mx5cartalk.com

Hey guys,

if I was to put an NB softop onto an NA, what parts do I have to buy, for example, surely the rain rail and the metal pieces holding that section together are able to be left on the NA and not replaced by NB parts?

I hoped miata.net/garage and a search would answer this but I suppose its a pretty specific question.

Thanks,
Dann

Nothing different just goes straight on.

Sure but what if I dont want to purchase every part, can I just take the frame alone with the vinyl and use my own rain rail, latches, and strikers etc?

Dann

OMG Dann...I'm flabergasted that you don't know the answer to this.

A nano second search on google found this....scroll down to miscellaneous section.

http://www.miata.net/garage/compatibility.html

http://www.camsmx5.com/Resources/techtop/techtop.html

The main diff is that the rear bow on the NB soft top frame moves when roof is raised or lowered in order to support the glass window. You can attach a strap on each side of the rear bow to duplicate this. There is more info the link above.

An alternative is to get a kit from someone like Robbins which comes with the straps and instructions....but it is not hard to make up the parts yourself.

The rain rail, sticker plates and latches are all compatible. Note that the left and right set plates were updated somewhere around 2000 to fix a problem where the roof was being pinched when down. Seems only to be an issue with the glass window soft tops. With your skills you might be a able to modify the set plates if you feel so inclined. Here is a link to the new set plates.
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/genuine-mazda ... -2449.html



J

Earlybird wrote:OMG Dann...I'm flabergasted that you don't know the answer to this.

A nano second search on google found this....scroll down to miscellaneous section.

http://www.miata.net/garage/compatibility.html

Dammit, I went to miata.net/garage manually as I posted in the OP post. Assumed it would be in the body section and didnt find it.

thanks,

Also great info juffa thanks mate.

Dann

Also that miata.net/garage link doesnt answer my question at all.

thanks though.

Dann

I have an NB (SE I think) soft top on my NA8. All I had was the top including the frame, all the other NA bits were reused although I replaced the rain rail with a generic ebay flexible one. The tensioning straps need to go under two of the rear bolts. Order of putting the three metal parts back in is critical or it doesnt want to fit. I didn't bother riveting the rain rail to the new top. Easy job.

Thats basically what I thought based on the replies, thanks heaps for confirmation.

Look like im getting an NB top

Dann

I bolted a whole NB roof into mine with no problems at all except for the rain rail. Either NA or NB rails will fit but you just have to be really careful taking them out and putting them in. They're a bit brittle and a bit weak so they crack easily. Minor cracks can be repaired with the best quality fabric tape you can find and then they'll hold OK for a few years.

Wat 'e said ^

manga_blue wrote:I bolted a whole NB roof into mine with no problems at all except for the rain rail. Either NA or NB rails will fit but you just have to be really careful taking them out and putting them in. They're a bit brittle and a bit weak so they crack easily. Minor cracks can be repaired with the best quality fabric tape you can find and then they'll hold OK for a few years.

Regard to the rainrail. Check cracks in a dark room with flashlight. You'll see more minor cracks.
For peace of mind, I use some silicone seal ( $10 from supercheap ) to seal crack then cover it with fabric tape.

remember to put those straps in the correct studs, i put mine in wrong and the top stops halfway down until i tug at the rear window a bit. I've had my nb top for nearly a year now and i much rather the NA top. the rear window is much larger and can be unzipped.

I know me too, but im selling the car and NB top is a selling point.

Dann

I have fitted a NB top with frame on NA6. True that it fits straight in with no modification required.
However there is a small issue which not widely documented.
The NB top actually sits ~5 to 10mm higher than NA top and you'll discover that by comparing where the top edge of side windows touches the window rubber seal.
I don't have sufficient experience to tell if it affects sealing in any means... it was an old second hand NB top so it leaked around the edge anyway.
Hope the information helps