Hard top
 

i found a black hard top coming off of a 96 that i plan to put on my 2000.

1.What hardware will i need to take from his miata to mount it on my car?
2.How easy is it to install this hardware so that i can drive it home? (60 mi.)
3.What sort of condition flaws should i look for: problem areas, bargaining points, or otherwise.

Thanks guys for any help you can give,
Jared

you will need the franken bolts at the back at least.

it's good to have the side strikers too for more security. see if he will include them with the sale

I've had my hardtop since Dec '05, and had no side latches until a week ago. While I would recommend picking some up, they are not by any means necessary.

It seems that the paint around the rear door-jam area (directly behind the door windows) is especially suspect, so check that out for touch-up paint. Also, on mine, the area just above the windshield had a number of paint chips. About two weeks after I bought it, the touch-up paint started coming off.

do you think i should drive my miata down there to pick it up and bolt it up there, or just pick up the top in my parents subaru wagon and bolt it up when i get home.

i haven't dealt with a hard top personally, so i don't know how long it will take to bolt it up and transfer the hardware if i can get it.

Take the miata, long as you can get the franken bolts. Don't see any reason not to.

Take the Miata. Had a friend pick up one that has been stored improperly for a few years and had lost its shape somewhat. Not a typical situation, but a possibility.

I agree with all who said drive the Miata down to get it. It's the only way that you can gaurantee fitment during the transaction. Also, make sure that all the door seals look good and the black edging around the lower rear is all there. These are small points, but you may be able to talk him dow a couple of bucks.

The side strikers arent necessary but they really tie the car to the top, you feel a difference with them.

Thanks for all the great info, you all have been a big help.

Hmm... Think i should bring a set of tools along? I think wrenches, and screw drivers will be sufficient.

The side strikers might be torx, but otherwise a #2 phillips will do it. Don't know on the Fbolts, but they have phillips heads, so that's probably all you need. You won't be able to install the side strikers without trimming the interior panels.

Good luck! HTs are awesome for the track and especially around town when the weather sucks.

There are also two adjustment plates in the rear hardware on the hard top that clip to the frankenbolts. You will probably want to adjust those when you install it. You need a smallish phillips to unscrew the cover to get to the adjuster plates, then something like a 10-12mm wrench to loosen/tighten the bolts. I think it is a 12, but take a few sizes to be sure. Combo wrench is OK, sockets would work too.

Procedure:
1. Unscrew the cover plates (phillips)
2. Swing them out of the way
3. Loosen the two bolts on the adjuster plate.
4. Push it towards the front of the car into the frankenbolt. No need to pound it into place, just snug it up.
5. Retighten the bolts, reinstall the cover plates, done. Takes less than 5 minutes, easy.

Ditto on the top getting tweaked during storage. I had this problem with mine after storing it for only a few months. Had it stood on end (back on floor, front edge facing up) leaned against a wall. The front edge was bowed up very, very slightly, visible when installed. It created a whistling air leak that was pretty annoying until it moved back into position.

HTH

Does anyone have any pictures of how the hard top actually attaches to the car? I assume it uses the normal soft-top latches, but I am not sure I follow the conversation about the side strikers and how the F-bolts attach to the actual hard top.

Thanks anyways, but unfortunately the top was a snug top, and it was in pretty rough shape too. No Sale!

Snug top WTF is that? How much did they want for it?

an after market brand of hard top. the latches look about as durable as an erector set.
He wanted 550. the headliner had even fallen off and there was glue residue all over the inside.

yeah fuck that you did right to walk away.

feel kinda sorry for the kid though, he is just trying to sell his car. I was the one who asked if he would part the top in the first place.

He just isn't a very good salesman; doesn't know how to clean it up before a buyer shows up.

Sorry it did not work out. better luck next time. You did the right thing though IMO.