Soft top materials

Just a follow up to let you all know that I did get the correct machine screws from SNG Barratt, they are indeed 10/32s and the nut inserts were in place and were not crossthreaded. Not sure why a previous owner used phillips screws but assume the original machine screws were lost and there was never a plan to actually use the top!!

Thanks again to all.

And by the way, you have all saved me from making a serious mistake that could have had disastrous consequences as I drove down the highway at 50 or 60 mph with the top up (no doubt in a rainstorm and far from home) because, as one of you said, it's doubtful that wood screws would hold up to the strain if the top was not designed that way.

And by the way, you have all saved me from making a serious mistake that could have had disastrous consequences as I drove down the highway at 50 or 60 mph with the top up (no doubt in a rainstorm and far from home) because, as one of you said, it's doubtful that wood screws would hold up to the strain if the top was not designed that way.

I cannot thank you all enough for this information. Machine screws into t nuts on the top of the header is certainly what I expected to see when I began to look at this. I was surprised to find wood screws.

One of the previous owners passed on to me a November 1965 Jaguar Spares Division spare parts catalog and I note that, in fact, there are two sets of two screw sets listed for securing the center toggle (along with setscrew washers etc). Using this info I have ordered the necessary parts.

While I appreciate Howard's suggestion, I must admit to being nervous about putting something back together again once I've taken it apart so I am going to proceed on William Brady's suggestion above once I have the screws. If, for some reason that does not work, ie the nuts are too badly stripped or actually missing, then I will "bite the bullet" and do it the right way.

Thanks again to all of you, and to Bob, your pictures and descriptions have been very helpful as have all of you. I could not ask for a better more knowledgeable group of respondents.

Chris

Chris it could be that someone lost the original screws and fitted those. There is a good chance the nuts are still in there, they are 10/32, order the proper ones, but in the mean time get a 10/32 tap and with a little oil on it slowly tap into the nuts bit at a time to clean the threads.

Chris, PS, I think you should take the top off the car and really do this right by seeing what is the situation with the t-nuts in the wood header etc. Just installing bigger wood screws or something from the inside of the car is not going to end up being a satisfactory result. Bite the bullet, dismantle that area of the top and do it right. Good luck.

Chris, PS, I think you should take the top off the car and really do this right by seeing what is the situation with the t-nuts in the wood header etc. Just installing bigger wood screws or something from the inside of the car is not going to end up being a satisfactory result. Bite the bullet, dismantle that area of the top and do it right. Good luck.

Chris,
On my 1961 S1 roadster, the screws that hold the center toggle to the wood at the front of the top, are machine screws that thread into four t-nuts that are installed into the top of the wood header. I think the header is attached to the sheet metal cap with t-nuts and c'sunk machine screws the same way.

This method, with machine screws, provides needed strength to the attachment of that center toggle which might be less strong using wood screws threaded into matchsticks etc. That toggle is under a lot of load when pulling the top down tight to seal across the top of the windscreen.

Unless yours is a different design altogether, I bet a P.O. stripped the tee nuts and used wood screws instead.

I am going to say those are not original screws. they look stainless and they are phillips.
the screws holding my august 69 build S2 uses two lengths of a machine screw.
just like the ones in the side latch, on the rear two were about 1 1/4 inch. the fronts were about an inch? I am guessing at the moment.
If nobody else has the answer today I will unscrew one of each and take a picture.
but me feeling is they go all the way thru the wood, I dont feel them thru the top, but they were longer than you think they should be. I think there may be threaded inserts attached to the metal top part just like on the sides. just find the right thread and try a long bolt and see if it bites. its a common thread, I just dont remember off the top off my head.

I can tell you the wood is a continuous piece all the way across,

Bob

Thank you , that is great information. I had wondered before I removed the screws if they would be a machine screw with some sort of threaded insert in the wood panel. However on removing the screws I find that they are a 3/4 inch normally threaded wood screw rather than a machine screw or bolt. I note that the left and right toggles are held by machine screws, but then they attach to a metal bracket. For reference attached is a pic of a couple of the actual screws.

This toggle would sit in the center of the wood shown to the right side of your picture - and you think this is a hardwood?

Many thanks,

Chris

Chris, you are sort of in luck, I was just re-glueing the liner thing to my top last weekend and snapped a picture of the wood. I am no wood expert, but I am pretty sure its a hardwood, maybe mahogany?, and it even looks to be laminated with another piece.
the quarter round on the back edge is a softwood.

I recall the screws being a machine screw that hold the latch on, but I cant confirm if there are threaded inserts in the wood. I am sure someone will chime in here shortly

in the meantime here is the picture

Bob F