Convertible top replacment action
 

I started on my monumental task of putting a new top on my car. I started earlier today, with a top that wouldnt work (turned knob, it wouldnt rise) but found out that whoever had the car before me unplugged the motors and a bolt had fallen out of one on them. So now that works. I've removed the vinyl completely and I'm in the process of cleaning up some gunky stuff from the head hoop.

This leads me to a question. I ordered my top from AABest co and it seems to fit just fine, but I haven't bolted it down yet. On the stock top, there is a metal band that goes in the vinyl where the top bolts to the car. Mine is one giant piece of oxidized dust. Is this piece neccessary, and if so, where the hell am I going to find one? Also, is the convertible top supposed to beep a lot when it is going up and down? I've never had my top work before.

Yes, the beep lets you know the tops working correctly. The beeps will change if you try to put the top up/down and forget to pull up on the e-brake.

I think Mazda sells that piece. Download the parts diagrams from http://www.mazdaformance.com and look it up ... the diagrams are under the rx-7 section.

just wondering. how much did the new top set you back? My friend just changed out his miata top and it was like 350. Just wondering.

My question is how well does the AA Best top's vinyl match up with the stock vinyl on the hard piece (targa) of the top?