Dan,
Just sharing some thoughts as I know you're far along in this project and ain't goin' back.
Early on with my car, I loved the look of the up top-and still do. Makes it a real little English roadster. But as I advanced my project with planned upgrades, I kept putting the top at the back of the list.
Roll bar,
oil cooler, big brakes, Sideoiler, bulletproof rear, ad infinitum. The function of everything was of greater importance to me. And I found, I was frequently in and out of the car, tweeking or adjusting something.
On the longer drives, I just naturally took to enjoying the accessibility and open air freedom. I began to think I would get a top and install it just for parking shade on the hottest days. I knew my driving style would cost me the top if I went to the expense and trouble. 100 MPH+ everytime in the car was my drug of choice. And I think the top is gone or hurting things over about 70.
Now you are a different owner and I appreciate that. But with the effort involved to use both the top and the car, I think you will restrict your driving pleasure. Compounding that, are the side curtains which make ingress and egress a delicate process when they are on board.
If you plan to just putter to the shopping center on Friday nights with the guys and soak up the ooh's and ahh's with the full display, so be it.
If touring in anything colder than 50 degrees is for you, you may find it's not as pleasant as you think enclosed like that.
Early on with the 428, I too drove in Feb with temps in the 30's and 40's-open mind you-and that was all I could stand for a 1/2 hour at 70 MPH.
I later learned more and found that I shouldn't have been the limiting factor; the fact that the temp gauges never came off their pegs should have been.
When I did the SO, I knew that temps should always be up and no amount of blocking BOTH rads made a difference.
So in the NE, I just learned to use the car in a different way to get maximum longevity out of my new bullet-which is STILL going strong.
You're a meticulous craftsman and that is your pleasure and curse. It makes you do complex projects like this for satisfaction. My car taught me that feeling well so I understand.
Lecture over / resume normal toiling...
