Soft top install!

22Silver · Postby **22Silver** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 5:52 pm

Since mine had a few large (big enough to stick my hand into...) holes in it I got a lovely mohair soft top for Christmas from my old man, after being teased a little about 'how much better the NC folding hard top is'.

Gonna take a few photos of the old (15 years old!) soft top and install the new one tomorrow, with a bit of help from my old man, and the previous owner of the car.

Any tips or warnings? It came with all these felt pads, and I need to buy some contact adhesive apparently.

I'm quite excited! The old one is very grey and sad looking, even if you ignore the holes!

!

M1474 · Postby **M1474** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 6:41 pm

Stock up on beer and swear words.

dave2221 · Postby **dave2221** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 12:07 pm

took me like 10 hours to do mine.... with the help of my uncle. on my NB

Still needs some tweaking, as i think the top is a little bit tight.

but the instructions are a little crappy....

chrisearl88 · Postby **chrisearl88** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 9:15 pm

Yeah I did mine and took around 10 hours with help from a mate. But it did take a few days in the sun to stretch it enough so that the top could close. Definitely takes some patience!

dinknjim · Postby **dinknjim** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 10:42 pm

Did my nb recently, still pretty tight to close...
I would leave the nuts for the rain rail a bit loose and not fit the middle section ( the interior lining section properly if u can just attach it so that it doesn't flop around at least) for a week or so to give it time to stretch.
Seats out makes this soo much easier too!

And as above, plenty of beer!

chrisearl88 · Postby **chrisearl88** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:11 pm

2nd this, definitely take the seats out, its only 4 bolts each. Also jaycar sell removal tools which make getting the plugs for the carpet much easier to get out.

Postby **Boyracer** » Sun Dec 29, 2013 8:50 am

You don't need to rivet the rain rail back on, just fit it to the car and then feed in the soft top, don't leave anything loose, the top will be very tight to close the first time, just close it and leave it closed for a few weeks.

22Silver · Postby **22Silver** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:23 pm

Done. Had to use 40kg of weight on the front bar of the roof and 2 guys to get it closed.
Gonna let it bake in the sun closed for a week or 2 before I open it.

Seats out and roof frame out is the easiest way.

MrRevhead · Postby **MrRevhead** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 9:54 pm

22Silver wrote:Done. Had to use 40kg of weight on the front bar of the roof and 2 guys to get it closed.
Gonna let it bake in the sun closed for a week or 2 before I open it.

Seats out and roof frame out is the easiest way.

How long did it take you?