Looks like I have to remove the soft top assembly tomorrow. Never done that before. Any tips/tweaks/warnings/or other friendly advice?

Leave the knife at home.

and have the swear jar handy.

In all seriousness though, i found this guide helpful when i did the top on my dad's miata.

http://www.miata.net/garage/top/index.html

thanks for the link, but I'm taking the complete top/frame assembly out of the car, not the soft top off the frame. I ***-u-me (hope) that when I look at it tomorrow, the removal procedure will be obvious.

I use 3/16" rivets on the cables, you'll have ream out the plastic ends of the cable and drill out the holes for the rivets, but you'll have a tough time finding metric ones...
And don't bother re-riveting the rainrail, the new rivets you add will be too thick and just cause leaks (water in trunk) I've always been able to re-use the rainrails...

Get one of these:
http://www.nextag.com/Arrow-Fastener...99/prices-html

For those two hard to get two screws (you'll figure out where they are on your own) using a 1/4" ratchet w/ a 1/4" socket and then just tape a phillips bit into it-makes a great 90 degree screwdriver.

What kind of top did you get?

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96 - T25_EMB/E01_ACT_Tein_Bilstein_Azenis
94 - M45 CS_MS_ACT_GC/Koni_Azenis

oh. i think that would be hella easier actually. it only attaches at a few points.

When I did mine we just took out the main bolts that holds the top to the seatbelts tower areas and then detatched it from the rainrail. Pulled the whole frame out and put the new vinyl top on. That guide sums up what you need to do pretty well. We didn't reattach it to the rain rain with new rivets or anything, just lined up the holes or something like that. Still works great and it was the $165 ebay special.

All you need is a 10mm & 12 mm socket. 20 minutes later and your top is out. Call me if you need help.
Tom
www.partsgroup.com