Pininfarina Hardtop restoration progress - complete!

[dparnas]

Bought this hardtop many years ago, had it recovered in vinyl, new headliner put in, new seal around the window, and then it has sat in my garage for the past 5+ years.



I bought a new set of the rubber seals, but never put them on. Because the seals were not on my top, it wasn't immediately clear how they should be applied properly, other than the front one, and also the side latches were missing, so I needed to come up with a solution for how to build something that would suffice. I finally decided this year that I was going to get it functional so that by winter I could use it if needed. So, began my research in these forums and also on the Fiat America user group which is the local Norcal club where I live. Got help from lots of people (thanks!), and decided I was ready this past week to begin. Grabbed a buddy and we were able to make quite a bit of progress. The front latches were very rusty, so I removed both of those, sanded them down, primed and painted them and then re-installed them. Surprisingly they were in pretty good shape.




The side latch brackets were still on the car, just not the latches that attach to them, but they were even more rusty. Had to drill them out, sanded them down, hoping there was actually some metal under the rust, then primed and painted them. Came up with a solution I think will work that will attach to these brackets. Going to attempt that next Tuesday.




All the window and front seals went on great, just had to take our time making sure to apply them properly. The metal strip that fits inside the seals was missing in all but one of them, so went to home depot and picked up some 1/2" strips, cut them and drilled them and they worked just fine. Used self tapping screws and after drilling some pilot holes in the fiberglass, they went in nice and snug, along with some interior adhesive to make sure there was a good seal.

[dparnas]

The rear seal was the one that I was least confident about. Seeing what I had and where it was going, it just didn't make much sense how to apply it. Turns out I had the wrong seal and with the help of one of the posters here in this forum, figured out which one I needed and ordered it yesterday from mrfiat.com. So, next Tuesday, going to install the rear seal, the side brackets and attempt to build latches that attach to the side brackets and hopefully it will be complete. Will add pictures as additional progress is made. Seems like there is very little detail available about the Pininfarina hardtops and even less in terms of photos of what a complete one should look like, so hopefully this is helpful to anyone else attempting to restore one back to presentable condition.

[dparnas]

Success!!! Finished the work for the most part, other than minor cosmetic improvements.

First, secured the sanded & painted brackets back on the car.




Then, attached the mechanism to the brackets that would hold the sides of the top down. Got this idea from a top I viewed at FiatPlus down in Santa Cruz. Inexpensive parts from the local Home Depot. They work great!!!






So, that brought me to the rear seal. This has been the one thing that I've struggled with. The original part I had, didn't seem right. Ordered a different one and received that Monday and that didn't seem right either, so I chucked both ideas and came up with my own solution. While at Home Depot, picked up some pipe insulation made out of a foam rubber. Cost about $6. Cut it in half and fit great in the recess of the rear of the top, made a great seal and was easy to put on. No guarantee on how durable it will be, but seems a much better option than any of the others I had in front of me.



And so, took the car for a test drive and no rattling, reasonably good seal, I'm very happy with the outcome. Still want to come up with some kind of protective cover for the rear edge of the convertible top while the hard top sits on top of it, but for now have it sitting on the boot, which seems to work ok.

[NebraskaSpider]

NICE! I wish I had one of those.

[newguyfiat]

Love the color. Is that an original Fiat color, what year do you have?

[jimmycakes401]

Awesomeness.

I would love to have a hardtop option. Maybe in a few years I'll find a parts car and make a custom hard top using the car as a plug.

[vandor]

Hi,

I came up with the same turnbuckle solution to fastening the top down, except I used the bolts that secure the top mechanism to the car, as I removed the convertible top. I used a similar method for the rear seal, except I used flat foam stick-on insulation.

When I installed my top I had a lot of trouble getting the door windows to line up, I had to fiddle with them and the top for a long time before the gaps were acceptable.

Are the metal trim pieces around the rear window blacked out, or are they missing? It's hard to see in the pics.
If they are missing, your rear window is in danger of falling out!

I see that you decided not to fasten it in the rear. I did the same. The fiberglass is weak under the rear window and flexes easily, I would not want that bolted to a flexible convertible body. A friend of mine had his bolted down and when he went over a big bump the rear window fell out!! Luckily had was able to have another one made in plexiglass.

BTW, the original literature instructed to remove the convertible tops rear section from the body, and fold it down so the hardtop does not sit on it.

[James2000Spider]

Sorry,

I am a new, old returner to the forum. My poor Fiat has sat in my mother-in-law's garage for 2 years without me even having hardly looked at it. Hey, it started this weekend after only 30 minutes of feeding fuel to the carb.

Anyway, I have one of those tops that came with mine too. I like the solutions you have (especially for the sides). I will keep you informed of my progress.

James

[wikkid]

I have an (Smooth Line?) aftermarket hard top for the late model ('84) Pininfarina, needing new seals and a new rear window. I like your bigger rear window, by the way. When I look more into restoring the top, I will have to decide if I feel like shaping a piece of plexiglass-type material, or whether to go with the (still available from the maker) replacement window.

The later cars have the chrome trim at the back along the body joint line, and this trip piece receives a hook connector from the top. It does not prevent a wear line in the paint, along the rear edge of the top, however

Pic here:
http://s596.photobucket.com/albums/tt43 ... CN5170.jpg

[124JOE]

eh hum, GET ER DONE!

[vandor]

It does not prevent a wear line in the paint, along the rear edge of the top, however

I don't know about the Smoothline one, but the Pininfarina hardtop is supposed to sit high enough so it does not touch the paint.

[wikkid]

I got the car with the hardtop sitting on it, without the seals, and the paint was rubed through along the line. Seeing the condition the car was in, and for how long it had sat like that, it's not necessarily any reflection on how a Smooth Line top should sit on the car. It's just obviously something I need to look carefully at if I am going to bother one day restoring it.

[dparnas]

Hi,

Are the metal trim pieces around the rear window blacked out, or are they missing? It's hard to see in the pics.
If they are missing, your rear window is in danger of falling out!

I took off the metal trim pieces around the rear window, but still have them. I'm not a big chrome fan, so the less the better IMHO. Prior to my part in the restoration, I had the rear window re-sealed, so it is in there nice and tight and should not fall out.

[dparnas]

Love the color. Is that an original Fiat color, what year do you have?

Yes, that is the original color, 1971.

[narfire]

Very nicely done, good simple ideas that work.
..... now have you taken it to a car wash for the ultimate test
Chris