2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

Convertable TOP Pictoral Install/ Removal

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-31-05, 04:46 PM
  #1  
Rotartist

Thread Starter
iTrader: (13)
 
RRTEC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Spring Hill TN 37174
Posts: 7,252
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Convertable TOP Pictoral Install/ Removal

Is anyone interested in a writeup on how to remove the convertable top skin and replace it? I am in the process of doing the replacement right now and thought that if anyone was interested I could start taking pictures and explaining how it is done... If anyone is interested that is...

Any takers? Good idea/bad idea? Worth doing..? I thought it was going to be a lot harder then it was, but it is VERY time consuming.. And delicate work..
Old 10-31-05, 04:55 PM
  #2  
IFO Forced Induction Slo

iTrader: (3)
 
bigdv519's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This would be a good write-up to have around here. I say do it.

<thumbs up>
Old 10-31-05, 04:55 PM
  #3  
Mountain Rotary Mod

 
Parastie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Freaking Poland!!
Posts: 2,411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'd say it's a very good idea!
Old 10-31-05, 05:00 PM
  #4  
Rotartist

Thread Starter
iTrader: (13)
 
RRTEC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Spring Hill TN 37174
Posts: 7,252
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Will do, I am taking the top off the car and then replacing the skin, Should be a good writeup..
Old 10-31-05, 05:03 PM
  #5  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)
 
jdonnell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cape Canaveral FL
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
How bout giving updates as you progress? Any issues you encounter and stuff like that.
Old 10-31-05, 05:11 PM
  #6  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
NAVDREG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thumbs up I would welcome the write up on it... I have removed them myself.

Let me know as you go thru the process...

I think it would be great if more attention was given to the vert...
I have an '88 mild port with a Holley 600 cfm and I am converting to weber 45 sidedraft. My vert sports P285-35ZR-18 rear Yokohama tires on 18x11" wheels

Here is a pic of my vert...

BTW: I have access to some really great pricing on the convertible tops.. since I own an RX7 Convertible shop in Miami.

Old 10-31-05, 05:25 PM
  #7  
Saiga-12 Power!

iTrader: (4)
 
Juiceh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: N of Chicago
Posts: 4,384
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Deffinatley write this up.

Preacher your shop got a website with pricing info?
Old 10-31-05, 05:28 PM
  #8  
Junior Member

 
jamesc760's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think it's a great idea. I absolutely agree that our verts deserve more attention. I read the fsm but their coverage on this issue is not very good.
Old 10-31-05, 07:15 PM
  #9  
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Icemark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
FSM has a great write up on how to do it. even the most domestic shade tree mechanic should be able to replace the top using the FSM
Old 10-31-05, 07:17 PM
  #10  
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Icemark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
Originally Posted by PREACHER
Let me know as you go thru the process...

I think it would be great if more attention was given to the vert...
I have an '88 mild port with a Holley 600 cfm and I am converting to weber 45 sidedraft. My vert sports P285-35ZR-18 rear Yokohama tires on 18x11" wheels

Here is a pic of my vert...

BTW: I have access to some really great pricing on the convertible tops.. since I own an RX7 Convertible shop in Miami.

And see someone has proved me wrong... your picture proves you can put too much wheel and tire on a FC...
Old 10-31-05, 07:45 PM
  #11  
Senior Member

iTrader: (2)
 
Peyman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NC
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hey dude, i have a 88 vert with a tii swap in it. I have a bounch of rips and tears in my top, its covered with black duct-tape right now. I was wondering how much it would cost to reskin it OR if you know if they make a hard top for the verts....(winter in nc gets a little "nipple-e") so i'm defenately intersted in doing something about the top, let me know!

nice spoiler, what brand, where did you get it from? Interested in one of those too lol!
Old 11-01-05, 04:50 AM
  #12  
Rotary Freak

iTrader: (4)
 
AUGieDogie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: seattle
Posts: 1,587
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
No hard top conversions out there. Which makes for the only time i get jealous of the Miata. They have the perfect set up for Seattle weather. Put the hard top on about Oct take it off about April. Go soft top the rest of the year. :P
Old 11-01-05, 08:11 AM
  #13  
Senior Member

 
pmr2000's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That's the factory sport spoiler
Old 11-01-05, 08:47 AM
  #14  
tinea incognito

iTrader: (2)
 
jenkin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: yakima
Posts: 685
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
here's a link to a write up with pics, but i for one would have no problem reading another
http://www.torquecentral.com/showthr...threadid=11000
Old 11-01-05, 09:39 AM
  #15  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
NAVDREG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I also have the plans for a custom speaker box for the vert

I will be displaying pics of the custom speaker box that goes in the spare tire compartment. You can still keep the stock rear cover on to keep out roving eyes so it will appear stock and then when you want to show off your vert you can take the top panel off , fold it and store it in the trunk of your vert.

I also have a Vertical Door Kit for the vert as well that I fabricate at my shop. The install takes less than 3 hours.

