NTB Soft Top
01-15-2009, 10:49 AM
#1
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NTB Soft Top
An ******* cut my top to steal my $20 radar detector and now I need a new top. If anyone has one they want to sell or has had good luck with the ebay replacement tops, please let me know. I don't want to get a POS top, but I want my money's worth.
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01-15-2009, 11:15 AM
#2
I have had good luck with the Kee tops from Daveshouze. They don't ebay any more, but I can get you their contact info if you want to go with them. I used a black economy no zip plastic window on a 90 and a tan glass window no zip on my wife's 91 BRG in the last year. They were like $229 and $279 shipped. The glass is worth the extra $ to me but not ncessary. It is a bit more work to install as there are some extra straps that need to be drilled into and installed into the bows to hold the window when lowering.
I was able to reuse the rain rail on the 90, but the 91 was too far gone. Depending on how long you can have the car out of service and in a garage, you can order without the rain rail, remove the opd top and then see if you need one. The rain rail is another $120 IIRC. I gambled on both and won one, lost one. Cost me extra $20 in shipping for the second one, plus a week downtime which wasn't an issue. You do have to drill out the rivets and rivet the old rail onto the new top if you want to reuse it. That also adds an hour or more to the install time. My first one took about 8 hours, the second about 6. It's pretty easy, just time consuming. I did it by myself. If you do it, remove the top completely. Much easier to work in installing the new top on the frame upside down on a carpet or blanket.
If you do it, there are good tutorials on m.net garage.
I was able to reuse the rain rail on the 90, but the 91 was too far gone. Depending on how long you can have the car out of service and in a garage, you can order without the rain rail, remove the opd top and then see if you need one. The rain rail is another $120 IIRC. I gambled on both and won one, lost one. Cost me extra $20 in shipping for the second one, plus a week downtime which wasn't an issue. You do have to drill out the rivets and rivet the old rail onto the new top if you want to reuse it. That also adds an hour or more to the install time. My first one took about 8 hours, the second about 6. It's pretty easy, just time consuming. I did it by myself. If you do it, remove the top completely. Much easier to work in installing the new top on the frame upside down on a carpet or blanket.
If you do it, there are good tutorials on m.net garage.
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01-15-2009, 01:52 PM
#5
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I'd like the glass, but can't use it with my roll bar. I may tear it apart this weekend to see if I need a new rain rail. I think I do since I've heard some sloshing at times
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01-15-2009, 02:03 PM
#6
Sloshing is more likely caused by a buildup of crap in the rail or in the two gutters that they drain into. There is a tube that comes out in front of the tire that goes up to the plastic gutters. I stuck an air hose blow gun into the bottom of the tube and all sorts of black gunk came out. Be SURE to put a rag over the hole before hitting the air.
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01-15-2009, 02:05 PM
#7
864-529-0029 or email
daveshouze@aol.com
I just bought the last one the end of October.
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01-15-2009, 03:08 PM
#8
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Anyone gotten one of these? eBay Motors: Mazda Miata 1989-97 Convertible Top Soft Top Tops Roof (item 310115196844 end time Jan-22-09 07:57:47 PST)
They look like a really good quality top. Does the Kee one have the rain gutters?
Cool, thanks. I'll have to check that out
They look like a really good quality top. Does the Kee one have the rain gutters?
Sloshing is more likely caused by a buildup of crap in the rail or in the two gutters that they drain into. There is a tube that comes out in front of the tire that goes up to the plastic gutters. I stuck an air hose blow gun into the bottom of the tube and all sorts of black gunk came out. Be SURE to put a rag over the hole before hitting the air.
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01-15-2009, 04:59 PM
#9
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Other than the general top install process being time consuming I haven't had a problem with my top from daveshouze. They did mess up and send me one sans the rain rail though. Didn't really want to mess up putting them together as I hadn't put a top on before.
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01-15-2009, 05:15 PM
#10
I have had good luck with the Kee tops from Daveshouze. They don't ebay any more, but I can get you their contact info if you want to go with them. I used a black economy no zip plastic window on a 90 and a tan glass window no zip on my wife's 91 BRG in the last year. They were like $229 and $279 shipped. The glass is worth the extra $ to me but not ncessary. It is a bit more work to install as there are some extra straps that need to be drilled into and installed into the bows to hold the window when lowering.
I was able to reuse the rain rail on the 90, but the 91 was too far gone. Depending on how long you can have the car out of service and in a garage, you can order without the rain rail, remove the opd top and then see if you need one. The rain rail is another $120 IIRC. I gambled on both and won one, lost one. Cost me extra $20 in shipping for the second one, plus a week downtime which wasn't an issue. You do have to drill out the rivets and rivet the old rail onto the new top if you want to reuse it. That also adds an hour or more to the install time. My first one took about 8 hours, the second about 6. It's pretty easy, just time consuming. I did it by myself. If you do it, remove the top completely. Much easier to work in installing the new top on the frame upside down on a carpet or blanket.
If you do it, there are good tutorials on m.net garage.
I was able to reuse the rain rail on the 90, but the 91 was too far gone. Depending on how long you can have the car out of service and in a garage, you can order without the rain rail, remove the opd top and then see if you need one. The rain rail is another $120 IIRC. I gambled on both and won one, lost one. Cost me extra $20 in shipping for the second one, plus a week downtime which wasn't an issue. You do have to drill out the rivets and rivet the old rail onto the new top if you want to reuse it. That also adds an hour or more to the install time. My first one took about 8 hours, the second about 6. It's pretty easy, just time consuming. I did it by myself. If you do it, remove the top completely. Much easier to work in installing the new top on the frame upside down on a carpet or blanket.
If you do it, there are good tutorials on m.net garage.
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01-19-2009, 09:08 PM
#12
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my car has a davezhouse top. no zip glass window and i freaking love it because i can actually wipe the window down without fear of scratching it to hell. Oh ya and I can see out of the back. For a street car i will never go back to the plastic back window.
my car is in the sig
my car is in the sig
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01-20-2009, 04:50 PM
#13
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Wish I could use glass, but the HDHC roll bar doesn't allow for one. I do plan on getting a hard top when I get the money. I've also been trying to find the hardware to install it with the low clearance for the side latches. I saw someone sell the latches on here before, but I can't remember where they got them.
I decided to go w/ an ebay special top. It was $180 after shipping and has a 5yr warranty as well as good reviews by the people who bought it. I figure it should be good at least until I get a hard top. I would have gotten it now if it wasn't for the $750 pipe repair on the house. Important stuff has to stop stealing my fun stuff money.
I decided to go w/ an ebay special top. It was $180 after shipping and has a 5yr warranty as well as good reviews by the people who bought it. I figure it should be good at least until I get a hard top. I would have gotten it now if it wasn't for the $750 pipe repair on the house. Important stuff has to stop stealing my fun stuff money.
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