Ragtop installation 

Time to install the ragtop - here is the section trimmed to size.
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As per the VW Trends tech how-to article the rag section was cut with a 1/2 inch flange around from the inside edge of ragtop. (looks a little more than 1/2 inch in the pic - hard to get right angle)

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Blasted a few areas and stripped with wire wheel on the grinder - followed by etch primer.
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Made a simple T-brace out of framing timber used in combination with a bottle jack to hold ragtop up with enough pressure to keep it there but still allow adjustment for positioning.
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VW trends showed 3 1/2in from side door jamb support to ragtop seam at front corners - mine worked out at 3 3/8 each side centred.
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Front corner of rag section to windscreen support was 3 inches (photo angle again deceiving) - just make sure both sides are the same.
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Rear corners to side door jam support above rear 1/4 windows measured up at 2 1/4in where rag section drops down.

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rag section back in place with nikko marks for reference points later on - also scribe inside edge of ragtop opening onto roof.

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Next mark a line 1/4in outside the scribed line right around (I know - should be using metric measurements....couldn't be bothered converting for this exercise).
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Say goodbye hardtop..
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Cut along nikko line (being conservative of course) - first cut - measured about a thousand times first though. This was the point there is no turning back.
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Dang - a lot less roof than before. This is just rough cut at the moment. Used an air powered hacksaw but as the roof became looser it jams a lot - had to move to a nibbler - just left a fair bit of material inside of line so I can clean it up later.

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Hello sunshine (eventually) - this is as far as I got today - was too late to make any more noise! Next weekend will see the cut cleaned up and rag section welded in (stay tuned).
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Things have progressed...first up had to make holes every two inches around the sides and back for spot welds (a pneumatic punch/flange tool saves lots and lots of time and hassle if you have to drill these out!). Cleaned up surrounding areas in readiness for welding.

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Next, jacked up the ragtop section with the use of the bottle jack again - those nikko marks on the inside really helped to line things up without the necessity for much measuring.
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All spot (rosette) welded up using a mig. Obviously alternate front and back side to side to minimise warping.
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Welds ground back - 4in grinder to knock the tops off then a 90degree die grinder with course sanding disc to smooth things out.
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Front view shows the lip and the front edge that was seam welded - have to take this very slowly to avoid the wobbles. If there was one thing I'd do differently I'd leave a bigger lip on the front edge of ragtop section, then cut the front edge of the hole slightly bigger so you don't have to weld right up against the raised lip.
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Filler work over this last couple of days see things slowly smoothing out - shoulders are dead from sanding all day - lots more to come still though!
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More work required on the front lip to make it look respectable...although I am a little picky. Whacked on some etch primer to stop the rust until next weekend when block sanding, filling, guide coating, high build priming and more sanding etc will resume! Ahh body work is fun (sorta - just wish it was quicker!).
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After more filling, sanding, guide coating, sanding, more filling, sanding etc etc things are finally smoothing out nicely. Hard to tell from the pics though!
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A little more blade putty to tidy up little scratches, then high build primer...another guide coat and hopefully thats it till paint!
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Had the Golde rails polished the other day - nice and shiny
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...and handle rechromed...
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