Cars - fixing slashed miata convertible top

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fixing slashed miata convertible top

per an earlier post, the repair of a convertible top slashed by a radio
thief -- using elmer's stix-all adhesive, commonly available (like at
walgreen's for about $6.00 a tube) -- passed its first serious storm test
by holding-up very well. if this stuff works, and it seems to, it saves
about $1,200, the cost of replacing the top. we know because we replaced the
top the last time it happened. the adhesive has been successfully "holding"
a patch of vinyl convertible-top material obtained from a auto
upholstery/top shop. most glues seem to wilt under heat from the sun or
give-way in other ways. this stuff, which goes on gloppy and dries that way,
has held up under both heat and rain. we're still looking for a
reasonably-priced hard top but these seem not to exist. and in fact, we now
may not need one. cheers, art mcginn, '91, san francisco

In article . net>,
"Art McGinn" > wrote:

> it seems to, it saves
> about $1,200, the cost of replacing the top. we know because we replaced the
> top the last time it happened.

Were the doors locked? If so, why?

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

yup, and shouldn't have been. but our local slasher slashes regardless,
according to other victims among the at least half-dozen neighborhood miatas
that gotta park in the street (garages at a premium here among late-19th
century residences). art

"Lanny Chambers" > wrote in message
...
> In article . net>,
> "Art McGinn" > wrote:
>
> > it seems to, it saves
> > about $1,200, the cost of replacing the top. we know because we replaced
the
> > top the last time it happened.
>
> Were the doors locked? If so, why?
>
> --
> Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
> '94C
> the alignment page:
> http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

ironically, s.f. isn't much of a convertible town (cool and foggy much of
the time) but on a perfect day, it's to die for with the top down. the
general region, however, especially along the ocean and most other gorgeous
areas, is very much convertible and motorcycle country. art

"Col:" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 16:55:05 GMT, "Art McGinn" >
wrote:
>
> > per an earlier post, the repair of a convertible top slashed by a radio
> >thief -- using elmer's stix-all adhesive, commonly available (like at
> >walgreen's for about $6.00 a tube) -- passed its first serious storm
test
> >by holding-up very well. if this stuff works, and it seems to, it saves
> >about $1,200, the cost of replacing the top. we know because we replaced
the
> >top the last time it happened. the adhesive has been successfully
"holding"
> >a patch of vinyl convertible-top material obtained from a auto
> >upholstery/top shop. most glues seem to wilt under heat from the sun or
> >give-way in other ways. this stuff, which goes on gloppy and dries that
way,
> >has held up under both heat and rain. we're still looking for a
> >reasonably-priced hard top but these seem not to exist. and in fact, we
now
> >may not need one. cheers, art mcginn, '91, san francisco
> >
>
> It never rains in San Francisco does it ? Why do you need a top ? . :)
> --
>
> Col
>
> Col's law.
> Thinly sliced cabbage..

i forgot to mention windy, like all the time. a lot of back yards in some
areas are virtually useless due to perpetual and even chilly wind. irish
coffee helps. art

"Art McGinn" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> ironically, s.f. isn't much of a convertible town (cool and foggy much
of
> the time) but on a perfect day, it's to die for with the top down. the
> general region, however, especially along the ocean and most other
gorgeous
> areas, is very much convertible and motorcycle country. art
>
>
>
> "Col:" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 16:55:05 GMT, "Art McGinn" >
> wrote:
> >
> > > per an earlier post, the repair of a convertible top slashed by a
radio
> > >thief -- using elmer's stix-all adhesive, commonly available (like at
> > >walgreen's for about $6.00 a tube) -- passed its first serious storm
> test
> > >by holding-up very well. if this stuff works, and it seems to, it saves
> > >about $1,200, the cost of replacing the top. we know because we
replaced
> the
> > >top the last time it happened. the adhesive has been successfully
> "holding"
> > >a patch of vinyl convertible-top material obtained from a auto
> > >upholstery/top shop. most glues seem to wilt under heat from the sun or
> > >give-way in other ways. this stuff, which goes on gloppy and dries that
> way,
> > >has held up under both heat and rain. we're still looking for a
> > >reasonably-priced hard top but these seem not to exist. and in fact, we
> now
> > >may not need one. cheers, art mcginn, '91, san francisco
> > >
> >
> > It never rains in San Francisco does it ? Why do you need a top ? . :)
> > --
> >
> > Col
> >
> > Col's law.
> > Thinly sliced cabbage..
>
>

I'm here in SF as well. But as to fixing the slash, here's what I
learned watching a guy in a top shop.

