The P5: What Would You Change?

[Ty]

I still think that designing snap-in roof panels is a Mich better way to go. You could just unlatch them from inside and pop them out.v two panels would be probably smaller that 12" X 12" each and easy to store. If the roof was made of simple to swap out panels, you could get a couple of clear panels and mix and match... front half solid, rear, clear,... front open, rear solid... both open.... both clear... both solid. Thinking about it, it would be VERY simple and inexpensive.

 

[W. WIllie]

Looks to me like it would really "eat up" the mpg when open..

 

[Sethodine]

Ok, that long seam you have down the middle would not be there, the cross seams would; they slide parallel to the front header; This is why you can't have the taper, the rails on the side are what the header and ribs slide in.

The center stitch is nothing but a line of thread sewn down the middle; it's only there because of trying to deal with the taper. (The slight puckering and structure it provides helps to shape the flex of the material uniformly)

And that's the problem I'm trying to address: the Elio's roof has a taper, so any soft top will need either a taper, or additional hardware to "square up" the roof. Since I'd like to keep hardware costs down, I'm trying to engineer a tapered top.

Yup.

 

[floydv]

So that brings me back to my initial issue... how do you get the ribs to flex? They would have to flex for the Elio's roof. Here, let me show you what I mean.

Here is a prototype I whipped together at work today. It's not made from canvas or vinyl, it's made from heavy duty nylon so it's a little more inflexible, but it gets my point across.

It's 74" long, 11" wide at the far end (rear, on the Elio) and 20" wide at the near end (would connect to the windshield). I'm sure those are not the dimensions the Elio would use, but this is just a mock-up to get the idea across.

Here, it is folded up as if it were retracted. I pinned the "ribs" together, such that all corners where as wide as the narrowest section (the rearmost attachment point).

This is the view of the cover, if it were fully retracted and you were standing behind the Elio. See how it flexes upwards in the middle? I stitched a single line of thread to encourage it to fold right in the middle, otherwise it made a jagged, haphazard fold.

Here is the interior view of the retracted cover. Each of the folds facing you are where a "rib" would be, except that I can't imagine a rib flexing that much and yet still being rigid when it is in position. The topmost layer would be the end that mounts to the windshield when the cover is closed. As the cover slides forward, the ridge in the center would slowly flatten out until the cover is fully forward and is taut.

What material could be used for ribs? Or does it really need any, for such a narrow application? I know the actual cover would be around 14"-16" wide at the narrow end, and possibly still 20" at the front, so the angle would be a little less extreme but still present. Thoughts?

I don't understand why the ribs have to flex. Wouldn't rigid ribs that are pre-bent to conform to the Elio's roofline solve the issue you're having?

 

[Sethodine]

I don't understand why the ribs have to flex. Wouldn't rigid ribs that are pre-bent to conform to the Elio's roofline solve the issue you're having?

The ribs are mounted perpendicular to the sliding rails. Up front, the rails are about 20" apart, but at the back they are about 14" apart because Elio has a tapered roofline. As the ribs up front slide to the back, they will need to compress or flex in order to fit into the 14" space at the back.

Nevermind, I give up. Somebody else can figure out the soft top geometry.

 

[floydv]

The ribs are mounted perpendicular to the sliding rails. Up front, the rails are about 20" apart, but at the back they are about 14" apart because Elio has a tapered roofline. As the ribs up front slide to the back, they will need to compress or flex in order to fit into the 14" space at the back.

Nevermind, I give up. Somebody else can figure out the soft top geometry.

It was a good attempt. Thanks for trying. Seems to me that the simplest solution is to have the cover be surface mounted (with the guide rails attached to the frame flush with the roofline) so that the cabrio cover stays flat at the back when fully retracted.

 

[RUCRAYZE]

The center stitch is nothing but a line of thread sewn down the middle; it's only there because of trying to deal with the taper. (The slight puckering and structure it provides helps to shape the flex of the material uniformly)

And that's the problem I'm trying to address: the Elio's roof has a taper, so any soft top will need either a taper, or additional hardware to "square up" the roof. Since I'd like to keep hardware costs down, I'm trying to engineer a tapered top.

Yup.

I recall the po

The ribs are mounted perpendicular to the sliding rails. Up front, the rails are about 20" apart, but at the back they are about 14" apart because Elio has a tapered roofline. As the ribs up front slide to the back, they will need to compress or flex in order to fit into the 14" space at the back.

Nevermind, I give up. Somebody else can figure out the soft top geometry.

Please don't give up( just yet)- you've great insights, and spirit to design and share you're ideas, which when you meet w/success might open the door for a aftermarket business opportunity- I had a Citroen 2cv that had the folding roof you're planning, and it worked like a charm. I see the difficulty of there not being parallel tracks, and seems like you're working it out- perhaps reduce your posts, and keep your focus.??

 

[NSTG8R]

The ribs are mounted perpendicular to the sliding rails. Up front, the rails are about 20" apart, but at the back they are about 14" apart because Elio has a tapered roofline. As the ribs up front slide to the back, they will need to compress or flex in order to fit into the 14" space at the back.

Nevermind, I give up. Somebody else can figure out the soft top geometry.

Man, Seth. If I had a dime every time I said that in the last year regarding Elio mods. Until it's in my driveway and can be measured, I just put it on my "list" and try not to waste too much glucose thinking about it. My "list", however, also is noting which members have what skills for future reference...you're on it now.

 

[Sethodine]

Man, Seth. If I had a dime every time I said that in the last year regarding Elio mods. Until it's in my driveway and can be measured, I just put it on my "list" and try not to waste too much glucose thinking about it. My "list", however, also is noting which members have what skills for future reference...you're on it now.

I know what you mean. And as soon as I have an Elio in my driveway to measure, I'll be making custom canvas car covers for them.

 

[NSTG8R]

I know what you mean. And as soon as I have an Elio in my driveway to measure, I'll be making custom canvas car covers for them.

Custom canvas Elio cover, check!

Maybe two styles - one that covers the entire vehicle including the outriggers for storage, one that just covers the fuselag...uh, body. That'd be handy at work when you're just concerned about protecting the interior from sun damage, and would like something that installs/removes quickly.