Manx Club

I have an original Manx hardtop that I am installing on my Manx. Is the front of the hardtop actually supposed to fit in the groove on the windshield frame? I can't see that happening in my buggy, at least with just one person installing it. It does fit over the entire windsheild frame nicely.

The top fits over the windshield frame in front. The roof rack mounting system (described in the 'Garage" section) which clamps to the roll bar would probably be a good way to secure the top.

Jerry. I all so have a manx hard top it well fit in the grove on a old Manx window frame but not in the grove on my Sig frame when bruce had the sig frames bent they are not the same as the old. I think in one of the manx manias there is a how to fix. I well try to find it Nate.

Jerry, I?ve seen the roof mounted both ways. The instructions from Bruce say it should fit into the groove. My hardtop fit in the groove on my Siggy manx windshield OK. I had to sand a bit in a couple areas where the glass varied in thickness. Good Luck,

My Manx hard top fits over the entire window frame on my Siggy Manx: I also made brackets to keep the 'ears' of the top from slamming against the body on bumps. I used pieces of buffing wheel between the brackets and the body and between the ears of the top and the body: The top is secured at the back with U-Bolts, which makes everything nice and solid. When using U-Bolts, you don't need to use the spring loaded system the top came with. The spring loaded system was designed to allow the top to move as the body flexed. Otherwise the windshield would crack. As long as you have the 1" tubing installed in the floor pan's outer channels the body won't flex too much. I just removed the hard top from my buggy and I don't intend to reinstall it. I have a list of reasons but the bottom line is I think I will be happier with just the roof rack or no top at all.

I prefer to drive my buggy without the roof. I only fit the roof if it's raining heavily. Just my preference........:2cents:

[QUOTE="markmark"]I prefer to drive my buggy without the roof. I only fit the roof if it's raining heavily. Just my preference........:2cents:[/QUOTE] I only plan on running the top when driving long distances on the interstate, the wind can take alot out of a person after 3-4 hours at 70-75 mph or on cold days in an effort to extend the season a bit.

I can certainly understand where you are coming from. I'm thinking of getting a hardtop roof for my new buggy one day too for long trips...

[font=Verdana]The wind seems to blow forward and for me it is only a problem on the highway. [font=Verdana]Do the fabric tops from the front window to the role bar cut down on the wind much?

Not in my expierience. We discussed this and you can search for it. I had my top made, I had and still have a problem with it flopping around at speed. It is very well made, has velcro tension straps around the rollbar and also straps that run to the back. It has so much tension that it pulls the windshield back a bit. Anyway, at speed the air from behind makes it flap like crazy to a point of distraction. Cruising around town it's great for keeping sun off, etc. Going 50 it will make the windshied shake considerably. Windwings may help, I haven't tried as I plan on ordering a hardtop in the future. I believe Lee has had some success with the wings.

Dave, You're right, I have had good experience with the wind wings. They cut down on the wind in your face so you can breathe at freeway speeds. They don't do much to reduce the overall turbulence, though. Almost all the wind still comes from behind, with or without the wings, hard top, soft top, or no top. A curved windshield might be the answer for that. My soft top looks exactly the same as yours. It used to flap at higher speeds, but I recently put it back on after it had sat for almost two years. Now it doesn't flap at all! I don't know if the material got softer or what, but it seems fine now. One plan is to eventually have a T-top roll cage built and add yet another strap to the top to secure it to the center section of the T-top. That should tighten it up quite a bit, almost as good as adding a bow.

The only way that you can stop the thrashing at speed is to fit a bow. A boat shop will be a good place to get what you need. When the rag top is tensioned up into an aerodynamic wing shape it will want to lift only and so it will stop thrashing. The bow needs to be fitted about 2/3rds of the way up the roll bar and to be tensioned back to the roll bar, using straps and buckles or tensioners, after the top is fitted. That will get a good tight fit. You will find that with a bow fitted the upward curve of the top will look a whole lot better and you will have more head room. Ideas of what you need can also be gained from looking at an old sports car like an MGB.

The bow system like old reds would work great. Unfortunately I think it is too late with the top I alread have. The was out of the scope for the guy that I choose to do the job. One other thing, the fabric that was used on mine is a heavy duty canvas. THis is one area where less may be more. I think the weight sometimes compounds the flapping effect. It's also not a bad thing to drive with the roof off.