couple years ago.  I made this hoist cradle from galvanized pipe, a garden hose hangar, and some hardware I had in a drawer.  Foam pipe insulators and a piece of soft carpet protect the finish.  The hoist hooks into a single eye bolt on the center pipe.  The two pipes cross and are conneced with U-bolts.  This allows you to adjust the CG to get the balance right.  The carpet pad pushes down opposite the hoist hook and the whole thing balances perfectly.  The garden hose hangar provided two bows to reach under the top.  A hitch pin allows the bow to be easily removed and inserted into the cross pipe.  I can easily remove the top in seconds.  When lowering it, the single hook point allows me to carefully steer the top pins into place on the windscreen and door pillars.  It's not pretty, but is super strong and works a treat. 
Note that my Coupe does not have a pin protruding from the base of the rear window.  I would imagine with any hoist arrangement that is the most common danger area.

....I copied Raymonds method  after consulting with him first and added my own crossbar.

CHEERS !
WITT !