Old 11-01-05, 09:41 AM
  #16  
Mountain Rotary Mod

 
Parastie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Freaking Poland!!
Posts: 2,411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jenkin
here's a link to a write up with pics, but i for one would have no problem reading another
http://www.torquecentral.com/showthr...threadid=11000
That's a good writeup, but i would have liked more pictures.
Old 11-01-05, 10:49 AM
  #17  
Full Member

 
rx007racer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Michigan
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Talking

Originally Posted by PREACHER
Let me know as you go thru the process...

I think it would be great if more attention was given to the vert...
I have an '88 mild port with a Holley 600 cfm and I am converting to weber 45 sidedraft. My vert sports P285-35ZR-18 rear Yokohama tires on 18x11" wheels

Here is a pic of my vert...

BTW: I have access to some really great pricing on the convertible tops.. since I own an RX7 Convertible shop in Miami.

What offset are u running in the rear and front. What width of rim up front and what size tire up front. Also did you have to roll your fenders at all. I like wide *** tires and gave me an the idea that it really can be done.
Old 11-01-05, 01:25 PM
  #18  
wtf's a piston

 
gerbraldy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Englewood, FL
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
EVERYBODY can get good deals on tops. I can get a brand new front and back section for $310 just like everybody else. The installion is not hard enough to need a shop to do it.

How much does that vertical door kit cost anyway? And why put 285's on a car that maybe* has 180rwhp?

edit: heres the site for convertible tops, the next best price I've seen was $650
http://www.tops4less.com/protopacces...mazda-rx7.html

Last edited by gerbraldy; 11-01-05 at 01:35 PM.
Old 11-01-05, 01:58 PM
  #19  
Mechanical Engineering

 
capn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,618
Received 25 Likes on 16 Posts
Originally Posted by PREACHER
I will be displaying pics of the custom speaker box that goes in the spare tire compartment. You can still keep the stock rear cover on to keep out roving eyes so it will appear stock and then when you want to show off your vert you can take the top panel off , fold it and store it in the trunk of your vert.

I also have a Vertical Door Kit for the vert as well that I fabricate at my shop. The install takes less than 3 hours.
do you have any more pics of that Vert with the lambo doors? i love the way the vert looks with those doors
Old 11-01-05, 02:27 PM
  #20  
IFO Forced Induction Slo

iTrader: (3)
 
bigdv519's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Good looking Vert.
Attached Thumbnails Convertable TOP Pictoral Install/ Removal-valsridejezebellambodoorsmarch272005003copy.jpg  
Old 11-01-05, 02:36 PM
  #21  
I'll blow it up real good

iTrader: (1)
 
RX-Heven's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
No way in hell those wheels and tires are what you say they are.
Nice looking car though.

Originally Posted by PREACHER
My vert sports P285-35ZR-18 rear Yokohama tires on 18x11" wheels
Here is a pic of my vert...

Last edited by RX-Heven; 11-01-05 at 03:00 PM.
Old 11-02-05, 10:19 AM
  #22  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
NAVDREG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Specs...

Originally Posted by rx007racer
What offset are u running in the rear and front. What width of rim up front and what size tire up front. Also did you have to roll your fenders at all. I like wide *** tires and gave me an the idea that it really can be done.
I dont know the offset on these wheels...
I can tell you that they are Fittipaldi Tubolares
Rear: 18x11
Front: 18x 9

The tires are Yohohamas 275-35-18 on back .. I was running 285's but changed them to the 275

The front tires are also Yokohamas 235-40-18

I paid about $200.00 per rear tire.

I did not have to roll the fenders at all... I do however have stock ride height with my springs but I am considering on lowering the vert 1.2 inches all the way around.

I also had to use spacers to prevent the wheels from rubbing against the rear struts.. i also replaced the wheel studs on the rear that i bought from NAPA at $2.18 each whereas up front I used longer racing wheel studs since there is a lot more heat and stress caused by turning and steering.

Old 11-02-05, 10:31 AM
  #23  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
NAVDREG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thumbs up Who said 180rwhp ?

Originally Posted by gerbraldy
How much does that vertical door kit cost anyway? And why put 285's on a car that maybe* has 180rwhp?
The vertical door kit runs $ 599.00

and my vert has 232 rwhp

I am currently running a Holley 600cfm but as I am typing this the 45 DCOE weber carb is being installed. for an additional rwhp.

BEFORE PIC:


AFTER THE WEBER CONVERSION:


Old 11-02-05, 10:41 AM
  #24  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
NAVDREG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here are the pics you requested

Originally Posted by capn
do you have any more pics of that Vert with the lambo doors? i love the way the vert looks with those doors



Old 11-02-05, 11:42 AM
  #25  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
NAVDREG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thumbs up Check out this pic of the vert...



Quick Reply: Convertable TOP Pictoral Install/ Removal



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:00 PM.