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Tips

Install my own convertible top on a MKIII Sprite

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Luke_Healey

Luke_Healey

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I got a new old stock top with my Sprite when I bought it. I have no idea when it was made, but it's just your run of the mill black vinyl top with clear windows. The windows are heat welded to the vinyl rather than sewn like my OEM top.

I have a ruined top from my other sprite to use donor parts to set this one up.

However, the problem is that this one didn't come with any parts or instructions. The two Tenax connectors are preinstalled, but nothing else is.. The rear bar, the header bar, snaps, and locking eyelets are all in need of attachment.

So pretty much a blank slate in front of me, and me with no previous knowledge of doing this.

Is it one of those projects best left to the professionals? They wanted 300 dollars to hook everything up and no guarantees using this 'old' top that it wouldn't tear.

I'm thinking of buying the stuff and trying to do it myself. I have a rivet gun and general knowhow.

But if there are a lot of 'gotchas' in this thing, I don't want to ruin the top.

Mostly I'm curious how the header rail attaches to the fabric and how to properly install those eyelets that lock behind the doors.
 
If you are careful and look how everything is attached while taking it apart and you are car handy, it can be done. Start at back and go forward and same on install, so you can stretch top to header. Clean everything and a good coat of paint will make everything look new. Watch how the webs supports are fastened and rivet only in the direction of the old rivets. If the top has be stored folded, I would lay it out (carefully) and let it set up open, before installing. $300 is not a bad price for someone to do it. You might tear it yourself. When you open the top, you can see how the header attaches, usually 2 pieces on some cars. Not totally familiar with the Sprite, but have installed tops on TRs and Jags, etc.
 
$300 unbelieveable. Frank C. put together a cheat sheet on this. Not hard just pick a warm, sunny day. 3M Glue, look at how the old one comes apart. Not tough to do at all. Will take most folk < and hour or two even on the first try.
 
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