Details - The rear window on my soft top blew out so I decided to throw my hardtop on. It wouldn't fit with the roll bar, so I took it out. Tried to put the hardtop on today and it still won't line up at all. I've used the original NA strikers (and NB) and tried fitting it without any hardware. It's so off it's not even close.

-Clean CarFax and I trust the PO
-No issues closing doors
-No alignment issues
-The soft top fit fine
-Roll Bar was uninstalled with no issues

I am at a complete loss of what to do or why this is happening.


All pics are of the same day (today).

On my NA:



On my NB with the top pushed back towards the trunk.





With the latches secured to the frankenstein bolts.

 

welcome to miatas.

 

Is the car on jack-stands? The body could be flexing but I do not think it would be that bad. Just a thought.

 

Be serious. Just this one time.

Car is on the ground.

 

Pull the frankenstein bolts for giggles and see how it fits. looks like it is too far forward.

 

Hard top warped. Its fiberglass.

I had to shim my top strikers recently, my hard top just stands against the garage wall 98% of the time. That's my guess anyways.

 

I tried and it would seem like it would fit perfectly if the bolts were two inches back. I don't get it.

Fit the NA perfectly minutes before these pics were taken.

 

This was my similar experience this past week trying an NA hardtop on a friends NB. Fit the car it came off of fine, fit my NA just fine (better than the top that the car was sold with 28 years ago) but go to put it on the NB and no dice. We thought it might've been hitting the soft top somewhere but really couldn't tell. It seems like we have the opposite problem though, my top on the NB sat too far rearward.

 

Don't take this the wrong way, but that makes me feel better.

 

Someone tell me this is normal before I fukin hang myself.

 

The frankenbolt plates have some adjustment in them. Try moving them all the way forward, so as to let the plates sit further back.

Not saying that will be enough, but it's worth a shot.

 

Thanks for the tip, but to no avail.

 

The top has adjustable catchers for the frankenstein bolts. Open the chrome covers and pivot them sideways to expose the adjustment plates. Hope this helps!

 

YO, Ari! It did help.

Good news - Had a friend bring his friend over to check the car out. He used to weld frames back together for a company. We measured the car on both sides and he looked under it. The car has NOT been in a wreck. So, boys...not hanging myself today.

Fucked with it some more tonight. Got both bolts decked all the way to the top.

Driver's side:


Passenger side:


Slowly started loosening the two front latches and slid the hardtop into place. Then I slowly tightened them down. On the driver's side it's tight...I mean TIGHT. Only did the front latches, skipped the sides.

Results:


Still not perfect


Passenger side is tons better.



From what I've read on M.net, the top is most likely warped to fit my old NA. That car has been in South Florida heat with the hardtop on it for the majority of it's life. I'm gonna leave it out in the sun for a few days and see if it settles. If it doesn't, I'll try to sell it as it fits NA's perfectly.

Not a chance in hell the frankenstein bolts are going to work with my car. Do they make replacement options to hold the rear of the top down? I was looking into the JASS latches, but I think I need to run something in the rear of the hardtop. Any ideas?

 

takes special retardation to be on here since 2008 and not know how to adjust a hard top.


but.....I'm.....just.......thinking........out.... .loud

*edit: but I forget that of those 8 years, it ran for all of 8? maybe? I tend to forget 1.6 owner history

 

So harsh...

 

Yep that's a warped top. My first OEM top had that same exact gross gap on the driver window.

It came off of an NA and was put on an NB. Fit that NB ok-ish. Fit my last NA great. Fit my current NB like dongs.

 

I've only had one other car and used the same top the entire time, so why would I have ever needed to adjust it? Don't be stupid.

I had boost from 16 to 24 before I had issues with my heart stopping in my sleep. Go **** yourself.

He loves me.

Cut my losses and sell it? Try to leave it in the sun?

 

 

leave it in the sun for another 8 years and see if it will come full circle?

ship it to Antarctica for 8 years to shrink?