I'm looking for a hard top

On 2006-11-13, Mr Q > wrote:

>> In the US you first have to cut away some plastic moldings to
>> create a place for the side latches. In Aussie models to they
>> really just bolt on with no cutting?
>
> Just the same. I did say "pretty much" just bolt on.
>
> It's not a difficult job in any case.

No, it's pretty easy. The side-latches cover up the cut edges
of the plastic, so you don't have to do a particularly neat or
clean job of cutting. Some people have talked about taking the
plastic moldings out to do the cutting. Apparently there are
markings molded into the back side showing where to cut.

I decided to just fire up the dremel tool and hack a hole
roughly where the bolts needed to go through and then
enlarge/move the hole until the latches fit.

--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! Life is selling
at REVOLUTIONARY HAIR
visi.com PRODUCTS!

After you have accumulated things and installed but not tightened the side
latch plates - - -
There is a single screw on each of the chrome boxes at the rear of the hard
top. These allow you to move the chrome top aside to access adjustable stops
inside.
The idea is to have a small amount of force against the stops when the top
is latched to the windshield frame with the front latches. Next, adjust the
side latches and plates so that the latch operates smoothly, and pulls the
hard top down slightly. This helps to prevent leaks and squeaks. Some of
the early Miatas and hard tops had heated rear windows. this gets into a
wiring, switch and interlock issue that may or may not exist on your Miata.
It's possible that the hard top has a rear window heater and your Miata does
not have the wiring, etc. to make it operational.

"Don" > wrote in message
...
> Pat (or others for that matter)
>
> can you point me to an article or how to on installing the hard ware for a
> hard top. I have the hard top but my 2001 model car doesn't have the
> hardware. Had hoped to install the parts myself if its not too hard as my
> local dealer has quoted $900!!
>
> regards
>
> Don from Down Under
> "pws" > wrote in message
> ...
> > chazman wrote:
> >> Hi, I'm looking to purchase a new or used hardtop for my 91 Miata.
Anyone
> >> know of a place near Dana Point in S. California that sells them or
does
> >> anyone have one for sale near the area?
> >
> > There are always some for sale on the www.miata.net classifieds. You can
> > also put a wanted to buy ad up there. You shouldn't have any trouble
> > finding one in Southern California.
> > You may have to travel a bit, but shipping them is so expensive that
this
> > is probably a better option, just be sure to mount your hardtop hardware
> > before you go pick it up if it is not included with the hardtop.
> > Otherwise, be ready to install the hardware there before you leave. It
is
> > not a hard or long process.
> >
> > There are a lot of people who own them, rarely or never use them, and
end
> > up selling them.
> >
> > You might also try Craigslist for your area, again with a WTB. Expect to
> > pay $800.00 to $1000.00 depending on condition and color unless you get
> > lucky or buy a damaged one to fix.
> > I did see a pristine black one with defroster and headliner on
Craigslist
> > for $350.00 one time, the owner did not know what they had.
> >
> > Needless to say, it sold very quickly, and not to me.... :-(
> >
> > Pat
> >
>
>

Chuck

thanks, good hint. Lots of folk have said to no worry about the side
latches. Do you have a view on this.

