Who here has a soft top?

[Svtfreak]

May I pick your brain some?

[CVOBill]

I do

[Svtfreak]

Sent you a PM Mr Bill. Thanks

[Tim Whittaker]

I have one as well. Worked with Cad at Rod Tops on some refining.

[clays123]

I have one as well. Worked with Cad at Rod Tops on some refining.

Hi Tim, I am thinking of getting the soft top for my 33 in the near future. On checking my measurements I found it off by 0.5'' on one side and 0.75" on the other side. What kind of refining did you have done?

Thanks for your help.

[Tim Whittaker]

Sides were good on mine but the rear fabic was about 3/4" too shot all along the back. Sent it back to them and they fixed it. EXCELLENT customer service.

[Svtfreak]

Tim, what sort of refinements other than that?

[clays123]

Sides were good on mine but the rear fabic was about 3/4" too shot all along the back. Sent it back to them and they fixed it. EXCELLENT customer service.

Thanks Tim, I think I will talk to them first before I put in the order. If not I may have to play around with adjusting the windshield.

[TDSapp]

I sent them an email a while back asking if they had a way to modify the top for me if I chopped down the windshield. I never heard back from them. Kind of disappointed as I do like the rag top look and was planning on going that way. Was just worried about customer service when I never heard back from them.

[CVOBill]

TD, I've talked to Chad on the phone at Rod Tops and he was always very helpful, but hard to get a response via email. I don't think the top will work if you chop the windshield for a couple reasons. I have a hard enough time seeing out of the stock height windshield and your head would probably hit the top.

[Tim Whittaker]

TD, I've talked to Chad on the phone at Rod Tops and he was always very helpful, but hard to get a response via email. I don't think the top will work if you chop the windshield for a couple reasons. I have a hard enough time seeing out of the stock height windshield and your head would probably hit the top.

I agree with Bill that the top most likely won't work well if you cut the windshield. Eric Hansen cut one down ( I think ) and you might reach out to him for some info.

My experience with Rod Tops has been stellar and Chad couldn't be better to work with.

[stevemcwilliams]

Sides were good on mine but the rear fabic was about 3/4" too shot all along the back. Sent it back to them and they fixed it. EXCELLENT customer service.

I’ve got the same problem. What did Chad do to fix it. My top is at his shop presently.

[Tim Whittaker]

I assume they replaced the rear piece with a longer one.

[clays123]

I’ve got the same problem. What did Chad do to fix it. My top is at his shop presently.

I am a bit concerned now. I am all the way in Canada and if mine does not fit properly the first time it's a long way to return it, not to mention the cost of shipping.

Any suggestions?

[Svtfreak]

Would slitting the windshield mount holes and moving it back, or changing the angle slightly, help take up the extra 3/4”?

[CVOBill]

My top fit the first time and would recommend it to anyone. If the windshield angle isn't correct the top wont fit, the angle is very important. I think if you modify it at the windshield mount it will effect how everything else fits, including the side curtains.

[Tim Whittaker]

I am a bit concerned now. I am all the way in Canada and if mine does not fit properly the first time it's a long way to return it, not to mention the cost of shipping.

Any suggestions?

Where in Canada ? I'm right on the border in B.C. if it's not to far to drive.

[clays123]

Where in Canada ? I'm right on the border in B.C. if it's not to far to drive.

Hi Tim,

I am in Brampton Ontario, about thirty five minutes north west of Toronto. A bit of a drive to the BC border.

[clays123]

My top fit the first time and would recommend it to anyone. If the windshield angle isn't correct the top wont fit, the angle is very important. I think if you modify it at the windshield mount it will effect how everything else fits, including the side curtains.

Do you know what the angle should be? I tried to find it in the manual but no luck.
Thanks very much.

[Tim Whittaker]

Do you know what the angle should be? I tried to find it in the manual but no luck.
Thanks very much.

Rod Tops has a specific measurement on line that is from the frame to a step on the rear part of the door opening that can be checked as well. It's a PDF file on the info for the top on either FFFR's 33 parts site or Rod Tops site.

