mx5cartalk.com

I ordered an NB soft top frame from Mania. I plan to install the Robbins 2958 non-heated glass vinyl OEM design soft top on it, and just swap out the top+frame on my NA.

However, the installation process is confusing the hell out of me. The Robbins manual shows that only 1990-97 frames need to be drilled to install the webbing strap on the 3rd and 4th bow. The frame I bought comes with the long straps on the 4th bow to support the glass window, but there's no pre-drilled holes on the 4th and 3rd bows for the shorter webbing. This implies that I have to drill my own holes, which makes me think that this frame isn't from an NB?

Also, when I purchased this frame I forgot to buy some new tension cables. I'm wondering if it's worth buying new tension cables so that I can sell the frame+top on my car now, or if using my old tension cables is a better option?

The NB frame has springs in place of the short bit of webbing. Always a good thing using new tensioner cables I guess.

Do you mean the 2 springs near the back, on each side of window? Hmm in that case, that's settled. And, yeah, I've been pondering about it, and I agree, I will get new cables.

I'd like to also check, I'm stuck at this step where I have to rivet the flap after the B-pillar, shown below:



The instruction manual says for me to rivet the flap to the frame. Looking from the perspective of the picture, the hole on the flap that's on the right can meet with the bottom hole on the frame. However, the hole in the middle of the flap is nowhere near as high as the top hole in the frame. Am I doing this wrong, or would I have to make my own hole in the flap?

Yep the springs are down near the main hinge

Here's a great link to assist. http://www.miata.net/garage/MiataTop2/index.html

This helped heaps when I installed my Robbins top on my NA.