regards

Don from Down Under
"Chuck" > wrote in message
...
> After you have accumulated things and installed but not tightened the side
> latch plates - - -
> There is a single screw on each of the chrome boxes at the rear of the
> hard
> top. These allow you to move the chrome top aside to access adjustable
> stops
> inside.
> The idea is to have a small amount of force against the stops when the top
> is latched to the windshield frame with the front latches. Next, adjust
> the
> side latches and plates so that the latch operates smoothly, and pulls the
> hard top down slightly. This helps to prevent leaks and squeaks. Some of
> the early Miatas and hard tops had heated rear windows. this gets into a
> wiring, switch and interlock issue that may or may not exist on your
> Miata.
> It's possible that the hard top has a rear window heater and your Miata
> does
> not have the wiring, etc. to make it operational.
>
> "Don" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Pat (or others for that matter)
>>
>> can you point me to an article or how to on installing the hard ware for
>> a
>> hard top. I have the hard top but my 2001 model car doesn't have the
>> hardware. Had hoped to install the parts myself if its not too hard as
>> my
>> local dealer has quoted $900!!
>>
>> regards
>>
>> Don from Down Under
>> "pws" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > chazman wrote:
>> >> Hi, I'm looking to purchase a new or used hardtop for my 91 Miata.
> Anyone
>> >> know of a place near Dana Point in S. California that sells them or
> does
>> >> anyone have one for sale near the area?
>> >
>> > There are always some for sale on the www.miata.net classifieds. You
>> > can
>> > also put a wanted to buy ad up there. You shouldn't have any trouble
>> > finding one in Southern California.
>> > You may have to travel a bit, but shipping them is so expensive that
> this
>> > is probably a better option, just be sure to mount your hardtop
>> > hardware
>> > before you go pick it up if it is not included with the hardtop.
>> > Otherwise, be ready to install the hardware there before you leave. It
> is
>> > not a hard or long process.
>> >
>> > There are a lot of people who own them, rarely or never use them, and
> end
>> > up selling them.
>> >
>> > You might also try Craigslist for your area, again with a WTB. Expect
>> > to
>> > pay $800.00 to $1000.00 depending on condition and color unless you get
>> > lucky or buy a damaged one to fix.
>> > I did see a pristine black one with defroster and headliner on
> Craigslist
>> > for $350.00 one time, the owner did not know what they had.
>> >
>> > Needless to say, it sold very quickly, and not to me.... :-(
>> >
>> > Pat
>> >
>>
>>
>
>

Getting the side latches installed and adjusted properly seems to help
"stiffen" things a bit. This may also reduce possible squeaking when the
rubber gaskets shift.
I don't know anything about collision damage with and without the latches.

"Don" > wrote in message
...
> Chuck
>
> thanks, good hint. Lots of folk have said to no worry about the side
> latches. Do you have a view on this.
>
> regards
>
> Don from Down Under
> "Chuck" > wrote in message
> ...
> > After you have accumulated things and installed but not tightened the
side
> > latch plates - - -
> > There is a single screw on each of the chrome boxes at the rear of the
> > hard
> > top. These allow you to move the chrome top aside to access adjustable
> > stops
> > inside.
> > The idea is to have a small amount of force against the stops when the
top
> > is latched to the windshield frame with the front latches. Next, adjust
> > the
> > side latches and plates so that the latch operates smoothly, and pulls
the
> > hard top down slightly. This helps to prevent leaks and squeaks. Some
of
> > the early Miatas and hard tops had heated rear windows. this gets into a
> > wiring, switch and interlock issue that may or may not exist on your
> > Miata.
> > It's possible that the hard top has a rear window heater and your Miata
> > does
> > not have the wiring, etc. to make it operational.
> >
> > "Don" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> Pat (or others for that matter)
> >>
> >> can you point me to an article or how to on installing the hard ware
for
> >> a
> >> hard top. I have the hard top but my 2001 model car doesn't have the
> >> hardware. Had hoped to install the parts myself if its not too hard as
> >> my
> >> local dealer has quoted $900!!
> >>
> >> regards
> >>
> >> Don from Down Under
> >> "pws" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> > chazman wrote:
> >> >> Hi, I'm looking to purchase a new or used hardtop for my 91 Miata.
> > Anyone
> >> >> know of a place near Dana Point in S. California that sells them or
> > does
> >> >> anyone have one for sale near the area?
> >> >
> >> > There are always some for sale on the www.miata.net classifieds. You
> >> > can
> >> > also put a wanted to buy ad up there. You shouldn't have any trouble
> >> > finding one in Southern California.
> >> > You may have to travel a bit, but shipping them is so expensive that
> > this
> >> > is probably a better option, just be sure to mount your hardtop
> >> > hardware
> >> > before you go pick it up if it is not included with the hardtop.
> >> > Otherwise, be ready to install the hardware there before you leave.
It
> > is
> >> > not a hard or long process.
> >> >
> >> > There are a lot of people who own them, rarely or never use them, and
> > end
> >> > up selling them.
> >> >
> >> > You might also try Craigslist for your area, again with a WTB. Expect
> >> > to
> >> > pay $800.00 to $1000.00 depending on condition and color unless you
get
> >> > lucky or buy a damaged one to fix.
> >> > I did see a pristine black one with defroster and headliner on
> > Craigslist
> >> > for $350.00 one time, the owner did not know what they had.
> >> >
> >> > Needless to say, it sold very quickly, and not to me.... :-(
> >> >
> >> > Pat
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
>