FFR visit: Of Soft Top, Wipers, and Tank Mods

[cmcintyre]

Had a chance to drop by and see the new Soft Top. Very well made, an homage to the complex tops of old English cars, so certainly not a push button affair! But, hey, its a Roadster, right.

IMG_0121.JPGIMG_0111.JPGIMG_0116.JPGIMG_0118.JPGIMG_0109.JPG

Good head room, (I’m 6”1”) but this seat is low and much of my height is in my legs. We put the windows in, some design changes might be happening there as they were difficult to fit at the front near the mirrors. Kind of a fiddle to open the door with them in. Hardtop not being developed right now. I’m putting in a HMSL, it will be visible on the roll bar with the top installed.

Some other info from Jim S and Joe S....

Wipers “just about done”. Hood will be modified at base of windshield, trim piece provided, access panel that is now there for the master cylinders will change, too.

-Trunk is next, don’t plan on a different than stock exhaust if you want the trunk.

-I picked up padded door panels, padded dash to be delivered. New option, 299.00. Only visible on the order page, not the parts catalog.

The picture of the left seat forward edge shows it 3 inches further back than the right. This is made possible by a cutout to the top left of the gas tank, which will be available. Jim says do not install rear firewall yet if you are going this route. He also said tank supplier is very slow.

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Still a somewhat “Italian” driving position, the (optional, smaller) steering wheel kind of high. Tilting the wheel down obscures the top of the gauges. I think I will lower and shorten the steering column, but this is a very personal thing.

[Xusia]

Thanks a bunch. I'm quickly getting the sense I need to rethink my seating plan, unfortunately.

[Frank818]

About the wipers, any word if it will or not use any part of the donor?

About the padded door panels and dash, any word on when we can get those and if it's 300 for the set or just the dash?

[AZPete]

Also, thanks a bunch. I like what I see of the top and look forward to buying it as soon as I get the body panels mounted. And the wiper kit. I'm glad FFR decided to go with a high-quality top rather than a leaky cheapie.
And, maybe the padded door panels and padded dash. Oh no, my budget just slipped into the shredder.

[cmcintyre]

Yes, the wipers use donor parts.

The 299 covers panels and the dash, give em a call, the dash is not in yet.

I think these were among the first padded door liners, I just walked in at the right time….

[RM1SepEx]

"access panel that is now there for the master cylinders will change, too."

What access panel?

[cmcintyre]

First I heard of it too. An answer to the access problem, one answer being the remote reservoir kit (Mike Everson?).
Wasn't installed even in the demo car, so just a discussion.

The proposed factory change is to cut a twelve inch wide slot the height of the lower vertical portion of the windshield frame,
left side, and cover it with an access panel. On the upper edge of that panel is a section with rubber tubing acting as additional support
for the back edge of the hood.

Does that make sense?

[Doowop]

holly crap that top is ugly. Glad I'm building an R!

[Frank818]

Yes, the wipers use donor parts.

Oh crap, I'll have to spend hours removing rust from the donor wiper parts, then. lolllllllll

the dash is BO'd.

lollllllllllllllll


I'll try to get pictures.

[RM1SepEx]

First I heard of it too. An answer to the access problem, one answer being the remote reservoir kit (Mike Everson?).
Wasn't installed even in the demo car, so just a discussion.

The proposed factory change is to cut a six inch wide slot the height of the lower vertical portion of the windshield frame,
and cover it with an access panel. On the upper edge of that panel is a section with rubber tubing acting as additional support
for the back edge of the hood.

Does that make sense?

yes, makes perfect sense. I was thinking of a full width drip rail with a rubber seal

[cmcintyre]

I decided to include that rear view of the car since it was the worst I could find.

….And I think it looks funky cool from that angle and great from any other!

[07FIREBLADE]

Do you have pics of the padded panels and dash?

[cmcintyre]

Here ya go. Hope you can see the surface texture. They're not real deep plush, more a thick leatherette material on the solid plastic panel.

IMG_0122.JPGsidepanel closeup.jpg

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Here ya go. Hope you can see the surface texture. They're not real deep plush, more a thick leatherette material on the solid plastic panel.

IMG_0122.JPGsidepanel closeup.jpg

I don't think that is a covering. I think it is molded into the plastic.
Check the edges and let us know.
Bob

[cmcintyre]

I don't think that is a covering. I think it is molded into the plastic.
Check the edges and let us know.
Bob

Close inspection of the edges (can't get a picture) has two distinct layers, the plastic base structure being about .09" and the textured covering material about .06". Hope that helps.

[cmcintyre]

duplicate post

[indiana818]

the door panel tool looks like it has been textured an etching process we used at work on interior parts that were injected molded

[ruckus racing]

More info on wipers?

[Frank818]

More info on wipers?

Will re-use some of Sub parts, don't know which ones, will not be ready for month-end (April). Don't know the price, will be an option at order (not included int he based kit's price) or after order if you prefer to buy later or have already bought the kit.

[ruckus racing]

Ok. Good thing I wont be ordering mine for a while

[indiana818]

there is a good video on you tube showing someone installing the conv top option
makes me think about buying one .Does anyone know if are they all black?
kerry

[Aloha818]

there is a good video on you tube showing someone installing the conv top option
makes me think about buying one .Does anyone know if are they all black?
kerry

Jay at FFR told me only black.