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CRJ



Member Since: 12 Mar 2011
Location: Sealand - Denmark
Posts: 253

Denmark 1991 Defender 90 200 Tdi ST Alpine White
Any ideas for fitting soft top
Hi. Just fitted a canvas soft top to my Defender. Has any one of you changed the cord with some sort of buttons ? Especially along the side - just thought it would make the soft top fit better? Pictures or link to a thread i didn't find would be great.
Regards
Christian 88 Ser. 3 1980 -sold
Puma 130 - 08- sold
90 200tdi 1991 - sold
88 Ser. 3 1977 200 TDI
110 CC 2003
Post #415598 12th Apr 2015 7:21am
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rallysteve



Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 2200

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green
I did think about changing to cord for strong elastic on our dcpu canvas. Its annoying trying to tension it at the rear hooks. Never seem to get even tension in each side anyway so maybe elastic would be better.

Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread
84' 90 3.9 V8 Caged Pickup Build Thread - Now For Sale
Post #415656 12th Apr 2015 12:07pm
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mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142

United Kingdom 
Re: Any ideas for fitting soft top
CRJ wrote:
Hi. Just fitted a canvas soft top to my Defender. Has any one of you changed the cord with some sort of buttons ? Especially along the side - just thought it would make the soft top fit better? Pictures or link to a thread i didn't find would be great.
Regards
Christian


You can buy a canvas roof with buttons. You rivet them down the sides. A pain to fit mind. Also a mohair roof is much better than canvas, fits better and won't shrink over time.
Post #415755 12th Apr 2015 7:01pm
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jomara



Member Since: 26 Oct 2009
Location: Lanarkshire
Posts: 1757

Scotland 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
I fitted a mohair from All Wheel Trim to the DC and it was supplied with Tenax clips

http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/c-59-tenax.aspx

Fair bit of messing around getting everything fitted but in the long run much better than elastic or rope Thumbs Up 2014 110 2.2TDCi XS Station wagon
1971 Bowler Tomcat 88 4.2 V8 Auto
2022 110 250D XS
Post #415757 12th Apr 2015 7:07pm
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taazzukcb



Member Since: 30 Aug 2013
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 663

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Dont go using elastic on a new canvas. When it shrinks and 'forms', the elastic will allow it to go further and it'll go to small and leave gaps all the way around! First couple of months needs to be strong rope and re-tensioned every now and then until it's stopped shrinking from the hot/cold/hot/cold conditions!

I once bought a used 'few month old' canvas which the owner put some heavy grade elastic on from new. When I put it on, I had a 1" gap all the way around. Was scrap!
Post #415791 12th Apr 2015 8:12pm
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CRJ



Member Since: 12 Mar 2011
Location: Sealand - Denmark
Posts: 253

Denmark 1991 Defender 90 200 Tdi ST Alpine White
Damn Shocked I just fitted very strong elastic - a bit windy today…. all I can say is that it is not recommendable … and with shrinkage in mind I will fit some strong cord..or if I can find some clips that can be fitted without ruining the hood.
Regards
Christian 88 Ser. 3 1980 -sold
Puma 130 - 08- sold
90 200tdi 1991 - sold
88 Ser. 3 1977 200 TDI
110 CC 2003
Post #415823 12th Apr 2015 9:58pm
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CRJ



Member Since: 12 Mar 2011
Location: Sealand - Denmark
Posts: 253

Denmark 1991 Defender 90 200 Tdi ST Alpine White
Tenax looks like they will do the job Very Happy Thank you

Christian 88 Ser. 3 1980 -sold
Puma 130 - 08- sold
90 200tdi 1991 - sold
88 Ser. 3 1977 200 TDI
110 CC 2003
Post #415825 12th Apr 2015 10:01pm
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shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3346

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
Give SailingTom a Pm. Thumbs Up

He used them on his Ex-CSK retro soft top. More info in his build here http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic27013-90.html

May not be what your looking for but might be worth a look Thumbs Up Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197

Self confessed mileage hunter Very Happy
Post #415827 12th Apr 2015 10:06pm
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SailingTom



Member Since: 19 Nov 2013
Location: ESSEX
Posts: 1709

United Kingdom 
Hi mate

Dont use Tennex clips either, there even more of a pain! If you have a hood designed for rope leave it as that as its the only way to tension it.

When in a couple of years it wears out it would be worth going to the stayfast hood that uses channels down the sides, this seemed to be the only way to get a nice fit other than the classic rope style.

Hope this helps, any questions feel free to drop me a pm. Thumbs Up
Post #416067 14th Apr 2015 6:34am
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PCA42



Member Since: 15 Jun 2014
Location: Church Stretton
Posts: 468

England 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Tonga Green
I'd agree with SailingTom. I had a Exmoor Mohair job with Tenax popper things. They were ok, but after some mongs i.e. my dad and some friends had attempted to put them back on after folding the sides up or taking the roof off etc, they'd try and just push them on. But you need to pull the outer bit out and then push the body onto the male part on the vehicle, otherwise you bend all the little copper finger things inside of it and they don't fit. After a few years most of them were f***ed and rattled against the body as they didn't attach!

The Stayfast jobby with the channels certainly looks far more appealing.

I did change from rope to elastic cord on my Series III hood, and have no problems, makes it far easier. However what's been said about the shrinkage, I did leave the rope on for a few months as was suggested in the care instructions that came with it. Pete

2010 Discovery 4 GS TDV6
1972 Series III 88" 2.25P
Post #416137 14th Apr 2015 1:11pm
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