Ian, after languishing in my garage for 20 years, I finally restored my hardtop last summer. It was originally finished with a black textured coating and it did have some spider cracks. The one back post had broken away and there was some other fibreglass repairs needed. I removed the black finish with a DA sander down to the gelcoat. I bought new seals, weatherstripping and hardware from the Bugeye Guy. I bought new clasps from him too, but I wasn't 100% happy with them, so I got the originals rechromed. The cost diff was minimal. I'm really pleased with the outcome.

@EconoboxGarage

5 ай бұрын

I may have to go past the gel coat as there are some fairly deep cracks. I've ordered new seals from MacGregor here in Canada. The only hardware I'm missing are the bolts that clamp the top to the car at the rear edge of the doors.

Hello Enin.......You'll love your hardtop when its done, it makes the car fill like a nornal car, I never take mine off !

@EconoboxGarage

5 ай бұрын

I'm looking forward to having this as an alternative to the soft top!

Begin with a visit to your local boatbuilder. You'll find that the top is very much an upside-down boat.

@EconoboxGarage

5 ай бұрын

Not a bad idea but I don't think there's too many boat builders around where I live!

Living in England, one problem with the hard top is that the sidescreen glazing can freeze solid so you can't get in!

@EconoboxGarage

5 ай бұрын

I've refurbished my side screens with new perspex, felt and seals. But I can see how that would be a problem.

Ian - you really make good use of a small space!

@EconoboxGarage

2 ай бұрын

Thanks Joel. Doing the big cleanup earlier in the year certainly helped.

@nedwagon

2 ай бұрын

@@EconoboxGarage I REALLY need to get back going on my Sprite. I’d really like to get it back on the road this year. I got the engine and transmission back in last year, but got stumped on taking the starter apart and the progress stopped there.

In order to do the fibreglass repairs, I suggest using the West System products.

@EconoboxGarage

5 ай бұрын

I will look into that, thanks.

That's a strange finish on the hardtop! At first I thought the white finish was the gel coat but it looks a bit thin and the black surface underneath is a rough texture which isn't what I'd expect to see if it's fibreglass matting. The black could be crinkle-coat sprayed over fibreglass to make it look like a soft-top, or black gel coat moulded to look like fabric. Where the inner and outer layers have separated the exposed surface looks black, suggesting they could have actually be black gel coat, but it's difficult to tell on video as it may just be years of grime! I'd suggest carefully grinding away a small area, ideally on a edge which will be covered by the sealing strip, in order to see exactly what you have. Take it down as far as the fibreglass matting and that will expose the various layers. The composition of the layers will determine how best to repair them.

@EconoboxGarage

5 ай бұрын

The dark finish appears to be a coating of some sort that has been mostly removed. I will be sanding back as far as I have to to eliminate all the cracks in the original gel coat and proceed from there.

Thanks a lot for all of your very informative videos. My one question is why the site is called the Econobox? I have found nothing economical about an old Sprite or any old British sports car. They are more like money pits. I have a Frogeye or Bugeye Sprite, and there is always something to improve or repair. I had British cars in my youth, and they could leave in stranded at times, and no time is a good time. But I got sentimental about the driving experience and brought one. The driving experience is maybe more dangerous than a motorcycle. I guess they're about the same. But I'm super cautious now and would never do all thing crazy things I did in my youth. I didn't even think it was crazy at the time. Anyway, thanks for your help, and I really enjoy your videos.

@EconoboxGarage

4 ай бұрын

Thanks Jim. I'm glad you asked about the channel's name. So why is the channel named “Econobox Garage” when the featured car is a Bugeye Sprite? When I first started the channel it was going to be a supplement to our Econobox Café blog. That was started to document our adventures with the Festiva and to share articles, photos and other information pertaining to the so-called “econoboxes” of the eighties and nineties. Although I did get one video up showing a drive in the Festiva we owned at the time, the channel never really went anywhere. Then came the Bugeye! The premise was that the Econobox Café, the blog, was where I would write about the cars and the Econobox Garage, the KZread channel, would be where any work would be done! In keeping with the "econo" theme I've tried to do as much of the work myself thus saving quite a bit of money, shopping around when parts are required, bartering for some parts and being on the receiving end of generous help from the car community both here at home and quite literally around the world.

You've got your work cut out for you with this one. Nothing that you can't handle however. I can't say that I have any first hand experience with fibreglass but I have helped others a tiny bit. I don't believe there is anything that's super difficult and the good thing about fibreglass is that it is repairable. I think your white external coating is gel-coat. My biggest concern would be the crazing coming through your final finish. Others may have a better idea about that, The back window shouldn't be too hard - make a template out of cardboard and cut your perspex to match. Hopefully you will line the inside. That's not too hard if you can use a sewing machine.

@EconoboxGarage

5 ай бұрын

I'm looking forward to the challenge and learning a new skill! There are lots of resources available and I will be giving credit where credit is due with upcoming videos. I don't have a sewing machine but do have daughters and granddaughters that know how to use one :)

My hardtop is in a bit better shape although missing the window and the windshield clasps. If you do get a template for the window I would appreciate getting a copy. Good luck with the restoration!

@EconoboxGarage

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Gareth. I will definitely pass on any template.

No idea how to help with the repairs, I'm confident you'll do it right, but also confident it'll be a bit of effort. It's just fiberglass, I guess, so worst case you can inject an adhesive under the cracking surface if you don't take that surface off completely. I'm just not sure what it is over the fiberglass. If it's just bondo, then you're good to go. I'm really interested to see what it looks like under those cracks.

@EconoboxGarage

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Ken. Once I have all the hardware off I'll get a better look at things.

Im missing brackets that hold the hardtop at the b pillars(back). Does anyone have a drawing with dimensions of it?

@EconoboxGarage

3 ай бұрын

Hello Pascal. I could take some measurements and come up with a sketch for you. I know that Bugeye Guys have reproductions available ( tinyurl.com/4cdb3n27 ) so perhaps that is an option for you. Thanks for watching the videos!

@pascalpielage7854

3 ай бұрын

@@EconoboxGarage a sketch would be great.

@EconoboxGarage

3 ай бұрын

@@pascalpielage7854 send me an email to econoboxgarage@gmail.com and I'll get something to you in the next few days.