Hardtop to Softtop on Series III

[spudboy]

If I bought a hartop SWB Series III but wanted to 'convert' it to having a canvas top, can someone tell me:
- what bits I would need to find/buy
- how much would these bits cost
- availability (from the UK only?)
- degree of mucking around to get the hardtop off

Thanks
David

[incisor]

the hardtop off is easy, 2 man job 1 hour at most.

the ragtop requires quite a few different bits...

hoops, hoop clamps, frames over doors, windscreen with hooks.

best of luck with it....

[Quarks]

I'll be watching this thread with interest, as it's something I'd like to do to the SIII later on.

(Later being when I go and earn some play money )

[Lotz-A-Landies]

the hardtop off is easy, 2 man job 1 hour at most.

the ragtop requires quite a few different bits...

hoops, hoop clamps, frames over doors, windscreen with hooks.

best of luck with it....

The hood bows, hold down brackets, door frames are available 2nd hand, particularly off Army vehicles but make sure that you get the bracket for the top of the screen, which is riveted on.



The other option would be to have a second windscreen one for use with the hard top and another for use with the canvas hood.

Diana

[JDNSW]

As Diana says, the bits are generally available, at least second hand, from most of the usual places. (not dealers)

The only likely problem is the top seat belt anchorage. Not sure what S3 soft tops used, although many converting to canvas tops install a roll bar with anchorages.

Note that the whole exercise is likely to be expensive - for example, Four Wheel Drives catalogue 32 :- Second hand set of hood bows $550, canvas (new) $935.

But many of the parts come up from time to time a lot cheaper on markets here, on ebay, on Trading Post - keep your eyes open.

John

[Rogue]

There is a fella called dave is tassie that has a lot of stuff. I got the 5 aluminium surrounds for the doors (parts 330575, 330567/8, 330561/2 from lotz-a-landies pic) and a few little bits, as well as an ex-army canvas for $500.00.

He also had a few new army canvas for $600.00

I am also in the process of measuring up some hoops and getting them made up, I will post details when they are made.

I will try to find dave's number, and have a look at this post on the REMLR forum: Another visit to land rover world, in the the REMLR general section and search for "hoops" there is a bit of info out there.

[spudboy]

Thanks for all the info.

I found the Exmoor Trim site in the UK last night. They have a good range of (replica?) parts. Not cheap but then again not prohibitive.

Sounds like it would set me back $1500-odd to convert.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Sounds like it would set me back $1500-odd to convert.

Exmoor have a good reputation and I have a canvas hood from them myself, however you can find the bows and the rest of the kit cheaper here and without the big UK-Aus shipping costs. Diana

[Defender=1st]

Thanks for posting. as i also would love to do this to my SWB Series 3
Thanks
Regards Adrian