BADASS of New England
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BADASS of New England

An automobile club for the enthusiast who enjoys the last of the big GM cars. The rear wheel drive B and D bodys. Chevrolet Impala SS, Caprice, 9C1, Buick Roadmaster, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, Cadillac Fleetwood
 
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Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptyWed Jun 09, 2021 9:41 pm by Chris Klein

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 Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...

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95brmw
No Moa
1984twodoor
toomanytoyz
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toomanytoyz
Club President
toomanytoyz


Posts : 6876
Join date : 2009-01-20
Age : 47
Location : East Hampstead, NH USA

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptySat Jun 09, 2012 10:51 pm

And I did a mini write-up for the miata guys. If you're interested, here it is!

Hey Guys,

So as some of you know, I picked up a super cheap 94 Miata beater about a month ago. Top was well worn; holes, broken vinyl window, etc. So I looked for the cheapest solution. I found a 1 piece top, no rain rail, on eBay for $159 shipped to my house. It came in like 4 days. Not bad!

So how hard was the install? Well, I tackled it by myself. I had never done a top before, so I took my time. I started about 10:30 this morning, and I had the new top on by about 5pm with the job finished up just after 6pm. I also had company (my wife/daughter had a playdate here today), so I had to take a few breaks to socialize and about an hour off to cook and eat lunch. So I would be comfortable saying, that if you are fairly handy, and know how to use basic hand tools, and have a bit of patience and the slightest mechanical ability, then you too could swap tops in about 6 hours in your driveway. By yourself. It's not really that bad, actually. But I also wouldn't want to do it again any time soon... lol

So, armed with the walkthrough from here - http://www.miata.net/garage/top/index.html (THANK YOU CHRIS LAMBERT! Whoever you are!) - I grabbed my tools and went to work.

Tools. What tools? Well, I used:
Cordless impact with a 3/8" drive bit <---This Guy's new favorite tool!
Cordless drill with phillips bit, and a 3/16" and 1/4" drill bit
Phillips screwdriver assortment - All #2, but some short, long, and in between
Straight slotted screwdriver assortment - different lengths, widths
Crafstman ratcheting 90* bit driver with a #2 Phillips
Harbor Freight "panel/clip popper" (plier style, with overlapping forks)
Craftsman panel tool (like a bent, forked screwdriver)
Califonia Duster (for top-propping duties) & then a box of rags to replace it after it bent - Doh!
Scissors - strong enough to cut vinyl!
Plain old razor blade
Assorted metric sockets - 10mm, 14mm, 17mm
Assorted ratchets and breaker bars (1/4" and 3/8" drives)
Rivet gun
Assorted Rivets 1/8" & 3/16" in both 1/8" and 1/4" depth. I used aluminum.
Awl <--- Very inmportant tool for the cheap top!
Vise grips
Small adjustable wrench

I pretty much followed Chris's walkthrough with a few modifications here and there. But it was an AWESOME guide and saved me a ton of time.

So here's what I started with. Nasty top:
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09100948
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09100934

I laid the new top on, just to be sure. Then I laid it in the sun to stretch.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09101416

I decided to remove the seats. I figured that I'm a pretty big dude, and the 5 minutes spent removing them would save me a ton of aggravation. It did. I was happy. 14mm impact and they were out.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09103930

Used my panel popper pliers and removed the rear deck carpet. No clip casualties! Woot!
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09105643

Towel down, tools out. If you look closely, you can see that I removed the back rails and the window weatherstrip and their grooves. Also, you can see the printed out walkthrough!
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09112452

Oh boy. Time to cross the point of no return!
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09111651

Here's a pic of the front attachment for the tension cable. Drill out that rivet.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09113940

It's still attached in this pic.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09113933

Not in this one.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09114349

Then you take the screw out of the bottom attachment of the cable, at the spring, and then... YES!
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09120218

See. That wasn't too bad! Making a mess in the driveway...
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09120256

Old top. New top. I bet you can tell which is which.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09121846

