Need help with top in Ft Worth

Ok, so the car I just bought has an aftermarket cloth top with a glass rear window, and I'm almost positive the install was bungled. The tension straps are there, but only one is attached, and I'm not too sure they were secured in the right places. Long story short: the top wont go down all the way and the window is starting to separate from the material. Does anyone know of a shop (or an individual) that has done a proper install of a zipperless top on an NA in the Fort Worth area? (yes, I'd pay an individual to help me get it right) I think all it needs is for the straps to be properly installed and secured. I probably need to have the area around the window sealed back up somehow before it gets any worse, too, but I don't how that could be accomplished? Glue? tape?



Any suggestions (besides "buy an new top and have a pro install it") are appreciated. ::Help::

Im in a similar bind and have been thinking about doing it myself.

Info
http://www.miata.net/garage/garagetops.html

HowTos
http://www.miata.net/garage/MiataTop2/index.html
http://www.miata.net/garage/miatatop/index.html
http://www.miata.net/garage/top/index.html

Tips
http://www.miata.net/garage/toptips.html

Give Stevan (Rogue here on the forum) at Miata Solutions a call.

www.miatasolutions.com

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Originally Posted by sammm

Give Stevan (Rogue here on the forum) at Miata Solutions a call.

www.miatasolutions.com

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+1. I once saw him do a top install with one hand behind his back and blindfolded.

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Originally Posted by davidg

Long story short: the top wont go down all the way...

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When you lower the top, try squeezing the rear bow up against the middle bow. I think I've got the same problem, but I've been working around it for the past few years now... ;)

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Originally Posted by davidg

The tension straps are there, but only one is attached...

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I don't think these are "tension straps" as much as they are slings to allow the glass window to drop down in a controlled manner. And when the top is up it looks like they pull tight and hold the window panel in place. I think. Actually I have no clue... but it's a good theory?

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Originally Posted by davidg

...and the window is starting to separate from the material.

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Hot glue? Silicone? Hmmmm...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by davidg

Does anyone know of a shop (or an individual) that has done a proper install of a zipperless top on an NA in the Fort Worth area?

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+1 for Rogue!

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Originally Posted by trickyrix

When you lower the top, try squeezing the rear bow up against the middle bow. I think I've got the same problem, but I've been working around it for the past few years now... ;)


I don't think these are "tension straps" as much as they are slings to allow the glass window to drop down in a controlled manner. And when the top is up it looks like they pull tight and hold the window panel in place. I think. Actually I have no clue... but it's a good theory?


Hot glue? Silicone? Hmmmm...


+1 for Rogue!

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Correct, the two nylon straps support the window a little bit, but I don't think very much at all, they mainly pull tight to tuck the window nice and neat and help it clear the seatbelt tower brace or roll bar. The bow straps do suck, and like he said you have to pull them together to get a smooth retract. I believe the NB top frames have springs to help this, but us NA guys have to fight with them, unless there's a way to retrofit the NB springs to an NA top.

The two straps connect to a rain rail stud and are riveted to the 2nd to last bow ( I think, i'd have to check) right above your head. Has the strap come loose from the rivets side or the rain rail side (below the rear window)? I had to re drill the bows on mine and use bigger rivets after the provided rivets popped out from the tension. It's really an easy fix, and also very easy to bungle this unfortunately. If it's come loose from the rain rail, it would still be an easy fix, but I'd have to see how it came loose. Either way this is most likely what has caused the rear window to come loose.

I replaced my top with a Robbins canvas glass window top in my living room myself last year, so I could be a good help, but unfortunately the next four weekends are booked solid for me and I have night class during the week. But as already mentioned, Rogue is awesome. Probably best bet is to take it to him to at least patch the rear window up correctly.

I do however have a tube of the uber mega strong 3M 08011 fabric glue that is reccommended by Robbins tops that I used in my install. The tube is like $25, but it is the damn strongest silicon glue i've ever used. I have more than 3/4 of the tube left and I don't have much use for it at the moment. I could let you borrow it, just don't squeeze the hell out of it and bring it back when you're done. i'm sure it would be the best bet at securing that rear window.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by davidg

Ok, so the car I just bought has an aftermarket cloth top with a glass rear window, and I'm almost positive the install was bungled. The tension straps are there, but only one is attached, and I'm not too sure they were secured in the right places. Long story short: the top wont go down all the way and the window is starting to separate from the material. Does anyone know of a shop (or an individual) that has done a proper install of a zipperless top on an NA in the Fort Worth area? (yes, I'd pay an individual to help me get it right) I think all it needs is for the straps to be properly installed and secured. I probably need to have the area around the window sealed back up somehow before it gets any worse, too, but I don't how that could be accomplished? Glue? tape?




Any suggestions (besides "buy an new top and have a pro install it") are appreciated. ::Help::

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I have no experience with changing them but will soon as I need to do mine. I'd be of no real help but if you had someone(s) get together to work on it, I'd love to be there to watch how the install goes.

thanks for the input guys. I will be giving rogue a call soon.