1. Clean the inner surface as much as possible.

2. Get a piece of matching top material and cut to overlap the slash
at least two inches in each direction.

3. Spray the the area inside of the top that will be accepting the
repair piece with industrial strength contact cement--not sure what
they use but call up a top shop. Spray the shiney side of the repair
piece. Wait till it sets up.

4. Apply the piece to the slashed area--shiney side or whatever up.
Pull the edges as close to gether as possible. If you've let things
tack up correctly, this should be difficult, but not impossible.

5. Use clear silicone to fill in the slash on top after the whole
thing dries.

This has held for two years on my top and it's not all that ugly
(especially when the top is down!)

If the slash is small enough, just the clear silicone will do fine but
you'll need to figure out a way to support the edges.

I've also seen tops stiched and siliconed.

City rules:

Never lock the car.

Never leave anything in the car though now days I leave few cents
there so some drug user who opens the door doesn't get ****ed and
well, **** on things. But only when I leave the windows open.

Leave the windows down when you know it won't be foggy, moist or
raining (okay, that's not a lot of the time in SF--depending on your
neighborhood.)

If you have a mechanical trunk release, detach the cable. You'll have
to remove the center console to do this. I can do it in less than 2
minutes now thanks to a propensity for locking my keys in the trunk.
With the mechanical release detached you can leave stuff in the trunk
with a fair amount of safety.

On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 05:39:57 GMT, "Art McGinn"
> wrote:

> i forgot to mention windy, like all the time. a lot of back yards in some
>areas are virtually useless due to perpetual and even chilly wind. irish
>coffee helps. art
>
>
>
>"Art McGinn" > wrote in message
link.net...
>> ironically, s.f. isn't much of a convertible town (cool and foggy much
>of
>> the time) but on a perfect day, it's to die for with the top down. the
>> general region, however, especially along the ocean and most other
>gorgeous
>> areas, is very much convertible and motorcycle country. art
>>
>>
>>
>> "Col:" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 16:55:05 GMT, "Art McGinn" >
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > > per an earlier post, the repair of a convertible top slashed by a
>radio
>> > >thief -- using elmer's stix-all adhesive, commonly available (like at
>> > >walgreen's for about $6.00 a tube) -- passed its first serious storm
>> test
>> > >by holding-up very well. if this stuff works, and it seems to, it saves
>> > >about $1,200, the cost of replacing the top. we know because we
>replaced
>> the
>> > >top the last time it happened. the adhesive has been successfully
>> "holding"
>> > >a patch of vinyl convertible-top material obtained from a auto
>> > >upholstery/top shop. most glues seem to wilt under heat from the sun or
>> > >give-way in other ways. this stuff, which goes on gloppy and dries that
>> way,
>> > >has held up under both heat and rain. we're still looking for a
>> > >reasonably-priced hard top but these seem not to exist. and in fact, we
>> now
>> > >may not need one. cheers, art mcginn, '91, san francisco
>> > >
>> >
>> > It never rains in San Francisco does it ? Why do you need a top ? . :)
>> > --
>> >
>> > Col
>> >
>> > Col's law.
>> > Thinly sliced cabbage..
>>
>>
>

In article >,
Me > wrote:

> If you have a mechanical trunk release, detach the cable. You'll have
> to remove the center console to do this.

It's far easier to disconnect it at the trunk latch. More secure, too.

But the best way is to modify the lock cylinder so 1/4 turn to the left
will disable the cable temporarily. Instructions he
http://www.miata.net/garage/techtrunk.html

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

Lanny Chambers > wrote:

>In article >,
> Me > wrote:
>
>> If you have a mechanical trunk release, detach the cable. You'll have
>> to remove the center console to do this.
>
>It's far easier to disconnect it at the trunk latch. More secure, too.
>
>But the best way is to modify the lock cylinder so 1/4 turn to the left
>will disable the cable temporarily. Instructions he
>http://www.miata.net/garage/techtrunk.html

I *think* he wrote:

>I can do it in less than 2
>minutes now thanks to a propensity for locking my keys in the trunk.

Leon

--
Leon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)