Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 05:55:19 -0400 From: itten <ittennospamast.net> Subject: Re: Drop top repair
I found a real cheap solution to the top. I bought a '88 900 S for only $500. It runs, looks fantastic, even better than my '94, and now I have a car that I can drive in the rain. In article <PEgmc.2219$mE5.260nospam.usenetserver.com>, "dave" <alofusblountmaybenospamel.net> wrote: > "itten" <ittennospamast.net> wrote in message > news:050520041244510102%ittennospamast.net... > > I've got a '94 Saab that is in need of a new top. I don't want to > > spend the $1000.00 & some change now to get it replaced. Does anyone > > have any ideas for a "band-aid" type fix I can do for now until I > > decide to spend the money? I'm not concerned about how it looks as I > > only drive it in fair weather. I was thinking of glueing some sort of > > waterproof fabric right over the existing top, roofing cement, whatever > > it takes to keep it from leaking. I just need to be able to put it > > down when I drive it. > > To "band-aid" a top you need to know what type of tear you have. If the > fabric has gotten brittle from the sun, be warned that any fix you do will > not last long. If the fabric has developed a tear from flexing at a pinch > point a repair may last a bit longer. I have used an iron on patch placed > from the bottom for a short term band aid. Center the iron on patch under > the hole, allow about 2 inches or so on all sides of the hole. Place a > board or other suitable hard flat thing under the patch and iron away from > the top. Be careful not to heat too much, or you will get a shiny spot. > You may need to put a few stitches thru the patch to keep the ends from > fraying up. Seal the patch up with tent sealing spray used liberally. You > will likely have problems with the back window separating from the fabric. > Some folks have said to use urethane glue to re-seal the window. I have > used "shoe-goo" with some success. The piping around the edges of the top > are likely brittle and breaking up. Get out the needle and thread and sew > on some fabric edging from the local seamstress store. From what you > describe though, you will end up buying a new top soonly. It will run about > 1200 US dollars, and take about 4 days to do. Don't go cheap, but don't buy > the real expensive top either. You will enjoy the car much more once the > top is replaced. I did. > > dave