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Soft-top frames

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 1:27 am
by Adam_NAclubman
Was just thinking about it...

From what I gather NA an NB frames are slightly different to allow the NB frame to fold so that the glass window can lay flat... Is it possible to use a NA skin on a NB frame so that you have the option of unzipping the window, or dropping the roof without having to unzip the window?

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 1:49 am
by rodent
What an interesting thought! :idea:
I'm curious to know this as well.

jonno.

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 8:20 pm
by Adam_NAclubman
I expect that the sort tops will be different. Wonder if you could sew a zip into a NB top and put the plastic window in?

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 8:50 pm
by Okibi
There's quite a few write ups online on how you use strips to connect the 2 roof \"batons?\" together to put an NB top on an NA frame.

If I get more time later i'll try and find a url for you.

Re:

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:21 pm
by Mr_Q
Okibi wrote:There's quite a few write ups online on how you use strips to connect the 2 roof "batons?" together to put an NB top on an NA frame.

Yeah, you can definitely put the no-zip, glass windowed tops on an NA frame - I have one. :)

Sounds more like Adam was asking about the opposite though (in case someone wanted the zipped window on an NB frame).

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:16 am
by Adam_NAclubman
Really I want to be able to drop the roof without unzipping the window... but to still be able to have the roof up but the window down sometimes

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:28 am
by Roderic
Hey man.....I tried it and it cant be done. The glass tops with the Zip have a slightlighty bigger glass, so even with the mod they cant be dropped without unzipping. I've been trying for a while as I dont want to give up my Red Robbins top, but would love to be able to drop the top without unzipping :(
If anyone else has actually figured it out let me know :)

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:23 am
by emecksphive
ive got a kwiktops.com top, glass window with zipper and i can put my top down w/o unzipping the glass, as long as you install the straps they gibe you properly its easy, roderic you should still have the straps i sent you a while back why dont you give them a go!

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:12 am
by Astroboysoup
I think supermariokart got a skin of ebay that fit his NA frame and has a zip window....

from what i remeber the window looked alot smaller than the plastic ones.

im sure he'll pop his head over here soon and tell ya if it can be unzipped and droped.

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:52 am
by SuperMazdaKart
nah, my prestigeauto one doesn't unzip. fine by me cause when i had the plastic i never unzipped it anyway (well once just to be sure it wasn't stuck). the glass window is a bit smaller but not a huge deal.

think they might of sold a glass unzippable though, dunno which frame though.

edit: ok just checked & no they don't. but they do got some very nice tops in other colors though :)

PrestigeAutoTrim wrote:As a Mk.1 MX-5 owner you will already be aware that your hood was originally designed with a zippered clear plastic rear window. The Mk.2 MX-5 hood was designed by Mazda with a heated glass rear screen and no zip. This is the preferred specification for glass window hoods. Many customers ask if they can have a zippered glass window. We have considered this approach and done some testing of these hoods on our fleet vehicles. We have found that the glass exerts some considerable weight onto the zip. This makes it very difficult to zip down and in particular to zip back up again. (It was never easy on a standard plastic window and the potential to damage the zip during normal operation is greatly increased). In addition the extra weight of the glass is considerable enough to cause the rear window panel to sag.

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 2:02 pm
by Roderic
hi emek.....

I posted those back to you ages ago.....went to a trimmers who looked at them. :(
As my glass is bigger than normal even with the straps it's not able to go down without unzipping.

Re:

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 2:51 pm
by Mr_Q
phatMX wrote:So an NB top with glass will fit fine on an NA frame? I would rather glass and not have to unzip when folding the top away.

Yes, that is correct.

Re:

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:38 pm
by Juffa
Mr_Q wrote:
phatMX wrote:So an NB top with glass will fit fine on an NA frame? I would rather glass and not have to unzip when folding the top away.

Yes, that is correct.


Correct, but it does require modifications to the frame to allow it to fold correctly, thus allowing the heavier glass to be supported while raised and allow the glass to sit flat when down.

Do a earch on the big forum there is plenty of info there.

I bought a Robbins cloth soft-top with glass window. It came with the parts and instructions for modding the NA frame to suit the glass window.

J