Hardtop stand dimensions?

[Leroy]

I recently purchased a Hardtop for my bird. A deal I couldn't pass up. But there were some issues, one being it didn't come with the factory stand. So this is my second attempt to get someone to take the time to measure one of the factory stands and post the dimensions. I'm going to build my own. I'm thinking the easiest way is to use 2X4s for the frame and buy 4 coasters for the bottom and some rubber padding. I need to get the top off my car soon becuase I'm in the Hardtop Relay - Salt Lake City to Boston, I think it will be coming my way about the 16th of July. I hope someone out there can help me out.
Leroy

[Brad]

Re: Hardtop stand dimensions?

Leroy, I did pretty much what you are suggesting...2X4's for the frame, but I used a piece of 2 or 3" PVC tubing for support where the top actually rests against. The only other thing I did was to rip apart a pair of kids rubber boots. I used the sole/heel mounted bottom side up on the flat part of the 2x4. The actual stand has something just like this for the lip of the top to rest in. I used the upper part of the boots inside out on the PVC tubing for the back of the top to rest against. I pretty much used the exact dimensions of the original metal. Wait until it's all built to consider the wheels...I would not have put wheels on mine...it seemed a little wobbly for moving, so I just screwed it to a wall and it worked great.

If no one else will take the pics for you I will do it, but it will take me about 30 minutes to get my top out of the box I have built around it to protect it from my kids.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Hardtop stand dimensions?

http://www.thunderbirdconcepts.com/hardtop-cart.htm

HARDTOP CART Fits 1955-2005 Tbirds
Regular price $237.00
Sale Price $199.95

[Chuckster]

Re: Hardtop stand dimensions?

Leroy,
Here are some top stand pictures with approximate measurements on the 3rd picture. All measurements were taken from outside edge of bar. Good luck on your project.
Chuck

[Leroy]

Re: Hardtop stand dimensions?

Chuckster, Thanks so much for the info and the Great pics, they were a real help. After I got the dimentions, I started thinking about what to make it out of that would be fairly easy and cheap. This is what I came up with. I went to our local Menards home supply store and bought 10' of Scd. 80 3/4" PVC pipe, 4 Scd. 80 Tees, 4 Scd. 80 90s, 4 casters, 2 foam rubber insulation 3/4" tee covers and 2-3/4" 90 covers. Plus 1 small can of primer and 1 small can of glue. I sat outside at my picnic table with a hacksaw, ruler and magic marker and went to work. After I got it all glued togeather I took it in my garage and drilled the holes and put the casters on and the Foam covers. It took me a hour to go buy everything and a little over an hour to build it. My final cost was $47.29 with tax. The casters were the most expensive item at $3.79 each. I'll try it out next week. I'm headed for my place in Michigan this weekend.
Leroy

[mdbluebrd]

Re: Hardtop stand dimensions?

Looks good. Keep a close eye on the area where the nuts from the wheels protrude, especially where the ends bend up as that's where the painted side goes (the area right below the rear glass).

[Leroy]

Re: Hardtop stand dimensions?

Well folks my stand as shown was a box office FLOP. I'm going to have to make some revisions. My freind and I took the top off my Bird this afternoon and when we put it on the stand I built we discovered the two upright supports in the back weren't ridgid enough to hold the weight of the top leaning against them. So we managed to get the top still on the stand over against my garage wall and got it secured and covered. I'll deal with it later. The main thing is the top is off my car and I'm ready for the Hardtop Relay this week end. Some other good news is the top left ZERO marks on my car. Leroy

[Brad]

Re: Hardtop stand dimensions?

Leroy, so that you don't have to start from scratch, what if you use pipe straps to 2X4's on the bottom and the Vertical rise?

[Lonestar]

Re: Hardtop stand dimensions?

Well folks my stand as shown was a box office FLOP. I'm going to have to make some revisions. My freind and I took the top off my Bird this afternoon and when we put it on the stand I built we discovered the two upright supports in the back weren't ridgid enough to hold the weight of the top leaning against them. So we managed to get the top still on the stand over against my garage wall and got it secured and covered. I'll deal with it later. The main thing is the top is off my car and I'm ready for the Hardtop Relay this week end. Some other good news is the top left ZERO marks on my car. Leroy

It may be a flop but you get an A+ for the cloning effort.

[Nicky-The-Squid]

Re: Hardtop stand dimensions?

That's too bad Leroy. It looked pretty good. Calling it a flop might be too harsh on yourself. How about a work in progress.
Ya know, come to think of it, I don't have a second stand for when the top finally reaches me.