Soft top removal

johnf · February 04, 2011, 05:08:00 PM

I need to get my soft top re-stitched.

Can I take the fabric off without removing all the roof mechanism.

Are any of the areas, like the front where it meets the \'T\' top glued?

Thanks

Prof · February 04, 2011, 06:32:56 PM

I know that you can take out just the hard portion, that would leave you\'re fabric rear portion - not sure how that is attached.

johnf · February 04, 2011, 06:40:38 PM

Didn\'t explain properly

The Solid section is fine, it\'s the rear folding part that needs re-stitching.

I know there is a row of bolts around the rear where it meets the bodywork I was wondering how the fabric is attached to the frame and how it\'s fixed where it meets the hard top section, clamped or glued.

Thought I\'d ask before I start removing things I may not need to

Thanks

steve garbutt · February 04, 2011, 08:33:07 PM

John have a word with Kev hes dun the top on his cab.

Prof · February 04, 2011, 08:37:17 PM

Quote from: johnf;740688Didn\'t explain properly

The Solid section is fine, it\'s the rear folding part that needs re-stitching.

I know there is a row of bolts around the rear where it meets the bodywork I was wondering how the fabric is attached to the frame and how it\'s fixed where it meets the hard top section, clamped or glued.

Thought I\'d ask before I start removing things I may not need to

Thanks

PM me your email John - I can send you a 4MB PDF that\'s got a whole secton on roof removal, install and repair. Seems to be a mixture of double sided sticky tape, metal formers that are screwed, and rivets too.

kev-yorks · February 04, 2011, 08:38:08 PM

Going from memory John so i could be wrong but i think its glued around the Leading edge of the frame where the solid section joins, plus glue, sealant and staples around the window, then double sided tape under the lower rear edge. TBH i think you\'ll be very lucky to remove it without damage but with a little tlc and a heat gun you may get away with it. Replacement hoods from the states are under half the price of the uk ones if you go down the replacement route.

no_boingers · February 05, 2011, 08:26:22 AM

Quote from: kev-yorks;740713Replacement hoods from the states are under half the price of the uk ones if you go down the replacement route.

Yes I looked at that route for mine. But reading the workshop manual I decided it looked a nightmare to change

Anyone up for a group purchase / replacement contract? We might get a good deal if we turned up with 3 or 4 to be done!

Prof · February 05, 2011, 09:20:36 AM

Quote from: no_boingers;740746Yes I looked at that route for mine. But reading the workshop manual I decided it looked a nightmare to change

Anyone up for a group purchase / replacement contract? We might get a good deal if we turned up with 3 or 4 to be done!

I got mine from the US (EZ Softtops), and then got it fitted by an outfit in Chessington called carhood warehouse.

They would not give me warranty against the fit, as it was 3rd party kit - but the guy that fitted the hood did a good job on it all the same. He said a lot of the hood kits aren\'t such great fits - but this kit was good. The kit is supplied with a continous rear section - so you have to cut in the window - I\'d be tempted to have a go with a replacement if it wasn\'t for this step - as you only get one chance at cutting it :Hammer

I went for the German Cloth option - really nice and hard wearing material.

Don\'t bother with the Mazda OEM Vinyl hood - the design has a week point - the hoods rip just behind the door as the weld joint doesn\'t have enough give when the hood is down. Look at any RX7 vert with a vinyl roof and you\'ll see what I mean - they ALL split here. And at a cost of Â£600 for just the hood, you can get the cloth upgrade from the US and get it fitted for the same money.

My Mazda OEM replacement lasted 4 years - it was splitting after 3

My current cloth roof has been on since 2008 and looks in great shape.

no_boingers · February 05, 2011, 09:28:12 AM

Quote from: Prof;740753they ALL split here.

Yeees don\'t they just

I looked at EZ Softtops - seemed excellent on paper (err, \'on LCD\'). Nice to have a personal recommendation though - ta Prof.

How much did the co in Chessington charge to fit it? And how long did it take them?

Prof · February 05, 2011, 10:29:21 AM

Quote from: no_boingers;740754Yeees don\'t they just

I looked at EZ Softtops - seemed excellent on paper (err, \'on LCD\'). Nice to have a personal recommendation though - ta Prof.

How much did the co in Chessington charge to fit it? And how long did it take them?

It was turned around in the day, and set me back about Â£230 at the time.

Pete Taylors Orange vert also has the same roof - german cloth from EZ softtops - I\'m sure you\'ve seen that one at the shows

pdtaylor18 · February 06, 2011, 05:22:02 PM

The roof on John\'s car was custom made by a specialists and is not very old at all,maybe 4 years max,will have to look at my Posts to find out. The material is a German version of mohair so fairly good quality. The only way to remove the fabric is to take the roof off the car completely and its straight forward from there to start peeling it all back. You will have to remove the rear window and frame so you need to be careful there as thats glued in. remove the seals and they will reveal lots of screws that need to be removed and the rest just follow the workshop manual. The metal strip that is used to hold the rear of the roof to the body although bolted down that strip is glued in also but will come away easily enough. keep all those bolts though they are specific for that roof and very expensive to buy. Believe it or not but Â£300 for the set!!. It would be advisable to re-stitch the whole seam again where it has seperated as it seems the thread they used has degraded rather than just worn away.