Ok, so there are two small tears in the top of the Miata. Since I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep it I'd like to get that fixed. However the place that the local Mazda dealership farms work out to wants $1150! That seems a bit insane to me. I've found several online that are not too expensive at all. How hard is the actual work?
I have only ever done the tops on my fiats... the hardest part of those were the side cables that hold the sides down over the windows and the header where it clamps to the windsheild.. there is come gluing there
It has always been significantly cheaper and easier for me to find a good used top, already on the frame. Of course, that's why I've replaced the top on my '90 twice in 5 years. It has still been less work than stretching one new top over the frame.
I did the top on my old miata in a day. It was the first time I'd ever replaced a convertible top. It's not terribly difficult, just time consuming and a little tedious. Be sure to do it on a warm day and let the new top sit out in the sun for a while to make it easier to stretch.
I have done about 4 mgb tops I want to tackle my 1974 alfa spider anyone done an Alfa ?
My Miata's top was shredded when I bought it. The owner included a new low end Robbins vinyl top with the car which I think retails for around $200-250. I thought about doing it myself, but in the end I let a pro handle it because I wanted it done right. A local mobile convertible top installer came to my house and installed it there for $400. A bit pricey, but it took him 6 hours and it turned out 100% perfect. $1150 is outrageous.
I know this guy who wrote a book...
I did it in about four hours, never having done it before. Make sure you buy a top with a rain rail.
Keith's book is helpful. So are the many posts on Miata.Net.
Rob
I've done an MGB and a Jeep (YJ) by myself. Both took a bit of time, but both got done. All I did was follow the instructions that were included.
As far as replacing the Miata top, I'd cruise the Miata forums as I'm sure this had been covered countless times.
Ok, so are these replacement tops just the cloth part? I thought it was the frame and everything. So its a matter of taking the old top off the frame and stretching the new one on. Shouldn't be too hard. In the mean time, whats a cheap way to cover those little holes? a friend suggested a hot glue gun and some duct tape.
I did mine in a day, pulled the entire thing off, frame and all, and had it back on that afternoon, only needed the wifes help putting it back in the car
just lay the new top out in the sun for awhile to soften her up, and don't get a cheap one like I did, and get a good rain rail if your keeping the car
2.0dohc wrote: just lay the new top out in the sun for awhile to soften her up,
Never done a convertible top, but speaking from toneau covers, this is huge.
i did one for my miata. it took a fair amount of time and patience.
I would never do it again i tell myself, but in the end im too cheap to pay someone to do it so...
I bought the cheapest Miata top I could find on eBay last year & did it myself. It was a huge PITA, but that was a combination of virtually nonexistant instructions with the top(it was significantly different than the one Keith described in his book, though the book was a HUGE help!), and not having an extra pair of hands to help.
That said, I'm happy with the way it turned out & would do it again.
I've successfully replaced 4 or 5 Miata tops, and I'm Polish. Just go for it. Be sure to buy a new rain rail too.
GI_Drewsifer wrote: Ok, so are these replacement tops just the cloth part? I thought it was the frame and everything. So its a matter of taking the old top off the frame and stretching the new one on. Shouldn't be too hard. In the mean time, whats a cheap way to cover those little holes? a friend suggested a hot glue gun and some duct tape.
nope.. just the "fabric" the frame stays with the car. If you were buying a Complete convertable top... it would be some serious money unless they had a corecharge.. then just imagine the shipping
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