Now, to transfer the tension cable. Oh noes! The cheapo top doesn't have a pull string! What to do?!?! *sarcasm* Just straighten out a coathanger (probably one of my most used tools!!) and slide it through the pocket for it, and pull it through. Pay attention to route it EXACTLY as it was in the old top. Do one side at a time, so you have a reference if you need it.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09121934

Voila!
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09122104

And start putting it back on. I struggled with that damn B-pillar for a while. That was probably the hardest part of the whole deal. The bottom clip, the screw and the two pushpins on the rubber. Ugh. Hated it. lol
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09125610

I used the middle screw temporarily to hold the top to the pillar while I effed with the base of that B-pillar. Then I riveted it in place once I had things where they needed to be. Make sure your tension cable is routed correctly before you rivet it!
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09151128

I did have to trim some of the excess off the top at the base of the B-pillar. In this pic, you can see that I have the clip on the bottom and the channel for the weatherstrip in place.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09151133

Here's where the cheap top really shows where it stayed cheap. On the stock top, these two bows are wrapped with vinyl. Not so on the eBay top. It uses a nylon strap that is cheasily attached (but functional) to the 3rd bow, then wraps around the 4th bow, and then has an eyelet that goes to one of the bottom bolts at the corner of the top. It works pretty good. Each time I've opened it, it popped that 4th bow into it's correct position. And it's nice and taught. I guess it's good enough for me.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09151138

Here it is after I attached the front of the top and the header trim. I guess I forgot to take a pic of riveting the cable back to the frame. I used a 3/16" drill bit to open up the hole on the cable end and in the top frame so I could use readily available rivets to secure it.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09162801

And here it is! Almost done! I have attached the back and rain rail stuff. It wasn't as bad as I was led to believe. See the 90* corner at the top of the side window? Nice and smooth. Remember that.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09170705

See this window? The top has a wrinkle in at that 90*... I screwed up somehow. I guess I wasn't paying enough attention on that side when routing the cable. I need to pull the moldings and their channels off and see if I can make it a little better. Bummer.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09170719

Nicey nice!
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09170726

And HOLY CRAP! Was that top hard to latch the first time or what? Man, I musta spent 20 minutes trying to get it to close. Inside. Outside. Back inside. Back outside. Ugh. I even loosened up the latches as much as I could, too! But I was missing the latch by like 1/4" inch. Finally got it though!

Hey look! I can see out the back window! That's a first!
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09170731

And here it is, all done.
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09185131

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09185153

Woot! Hooray for clear windows!
Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  2012-06-09185233

The car is still a wicked turd, but at least it's weather tight now, and I don't have to listen to the damn duct tape flapping on the highway! lol Bodywork and paint next! Lowering, too!

Anyways, I think it was worth doing myself. It wasn't all that tough. Hope ya enjoyed the pics and maybe I've been able to motivate someone who's been on the fence about it... Go for it! Smile

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http://impalass.uniquekind.net/
1984twodoor

1984twodoor


Posts : 4068
Join date : 2010-03-30
Age : 30
Location : Wilmington/Wakefield/Andover

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptySun Jun 10, 2012 12:47 am

I wonder what the Miata guys say about you having all this fun with a miata when that hot rod caddy is sitting in the back Laughing

Good write up! Too bad I'll never need it though Embarassed
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No Moa

No Moa


Posts : 3893
Join date : 2009-02-21
Age : 51
Location : Midcoast Maine

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptySun Jun 10, 2012 9:48 am

Imagine if you took all that energy and put it towards the marshmellow, she'd be LSx by now. lol


Nice job on the top, but as the say, you can polish a turd, but its still a turd. lol
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95brmw

95brmw


Posts : 1434
Join date : 2009-11-10
Age : 39
Location : Connecticut

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptySun Jun 10, 2012 9:57 am

Nice job, but you know all the duct tape was adding 15-20 more HP right? Razz
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Grumpy




