So my convertible top has two small tears next to the fender, right behind the door. Anyone know where:

Number one-I can get a new top for a reasonable price.

Number two-I can fix the current top, what with and does it work?

Also in relation to another of my posts about putting your RX-7 on a diet, can you remove the convertible motors and put in some kind of a hand system? Has anyone done this? How heavy are the motors actually?

Thanks for listening to my random ramblings.

 

Yeah, my top has some tears there too! It drives me absolutely nuts!! But I don't think that you'll be able to find one at a reasonable price, but you might could fix yours. But about your weight problem...there is a way to use your top manually if your power motor doesn't work and it is found in your owner's manual. I assume that one could use the top manually without the motor...it would just be a matter of raising and lowering. I think there's a screw or something that you can loosen where your power top motor is, and that will make it so that you can raise it or lower it by hand. Just check your owner's manual.

 

Most of the additional weight in the verts comes from chassis strengthening to compensate for having no roof. The motors would weigh SFA compared to the overall weight of the car. There's really not much you can take out of these things that would make a noticable difference.

 

I bought a new (replacement) top already installed on the frame, on EBay, but it took forever to get here. That was 8 months ago.
So.... I tried a repair on my old one.
I bought curved needles and nylon thread for repairing boat sails.
I fastened the torn area together CRUDELY, as I am not a seamstress. The repair was ugly, but strong.
Then I sealed it with silicone seal, which happened to be a perfect color match.
It doesn't leak, it looks ok, and I still haven't felt the need to install the new top.
I'll probably wait a long time to put the new top on.
Try it.
PS: I can assure you there is no tape that will stick for very long.

 

Thanks a lot for the help! Don't suppose you'd like to get rid of that top would you?

He, he. Anyway, thanks!

 

My vert has the same thing. What a pain flawless top but.... 2 little tears on each side. Im thinking in the summer i will try to get them repaired or at least cost it out.

 

I managed to get a convertible top,new, canvas for about $500.00. The vinyl tops can be gotten a little cheaper.
No tape is going to last and I've even tried gluing vinyl over the rips that some vandals made and that doesn't even last all that long.
I'm going to have to get into repairing this top soon and putting the new one on.

 

Anyone know where I can find directions on replacing my top?

John r

 

Its in the FSM which you can download off this site, it's chapter 14 page 60 for the '88 vert.

 

I have replaced my top and it was around 350. It had a three year warantee and thats all its worth. Now I see that the same little tears are showing up and will get larger ever time I put down the top.

As for removing the motors. My friend removed his and they were both about 20 to 30 pounds. He now just pushes the top up and down like the miata. Not for me but if you are trying to lighten it up that will be a start.

 

Here is a how to for replacing the vert top posted on another board that i came across. It is very detailed with lots of pictures. Check it out. Vert top replacement

 

The little rips on each side are caused by either the vinyl drying out (every time you wash the car make sure you use a good vinyl protectant with UV protection) or by the top being lowered and raised in temps below 50F (which Mazda does not recommend at all!).

So if you take care of your top and follow those two rules, the top will last for a long long time.

 

I got mine broken into and slashed and I had someone sew it up for me and silicone it for 30 bucks. Hope that helps.

 

seems most all verts do have that rip behind the door, same as mine. it ain't seattle here, so i just live with it.

 

Thread from the dead !!!

 

Most have that rip, must be a bit of a design flaw. Does not seem to cause any leaks, just make sure the pocket drain tubes are clear.

 

I just got my vert yesterday. I have the same exact rips on both sides and I am grateful for this thread as mine does leak and there is water and rust behind the seats.

 

I just got my vert about 2 weeks ago for $1000, so of course I had the same problem. I went to aabestco.com and got a vynil replacement for $310 shipped. This one that I got is the whole top, not just the rear section like some places offer.

 

Rip Behind the door:
it is NOT a rip but is designged that way, there is a pocket (conical) which connected to a clear tube at the bottom.

this tube then snakes down under the top motor to the floor pan to a hole.
you can test this by pouring a glass of water down that hole.
but first clean it up real well, mine was full of mud leaf etc.
And the **** who owned the car before cut the damn hoses and STUFFED them in the corner, I was quite shocked to find a puddle under my seats.
I bought clear hose from lowe's which was just wide enough to fit over the current ones. then I just put a little tape to prevent it from slipping off. I routed it to the floor pan.
I found that there are 2 holes, one slant surface and 1 right at the bottom, I used the latter.

Now, if some of the stitches are coming off in that pocket, then just use some BLACK adhesive silicon (walmart auto fluids section next to the JB Weld).

I went over to another vert owner place in blue springs and checked out how his (unmolested) vert was setup under the spare tire cover.
the tubes were routed to the floor pan and stuck our about 1.5 inches and there was a VINYL topped thick sound insulator type carpet piece, which fit nice over the storage pans.
Needless to say that **** who owned the car before me ate it. (sorry had to get off my ...)

FYI: my coworker had a mustang vert gt, and that has the same slits....

 

Slim thanks I will hit them up considering the Mazda replacement is $939 + tax. Can anyone tell me the advantage of canvas over vinyl? Slim is your top installed yet? How is the fit?
stockrex that is some intereting info. I'll be sure to look at it more closely tomorrow to see if the tubes are clogged because I also have a puddle under my seat. However, I have to say that my rips so not look "normal at all and it seems like they get worse each time I move the top. I will most likely need a new one.

 

I think you have confused the common rip that happens on most RX-7 convertibles with the drain hole.

If no vinyl dressing is used on the top everytime the car is washed, or the top is lowered when the temp is too cold, the top will develop a rip just behind the side/door windows.

This should not be confused with the drain holes that are at the bottom of the top, right next to the doors.

 

Yeah I ordered my vinyl top from AAbestco the other day for $310 total. I have the same exact rips on both sides of my stock top. And thanks Icemark for the tips on keeping the top fresh.

 

has anyone installed these tops yet? I'd like to see a write up or at least some helpful hints about doing the install yourself. Also AA Best will send you swatches for free if you e-mail them and give them your address.

Thanks
Max

 

This thread is pretty old, but I thought I'd keep it real shawdy!

I bought a top from AA Best Co. a few months ago, and have since then put it on. It's a job that you can do by yourself, but be warned it is the most horrific thing I have ever experienced. I have never done ANY upholstery work before, so it was ridiculously hard. When I started to cut off the old top, I was freakin out thinking that I was going to screw something up.

For anyone contemplating replacing your top, you need to get a few things beforehand. You will need a pop rivet gun for attaching the top to the frame, I STILL haven't gotten one, so my top isn't 100% on, and it's pissing me off. Also, make sure your retaining bar in in the top isn't rusted to dust, like mine. The part from mazda would be like $180, which is ridiculous, it's just a little metal bar. I opted to not put one in, and it's not that bad...I just wanted the top on the car since the old one was completely toasted. I'm not sure if I remember enough to do a write up, but I can put some stuff together if anyone wants to give it a shot.