[ecohen2]

HI Folks,

When I picked up my 4C the previous owner clearly had not installed the soft top correctly. Yesterday it was finally warm enough out that I was able to go for a drive with the soft top removed. When I got back, I reinstalled the top according to a YouTube video in Italian, which was pretty funny. The one thing I noticed is that the fabric at the corners doesn't really line up. Is that just the way it is?

Thank you for your input.
(Newbie)
Ed

 

[tibby]

HI Folks,

When I picked up my 4C the previous owner clearly had not installed the soft top correctly. Yesterday it was finally warm enough out that I was able to go for a drive with the soft top removed. When I got back, I reinstalled the top according to a YouTube video in Italian, which was pretty funny. The one thing I noticed is that the fabric at the corners doesn't really line up. Is that just the way it is?

Thank you for your input.
(Newbie)
Ed

View attachment 111885

Took them 5 minutes ago for you....Guess something is not rigth?

 

[ecohen2]

Hmm, mine isn't that far off on the other side... Ill take it off and take a closer look at the fabric and see if it is not aligned correctly or something...

It does look like your fabric does not stay under the front lip until the edge either...

Thank you for the photos..

Ed

 

[B-T]

HI Folks,

When I picked up my 4C the previous owner clearly had not installed the soft top correctly. Yesterday it was finally warm enough out that I was able to go for a drive with the soft top removed. When I got back, I reinstalled the top according to a YouTube video in Italian, which was pretty funny. The one thing I noticed is that the fabric at the corners doesn't really line up. Is that just the way it is?

Thank you for your input.
(Newbie)
Ed

View attachment 111885

Looks like the soft top frame is not sitting right. You should not be seeing that crescent shaped gap at the molding, so maybe check your pins to verify that both the alignment pin and the latch pin are seated correctly. I am sure it is not the case, but do you have the center red section tucked under the lip of the windshield frame?

 

[ecohen2]

Ok, I think I it is more correct now. I probably need to let it get damp and then go out for a drive, but it is now way more even and looks like @tibby s photos...

This time I started on the passenger side and pushed the fabric under the lip. I then went to the drivers side and latched the front edge first and then the back snapped right in. In both mine and @tibby it looks like you see some of the rubber on the drivers side. I am not worries about that since this is way better than how the previous owner had it installed..

Thank you for the help,
Ed

 

[RickMcB]

Something isn't right as mine fits perfectly on both sides. Even Tibby's looks a little off too. Mine fits completely under the CF window surround and no stitching is visible when secured.

 

[radm]

I agree, your driver’s side is off, there shouldn’t be any gap under the corner.

 

[IanW_UK]

As it happens I collected my Spider today . Here is a part of a photo showing the front of my soft top. Think it should fit neatly.

 

[DirtyEvo]

not an owner.. but the one i drove last week fit just like Tibby's ... i could not make it fit under the trim even on the edges. Hmm.. weird.

 

[radm]

Ian, it may be just an angle of your photo, there is no way I can tuck the corner under since there is no groove close to the end. If you look at your stitching, it also starts outside and then goes under the lip after 5 or so inches.

 

[B-T]

Mine looks like your passenger side.

 

[IanW_UK]

It may be just an angle of your photo, there is no way I can tuck the corner under since there is no groove close to the end.

I will try take some more detailed photos tomorrow (all dark now in the UK!). This was just a crop of a photo of the whole car.

 

[ecohen2]

I am thinking my fabric is a combination of being tight and stretched funny since the previous owner had it in at an angle. I am not going to worry about it for now and wait and see what it is like in a month or two.. I appreciate the photos! It is funny that the owners manual has no directions or images on how it should fit..

 

[IanW_UK]

Had a chance to remove and reinstall the soft top, and take some better photos. So mine is similar to the others, and agree that there is no groove to tuck the top into near the end, so can't see how it can be any different to this. You can also see from the water drops in the photos, normal British weather service has resumed so won't be need to take the top off for a while!

 

[greg]

Had a chance to remove and reinstall the soft top, and take some better photos. So mine is similar to the others, and agree that there is no groove to tuck the top into near the end, so can't see how it can be any different to this. You can also see from the water drops in the photos, normal British weather service has resumed so won't be need to take the top off for a while!
View attachment 111921

View attachment 111922

Mine is same like yours from day 1

 

[ecohen2]

I suspect mine will stretch on the corners after some weather and use... There is just zero moisture out here so fabric tends to dry out, shrink up and eventually fray...

On a related topic, the manual that came with my car has no instructions on how to install or remove the top. I downloaded what I thought was going to be the same manual and on page 25 it gives a good explanation top installation etc. I wonder if I have the Coupe manual?

Ed

 

[IanW_UK]

I suspect mine will stretch on the corners after some weather and use... There is just zero moisture out here so fabric tends to dry out, shrink up and eventually fray...

On a related topic, the manual that came with my car has no instructions on how to install or remove the top. I downloaded what I thought was going to be the same manual and on page 25 it gives a good explanation top installation etc. I wonder if I have the Coupe manual?

Ed

I got a documentation pack which includes a CD with both Coupe and Spider manuals. Here is PDF copy of the Spider manual. This is different and much shorter than the printed manual! Typical Alfa attention to detail! PDF attached.

 

[mooselise1]

I posted a few questions re the soft top removal/install in another thread and just came across this thread on the same subject. Would anyone happen to know if there is supposed to be any thread on the top showing where the soft top connects to the windshield surround. One person said that there is supposed to be 5 inches of thread showing on each side, whereas another person said that here is no thread showing at the front.

I would really appreciate it if someone would be kind enough to clarify on this issue.

Thank you.
E

 

[IanW_UK]

...

I would really appreciate it if someone would be kind enough to clarify on this issue.

Thank you.
E

There is definitely some thread visible on both sides on mine. Haven't measured it but 5 inches is about what it is. I think it is supposed to be this way because there is no groove at the ends of both sides of the CF windscreen surround. Not had nay problems with water ingress and that's in the UK damp climate 🤔.

 

[mooselise1]

There is definitely some thread visible on both sides on mine. Haven't measured it but 5 inches is about what it is. I think it is supposed to be this way because there is no groove at the ends of both sides of the CF windscreen surround. Not had nay problems with water ingress and that's in the UK damp climate 🤔.

Thank you Ian for the input...