Posts : 268
Join date : 2010-08-18

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptySun Jun 10, 2012 11:54 am

So ya just doubled the cars value !!! affraid Arrow
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IMPALADAKID
Admin
IMPALADAKID


Posts : 1525
Join date : 2009-01-17
Age : 55

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptySun Jun 10, 2012 1:10 pm

Grumpy wrote:
So ya just doubled the cars value !!! affraid Arrow
He did that when he filled it with gas. Razz J/K

Nice job. I have always wondered how difficult replacing a convertible top would be. Arrow
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toomanytoyz
Club President
toomanytoyz


Posts : 6876
Join date : 2009-01-20
Age : 47
Location : East Hampstead, NH USA

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptySun Jun 10, 2012 4:48 pm

Yeah, I really need to work on the marshmallow! For some reason, I just don't have the motivation for it yet...

Besides, with the Miata, all I have left is suspension and body/paint. Just one more weekend or so. Wink
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Grumpy




Posts : 268
Join date : 2010-08-18

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptySun Jun 10, 2012 4:58 pm

toomanytoyz wrote:
Yeah, I really need to work on the marshmallow! For some reason, I just don't have the motivation for it yet...

Besides, with the Miata, all I have left is suspension and body/paint. Just one more weekend or so. Wink

I thought I was the only one who lost motivation.. Just got my car running the other day. Broke a band in the POS 700R4 Surprised Meanwhile the Mazda is callin my name as I walk by it Cool Guess ya have to prioritize them !!
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sdstick

sdstick


Posts : 4292
Join date : 2009-03-20
Location : Revere, MA

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptySun Jun 10, 2012 7:04 pm

1984twodoor wrote:
I wonder what the Miata guys say about you having all this fun with a miata when that hot rod caddy is sitting in the back

Ah...they're probably aroused by his manliness Wink


IMPALADAKID wrote:
Grumpy wrote:
So ya just doubled the cars value !!! affraid Arrow
He did that when he filled it with gas. Razz J/K

Razz

toomanytoyz wrote:
Yeah, I really need to work on the marshmallow!

Why yes....yes you do....slacker Rolling Eyes
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boojum




Posts : 2182
Join date : 2009-01-21
Age : 36
Location : NH

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptyMon Jun 11, 2012 12:34 am

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  5Ke5H85Jd3E93Jd3H8c59407d8a91a25213e6

http://images.craigslist.org/5Ke5H85Jd3E93Jd3H8c59407d8a91a25213e6.jpg
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1984twodoor

1984twodoor


Posts : 4068
Join date : 2010-03-30
Age : 30
Location : Wilmington/Wakefield/Andover

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptyMon Jun 11, 2012 12:41 am

sdstick wrote:
1984twodoor wrote:
I wonder what the Miata guys say about you having all this fun with a miata when that hot rod caddy is sitting in the back

Ah...they're probably aroused by his manliness Wink


IMPALADAKID wrote:
Grumpy wrote:
So ya just doubled the cars value !!! affraid Arrow
He did that when he filled it with gas. Razz J/K

Razz

toomanytoyz wrote:
Yeah, I really need to work on the marshmallow!

Why yes....yes you do....slacker Rolling Eyes

LOL @ the first one Laughing They saw the BIG SLuT there too and they hid behind their b4000 trucks (ranger)


Crovo, ever get that motor pulled?
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toomanytoyz
Club President
toomanytoyz


Posts : 6876
Join date : 2009-01-20
Age : 47
Location : East Hampstead, NH USA

Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  EmptyMon Jun 11, 2012 7:54 pm

Jim, he's on his own. Wink I ain't doin' another one! Razz

And Matt, uh.... No. It hasn't been touched since the mod day.... Need to get on it. Stat!

And in case you're all interested... The top passed the "2-85 test" today. Both windows down at 85mph and no flappy-flappy! Very Happy
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Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty
PostSubject: Re: Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...    Installed the eBay $159 top on the Miaturd today...  Empty

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