New boot way tight, does this look right?

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Joined
Mar 10, 2023
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Location
San Diego
My Car
73 Vert 351
I just got a boot for my recently acquired 73 vert. It seems way too tight but I don’t know if they stretch with time or is my roof not going low enough and needs adjustment. It won’t go any lower with the switch and seems to be operating perfectly. Thanks for any help. 9F48D701-A1BD-46A3-9FB0-EC7FF292AC81.jpegCCEC535E-F4F0-4AD2-834D-286D2A5643FB.jpegBBDB9288-28F5-4490-890A-8A821E3B702D.jpeg
 
It does not look like you have the 1" thick foam padding glued onto the underside of the end sections of the boot cover, and it looks like the roof is not fully retracted. I can tell by the way the latch mechanism is protruding thru the boot and the front edge if the frame looks high as I can see the rail thru the cover. Try pressing down on each side of the roof to further compress the roof into the boot cavity. I have owned many 1973 verts and that is not normal for the roof front edge to be that high when retracted.

Boot covers are typically very tight, especially when new, and old ones when it's cold. They need to be warmed up and then stretch on. I suggest laying the cover over the trunk in the mid-day sun for 30 mins or more, then putting it on. Get or make the foam padding and glue them to the underside of the boot. I'll look for a good pic of the underside of the boot.

I like the looks of those seats from the back seats.., Please post a front side picture, What seats are they?
 

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The Boot will be tight and take the suggestion of letting it warm up in the sun. Mine is an original and shrinks a little over time. I had to replace the foam recently. Just go to Walmart or any place that sells foam. Use a 3M spray adhesive to glue to bottom side of boot. While my photo isn't a great close up, it shows the lines you'll see with the foam.

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Thanks for the replies. I have the foams that came with the top but I thought it was part of the packaging LOL. Good thing I didn’t throw them away. I just placed them under the boot and reinstalled. Looks better. I will need to glue them in place. Latches still protrude some but I guess the material will stretch with time.
 

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I like the looks of those seats from the back seats.., Please post a front side picture, What seats are they?
Came with the car. PO said the original seats were gone and these are from an older BMW or something like that. They are comfortable but they don’t recline and don’t slide back enough for me. I’m 6-1 and feel cramped.
 

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Thanks for the replies. I have the foams that came with the top but I thought it was part of the packaging LOL. Good thing I didn’t throw them away. I just placed them under the boot and reinstalled. Looks better. I will need to glue them in place. Latches still protrude some but I guess the material will stretch with time.
That looks much better!
 
The Boot will be tight and take the suggestion of letting it warm up in the sun. Mine is an original and shrinks a little over time. I had to replace the foam recently. Just go to Walmart or any place that sells foam. Use a 3M spray adhesive to glue to bottom side of boot. While my photo isn't a great close up, it shows the lines you'll see with the foam.

View attachment 74629
Nice car photo by the way, also looks like Al's Tavern was quite a joint back in the day.
 
I have the opposite problem and my boot sags in the middle and sometimes unhooks itself in the front.
I do place 3/4" foam pieces in the corners to keep it looking smooth. I purchased it from CJ Pony.
 

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Thanks for the replies. I have the foams that came with the top but I thought it was part of the packaging LOL. Good thing I didn’t throw them away. I just placed them under the boot and reinstalled. Looks better. I will need to glue them in place. Latches still protrude some but I guess the material will stretch with time.
Looks a whole lot better now.
 
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Also make sure your front hooks are full retracted. My top doesn’t settle in yet either….waiting for heat….
 
Good eye. Sure is. A 76 with a M42 5 speed swap. Owned for 12 years now. Got most of my somewhat limited skills resto-modding it. How time flies by.
Cool cars. I used to have quite the parts stash but liquidated it about 15 years ago.

I wouldn’t mind owning one again.
 
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