Truly amazing to watch the progress of this build! This is indeed a well choreographed, automotive mechanical ballet! It takes a lot of time and patience, to get the sequencing and timing just right!
I follow a number of threads and this is the one I look to most. You have one incredible skill set and I appreciate that you do this in a shop that is not, um, tidy.
I have to thank Marie Andersson in Sweden for sending me a wiring diagram of how she manualised the top pump solenoids separate from the computer module. I use three momentary switches ( one for each solenoid) and a forward reverse toggle. To raise the roof is 5 operations. To lower it is 3. Eg some need three buttons pushed together, some 2 , pulling the rear bow right at the end is only one button. I’ll make a little stainless faceplate and punch the sequence like Braille. the sequence is a bit like playing piano or guitar chords. “Baby, it’s Jazz!” It’s probably makes sense to mount it on the passenger side door. So you open door and stand beside it to operate it.
So my next project is the two flaps that cover the void where the top mechanism resides. These are tricky. The original Saab flaps pushed forward into the rear armrest but as I’ve now got the b pillar there they won’t work. I originally had the flaps opening sideways but I’ve decided to change them to hinge them off the hard boot. My daughter has a Merc clk 230 convert and the flaps are on the hard boot operated by cables that pull the flaps open when the top is raised and release them when the top is lowered. I went to the hardware yesterday and found some nice SS spring loaded gate hinges. Can’t wait to have a play over the weekend.
Overhead view of this car is spectacular. Pretty neat someone already figured out how to make that top operate without a computer assist, that's definitely a time-saver.
That is some cool shit right there! Great job on getting all that moving mechanical stuff in the proper sequence.
Did a late night shift again and finally I have a fully operational hardboot. I decided to make the flaps manual like the 53 Eldo. Down the track I may still make it fully automatic operating off cables… however each flap will require two separate cables so for now I think I will defer to simple manual operation. Everything works as it should and nothing fouls. Very happy. https://youtube.com/shorts/eOLdcoe_v8Y?feature=share
The Jalopy Journal
