Convertible Vehicles - How many of you want to install your own top?

Show of hands who wants to do it but doesnt know where to start or what is needed.

I probably don't know what I'm getting into but, I'm in!

I would really like to learn how to glue the curtain. Mine has a 3/8" gap between the glass and the fabric. The gap runs the vertical plane of the window on the driver side. Along the top of the glass I can see a small portion of what appears to be rubber above the glass.

I've looked at it and have no idea where is the best place to apply the DAP contact glue. Or if the curtain should be removed and re glued entirely. The gap makes me wonder if water is getting onto material that it shouldn't. :eek2:

I would really like to learn how to glue the curtain. Mine has a 3/8" gap between the glass and the fabric. The gap runs the vertical plane of the window on the driver side. Along the top of the glass I can see a small portion of what appears to be rubber above the glass.

I've looked at it and have no idea where is the best place to apply the DAP contact glue. Or if the curtain should be removed and re glued entirely. The gap makes me wonder if water is getting onto material that it shouldn't. :eek2:


Can you get some pics for me to see your problem, i dont want to give you bad info.

Sign me up too

I thought I would need to but learned from you that I can just tighten it which is good enough for me, but I am reluctant to even try that. But out of curiosity...sure.

I thought I would need to but learned from you that I can just tighten it which is good enough for me, but I am reluctant to even try that. But out of curiosity...sure.

But one day your top will fade, it wont last forever.

mee!!! I am willing to give it a shot!

Not me; I did one on my old Fiat years ago and it came
out looking like ass, lot of work even on a much smaller,
plastic-window piece. This is one thing I'll gladly pay
someone else, to get pristine.

As far as just gluing glass, I recommend you go get the
urethane glasss adhesive from an auto glass place and
find a way to press the top into the glass nicely. Like
stuff the area under the top and behind the seat with
pillows (to keep the top in shape) and lay weight that
is distributed well to keep the fabric pressed into the
gluw while setting. I don't think hardware store contact
cement is your friend here. You'd rather have something
that gives you some work time and grabs the glass really
well, forever. Go with the pro stuff (and clean the hell
out of the glass and the fabric).

Thanks Dustin.

The grey line just below the fabric appears to be rubber.

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/105/105501/folders/208244/1829223ATT00010.jpg

The gap between the fabric and the glass measures 3/8" with a flat ruler. There's some shadow making it appear larger.

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/105/105501/folders/208244/1829215ATT00016.jpg

If the pics are not sufficient I can get more light on the car in the garage.

1st pic - I wish mine looked that good. The reason it is like that is because whoever installed the top pulled it too hard. You can loosen it up a bit but I doubt it will settle like you want, the damage is done. Dont glue anything though, your top and your window are two seperate peices.

2nd pic - You cant fix that, its that way on every 4th gen I have seen, its real bad on 1st gens. The reason it is that way is because it was pulled too tight on the sides of the window causing it to suck in.

I'm interested in learning what is involved so I can decide if its worth doing myself.

Thread now posted on top install

Thanks Dustin. Yeah that is the original top. Guess that time is approaching.