Anyone out there replaced your convertible top? I need to do mine but before I started taking the old one off I wanted to get some Idea how hard it was going to be to get the new one on. In looking at the top the only part that I can't figure out how to take off and then replace it the front part of the rear section. The part of the back that connects to the Targa center piece. If anyone out there has any tips they will be greatly appreciated.

 

I haven't put a new top on an RX yet but I've put one on two different cars and it's a pain. Getting it off is pretty easy, say an hour, and with help it's a lot lot easier (isn't everything?) Takes about 4 hours to come off (this was a standard top though) and a lot of patience. Stretch it, snap it here, stretch it, hook it here, stretch it, stretch more, and the like. Don't get in a hurry though cuz you can rip it and then you're out everything you just spent on that new top.

 

You're best bet is to find a local upholstery shop that will do this for you. Yeah it's going to cost a bit more, but if you find one that's experienced in doing this you'll safe your self a lot of headache and it'll look a lot nicer.

 

you will need the factory shop manual (which has very detailed steps) to replace the top yourself.

If you have never done a top before, expect to take 12-18 hours to replace it yourself.

 

I had an upholstery shop do one on my old 88 and I also had him upgrade it to a cloth roof and it was worth every cent. But, it wasn't cheap.

I wish I kept that top for my 89...

 

there was a thread about it
there was also one on v8rx7.com

 

OH MY GOD TAKE IT TO AN UPHOLSTERY SHOP. I have worked on cars for years and the top totally beat my ***. It's on and looks OK, but it was a pain in the rear. Getting someone who has done it before is recommended. I got my top for like $350 or something like that.

 

Why do you say 'upgrade' to cloth. What makes you like the cloth more?

 

where did you get the top from?

 

****! are u seirous? I never imagined it would take that long

 

Is it harder than a miata top? I changed out one with a friend before and we had to rivet and everything else and it only took the better part of a day. But thats a miata and this is a 7 don't know what the real differances are.

 

It's tougher material and would take a hell of alot to rip. It was Black on black and looked real nice. If you want to look at how a roof looks with that material look at any Mercedes ragtop of a 300 series BMW

 

It took 12 hours the first RX-7 one I did, and that was after doing several Miata ones before as well as working on cars for 15+ years.

Dealer spec is 15 hours.

 

On my Vert.. the top is perfect... BUT.. When I went to the upholstry shop to ask about re-covering the seats.. (275 in identical vynil, 450 in leather) They said they were relieved it wasnt the top I was there for. I asked why... She (the owner) said they are VERY expensive, and I should just get both seats re-done in leather before doing the top.. cause it would be cheaper.
She said the FC Top is one of the most expensive tops they ever do because of the design of it.

Needless to say I keep the Vert in covered parking etc all the time. That is the LAST thing I wanna mess with. Way too many places to spend money.. other than the top.

Actually.. if my top gets torn/ruined.. I may just do a Dave Lemon and turn it into an EP car LOL

 

where can i find a replacment top? or would i need to get one from a local body shop that does tops?

 

I need to get mine done as well. I would prefer to take a road trip, pay a few extra $$ and get it done 1st class. I need a new headliner as well. Any recomondations ( I am going for cloth)

Spin - what does seats have to do with tops? Did you ask the top place how you would be protected from the rain in your fancy new leather seats (which is a good proce by the way)

 

wow thats insane, thx for the info

 

Icemark, do you suppose this is something that can be added to the FAQ? Not that anyone actually looks in there (or searches), but it seems like this question comes up a lot.

Need to add some links for the few known sources.
AA Best, Victoria British, etc.


Anyway, on topic, sorry if this is a repeat of something said above, but I didn't read all the replies... Your local (competent) auto upholstery shop would be a good place to have the install done. They can also probably find replacements for you, but are typically going to be vinyl and high cost unless you tell them you want something different. I've heard in other posts on this topic that the cloth replacements are desireable due to look and feel and the fact that they stay much more flexible in colder temps than the vinyl does (i.e. less prone to ripping, cracking, tearing, etc).

 

I did mine several months ago. It wasn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Took me roughly 12 hours.

 

I have two small holes in the drivers seat.. about a inch in diameter.. and that is why I was there.
They said they were GLAD I wasn’t there for the top.. and actually recommended that I NOT go with leather, because of it being a convertible.. the vinyl they have is much better in a vert than leather that deteriorates much faster in a vert than a sedan.
But the point was they could do both seats in leather cheaper than doing the top alone.

ALSO... Want a road trip? the place is in St. Petersburg Florida, and they do mostly custom streetrod type work. Most of the people in this area I know of doing competition show cars have them do the interior. They have been doing interior since 1948.
Capri Interiors
Terri or John
2727 38th Ave N
St. Petersburg, Florida 33713
(727)525-9613
Vinyl $275 Ea, Leather $445 ea for the Vert seats.

And No I have NOTHING to do with them, and no I didnt get my seats done.. I am going to sell the vert with the seats blemished as they are, and give the new owner the card with the info on it.

 

sry and thanks for the info, sure up for a road trip

 

mr gadget i pm 'd you

 

thats cheap for seats, in ny its closer to 800 and 1200 for leather.

keep in mind a shop will buy the top cheaper so they can get some money for the labor and still be better then you buying the top and bringing it in. purchasing a Robbins top was my cost like $525 ( at the time), my guy supplied a robbins top and did the job for $800.

and swore he would never do another one again, lol

 

What kind of labor are you guys paying for top replacement?

With the shop providing both parts of the top, I've got:

700 from a custom guy.
890 Upholstry person
------450 labor
Other, just labor.
------485 labor
------250 labor

Also, what are "rainguards"? I'm sure I need/want them, but don't know what they are.

 

If you look at the 89-91 convertible targa section of the roof, you will see this bump that goes the length of the targa that diverts water from coming in your windows. That is the rainguard. The 1988 car didn't have it...