[clays123]

Rod Tops has a specific measurement on line that is from the frame to a step on the rear part of the door opening that can be checked as well. It's a PDF file on the info for the top on either FFFR's 33 parts site or Rod Tops site.

Ok great, I will check that measurement with what I have. Thanks very much.

[TDSapp]

I am planning on getting the rag top as well and not too far from installing the windshield so I searched and found the measurements.


From the top edge of the windshield to the top back (inside) of the door it should be 31" on both sides. Additionally, from the same spot on the windshield it is 32" on both sides for the mounting clevis.

Here is a clip from the manual.

http://hotrod.sapp-family.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/RagTop-Measurements.jpg

[clays123]

OK, so I shaved a bit of the ridge off and a bit of adjustments I have the windshield fit perfectly, all measurements spot on.
New problem though. I have the 1/2 " to 3/4" gap at the centre of the back where the soft top meets the body. I see where Tim and Steve had the same problem. I am about to call FFR and Rod Tops for a fix, shipping to and from Canada can be very expensive.

Does anybody have a fix for this issue? Would love to know.

Thanks for any help.

[CVOBill]

Clay,
Do you have the adjusters tight on the rear? The one with the ball socket on the bottom and the rounded end on the top?

[clays123]

Clay,
Do you have the adjusters tight on the rear? The one with the ball socket on the bottom and the rounded end on the top?

Hi Bill,
I did open up the adjusters and saw the gap close a bit. I spoke to Chad at Rod Tops and he said sometimes the body may be low in that spot and needs to raise a bit but I have not tried that yet. i will look at it later and let you know the outcome.

Thanks very much for your help.

[clays123]

here are some pictures after installation.


107176 107177107178

[clays123]

I’ve got the same problem. What did Chad do to fix it. My top is at his shop presently.

So did Chad fix your top yet, if so how did he fix it?

[clays123]

Sides were good on mine but the rear fabic was about 3/4" too shot all along the back. Sent it back to them and they fixed it. EXCELLENT customer service.

Hi Tim,

Could you post a few pictures of before and after if you can? Or maybe just the refined product how it fits after the adjustment? I would be very grateful.

Thanks.

[Michael101]

Checking in to see how the soft top worked out Clay. I'm on the verge of ditching my hard top and ordering a soft top from Rod Tops. I did some prelim measuring this morning and see that I'll need to adjust my windshield a bit. I have the same discrepancies from side to side that others have mentioned.

[33fromSD]

Checking in to see how the soft top worked out Clay. I'm on the verge of ditching my hard top and ordering a soft top from Rod Tops. I did some prelim measuring this morning and see that I'll need to adjust my windshield a bit. I have the same discrepancies from side to side that others have mentioned.

I have soft top too from Rod Tops, fit was awesome right out of the box. The only issue I had was I got two driver's side curtains but to someone's point above, I just called and they sent me the correct one immediately. Great customer service.

On the 2nd pic below I don't have the curtains tucked in under the top in the back like I should but I was just checking fit.

I will really only ever use the top & side curtains for storage in winter. If I go on a trip I'll take the top with me but that will be rare.

Jim

161550 161551

[Michael101]

Thanks Jim! That looks great.
I talked with Chad yesterday just to discuss some of my dimensional challenges. Sounds like there is some flexibility with the soft top and I should be good to go. I’m hoping to get some color samples from him to see if one of the reddish colors might work. I’ll be call FF soon to order.

[33fromSD]

Thanks Jim! That looks great.
I talked with Chad yesterday just to discuss some of my dimensional challenges. Sounds like there is some flexibility with the soft top and I should be good to go. I’m hoping to get some color samples from him to see if one of the reddish colors might work. I’ll be call FF soon to order.

Definitely flexibility. There is one dimension from the top of the windshield to the door post that is supposed to be 32" according to the manual and I'm like 32-3/16" and had no issues with fit at all. There is a lot of adjustability in the top frame to make up minor dimensional differences. Obviously if your miles away like an inch or so you'll have problems but fraction of inches you should be fine.

Great quality on the product

Good luck.

Jim

[cob427sc]

Mine fit perfect right out of the box. It did take a little adjustment to get everything to fit perfectly but it's a great top and looks perfect. Highly reccomend.