FFR Tonneau - Done!

[Gumball]

UPDATED 6/6/16 - For those of you who are considering a tonneau, here is my attempt at DIY fitting.

Original post follows.....

First, my thanks to Dale for his patience regarding my use of his lift-the-dot tool... I can see where the job would have been magnitudes more difficult without it. It's on the way home... should be there early next week! Thanks again, man!

As mentioned in my bodywork thread, I made a first attempt at the tonneau last weekend, but found that after punching a bunch of the holes, those along the passenger rear were off and had to be moved 2" or so to the left. I figured I'd ruined the tonneau and was looking at a $450 screw-up. So, I kept at it as practice and, although it had way too many perforations, it came out looking fairly decent - a few wrinkles, but I was getting the hang of it. So, I moved to the soft-top (old style FFR Mk1 version) and that went pretty smoothly with no mis-punched holes.

While sitting there staring at the tonneau and trying to figure out how to make it right, I got the crazy idea that maybe the guy who did the seat covers for my Kirkeys could help. Three days later, I had the tonneau back with a new border sewn on (using the original fabric edging, even), as well as a pocket sewn along the inside of the passenger side of the zipper so that I could use a fiberglass pole for a stiffener (thanks Steno!).

Here's the swiss tonneau after my first attempt:

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/Tonneau1_zps81e49db8.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/Tonneau1_zps81e49db8.jpg.html)

Here's a close-up of the new border:

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/IMG_20131121_1815581_zps79238049.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/IMG_20131121_1815581_zps79238049.jpg.html)

And here are a couple shots of the finished product - I spent a couple hours tonight re-punching all of the holes.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/IMG_20131121_2102241_zps8a1afac2.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/IMG_20131121_2102241_zps8a1afac2.jpg.html)

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/IMG_20131121_2102391_zps1f447307.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/IMG_20131121_2102391_zps1f447307.jpg.html)

[WIS89]

Love the cover! Very nice job, and a great save by your upholstery guy.

I think it looks great, and should be a nice addition.

Thanks for sharing.

Regards,

Steve

[Desert Cobra]

I used regular snaps along the doors where you rest your arm so I wouldn't get stuck on the lift a dot posts. I used three on each door. So far they work great.

[Gumball]

I used regular snaps along the doors where you rest your arm so I wouldn't get stuck on the lift a dot posts. I used three on each door. So far they work great.

Mine is set-up like the original cars... no catch for the tonneau on the doors - those each have three ferrules for the side-curtains (aluminum framed / sliding plexi versions).

[Gumball]

Today's TTT on an old how-to... fitting your own tonneau cover.

[rmiller64]

Thanks Chris

Timely post....I should be getting my FFR Tonneau in the next couple weeks. I have a local Canvas shop not far from home that has all the Lift a Dot tools and supplies. I think I'll take the top right in to them and have that pocket sewn in for the stiffener rod along the pass zipper edge.