creamer027

I bought the AABestCo top off ebay last month. I'm in the middle of installing the top and have ran into some differences between the stock and the AABestCo top. Hoping someone has ran into the same issues and can help out.

First, the drain pocket area doesn't match up to the stock exactly. On the stock top, the edges (where the last attach bolt is located) is flat (perpendicular to the ground when installed). The AAbestCo top has a curved edge that I'm not exactly sure how to install without (1) looking like crap and (2) having possible leaks. Can anyone describe how they worked around this and installing the top in the area around the seat belt? Any pics would be useful.

Second...well actually that's the only problem at this point. The rest of the top fits well and I don't see any issues with bolting other areas to the body.

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

Ah. That information helps. I will take a pic of mine and see if it is the same as yours.

Edit:

is this what you are seeing?

creamer027

Yep, mine looks the same except the bottom extends further on mine. And unfortunately both sides are not identical (the passenger side is longer...).

How did you work that out so it doesn't leak? Any tips/recommendations for installing in that area?

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

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The only thing I would recommend is to not attatch the front of the top around the header bar until you are sure everything else is in place the way you want it.

I left it pretty loose at first, so that after i tightened it up the temporary holes were trimmed off.

Don't cut the hole for the back window until you are very happy with the fit of the entire perimeter; all the way around.

Then just cut the window with much extra, maybe 2-3 inches extra . Next do a cut that will leave maybe an inch or two extra around the inside of the window frame. This gives you something to hold onto when you are stapling it into place. I put a layer of the 3M trim adhesive on the inner surface of the window frame and let it dry. I put a coat of the trim adhesive on the inside of the fabric and let that dry Then I put another coat on the window frame and let that nearly dry and then started stapling.

Staple first in the middle of the window top and work your way to each corner. Do not staple any corner until you have all the straight sides finished, top first, then bottom then the sides. When you staple the corners, there will be bunched up fabric that will need to be trimmed. Use an Xacto Knife.
Try to space the bunched parts out uniformly, then cut just enough out to allow the cut fabric edges to evenly touch each other. Let this thoroughly dry, then add all the staples that you need. I think the FSM gives the staple spacing and that it is different on the corners, ie closer together.

I let that dry overnight and then cut all the extra material off before attatching the inner headliner. I applied the 3M bedding glazing compound in the inner surface of the window frame on top of the fabric material and over the headliner attatchment clips.