When I bought my Roadster, the thought of a hard top never entered my
mind. I even resent it when I'm forced to put the soft top up!
But seeing one just my colour (BRG) on an internet auction for a very
reasonable price... and being cognizant of the recent experiences of
vandalism written about here, I thought it might be nice to be able to
go to the flics in town and NOT spend the whole movie worrying about
some low-life slashing my top. So I succumbed to temptation. I just
took delivery of my 'new' hard top... and as I have no other place to
store it at the moment it sits happily on my Roadster... oops I guess
its 'coupe' for now.
But now I have some questions for you experienced hard-toppers out
there.
HEATED/DEMISTER WINDOW
My top does not have a heated window, but my '91 V-Spec has the power
socket for one. That's okay... I don't plan to put on one of those
awful "stick on" heater panels... but I have been reading on the net
about tops with "demisters". Now, by "demister" do they just mean the
heated window... or is there another fan-type demister that can be
fitted. If so I cannot find any specifics, much less a photo of one.
And is misting a big problem? Do those of you with "demister-less" rear
windows find it a hassle? Is worth pursuing a "solution"?
LINER
Mine has no liner. Just bare black metal. Neat but not gaudy.
Is a liner a great advantage? I know a lighter colour interior to tone
in with my tan leather upholstery might be nice, but does a liner
really have any other advantage? Does it make the car noticeably
quieter?
And what are they made of... and how attached? Supplier?
MYSTERY PLASTIC BUNGS
Lastly, can anyone tell me if there's a hidden "purpose" for the
plastic button/bungs which run three across the front edge and another
three along the back edge of the hard top. Are they attachment points
for anything?
Thanks for any help!
Ross Bryon
'91 BRG V-Spec
New-to-Hard-Tops Questions
New-to-Hard-Tops Questions
Hi Ross, the hard top you have bought is an after market one as the factory
ones have the heated rear window and are lined.
I had a hard top on a previous car but the wiring didnt work for the heated
rear window, Never bothered to get it fixed as a few seconds with the blower
set on the vents and the rear window was clear.
Not sure about the plastic bungs.
Nigel
ones have the heated rear window and are lined.
I had a hard top on a previous car but the wiring didnt work for the heated
rear window, Never bothered to get it fixed as a few seconds with the blower
set on the vents and the rear window was clear.
Not sure about the plastic bungs.
Nigel
New-to-Hard-Tops Questions
Hi Ross,
Just a thought, which is worth checking, but might turn out to be a crap
solution, I leave that to you to decide.
I had a boat a while back which had a plain metal interior "ceiling" which
dripped water when it got cold and damp. Not good to sleep in, so as a last
resort I had it sprayed with "flock" which is the furry kind of stuff they
used to line the inside of cabinet drawers with. It is sprayed
electrostatically. It actually looked very good aand worked well and the
boat did not "drum" half as much. It was not expensive to do.
I think I found the applicator through Martin Equipment in Penrose, who sell
the flock, but I can't remember who it was, try yellow pages
Might be worth looking at, for the inside of an unlined hard top.
Eric
Just a thought, which is worth checking, but might turn out to be a crap
solution, I leave that to you to decide.
I had a boat a while back which had a plain metal interior "ceiling" which
dripped water when it got cold and damp. Not good to sleep in, so as a last
resort I had it sprayed with "flock" which is the furry kind of stuff they
used to line the inside of cabinet drawers with. It is sprayed
electrostatically. It actually looked very good aand worked well and the
boat did not "drum" half as much. It was not expensive to do.
I think I found the applicator through Martin Equipment in Penrose, who sell
the flock, but I can't remember who it was, try yellow pages
Might be worth looking at, for the inside of an unlined hard top.
Eric
-
Ian Chapman
New-to-Hard-Tops Questions
Ross,
We never had a demister - the air con works wonders to demist a back
window in such a small cabin.
Susan made a lining for our hard top. We got two pieces of material
the size and shape of the roof and sandwiched a layer of dacron between
then sewed it in squares ('quilting' I think is the sewy term). Then
sewed a few velcro strips to it and put adhesive corresponding bits on
the inside of the roof. It seemed to make it a bit quieter and maybe
warmer - certainly felt cosier! You need to make sure its attached in a
number of places in the centre of the roof where it curves otherwise it
will sag down around your ears! Something like polar fleece might work
well although if your lining is too thick it might touch your head.
I must quantify these statements by saying we used our hard top about 4
times in four years which is why we sold it.
I also made a very simple (cheap) rack to hang it from the garage roof
out of the way.
Happy to give more info if you need it.
Ian
We never had a demister - the air con works wonders to demist a back
window in such a small cabin.
Susan made a lining for our hard top. We got two pieces of material
the size and shape of the roof and sandwiched a layer of dacron between
then sewed it in squares ('quilting' I think is the sewy term). Then
sewed a few velcro strips to it and put adhesive corresponding bits on
the inside of the roof. It seemed to make it a bit quieter and maybe
warmer - certainly felt cosier! You need to make sure its attached in a
number of places in the centre of the roof where it curves otherwise it
will sag down around your ears! Something like polar fleece might work
well although if your lining is too thick it might touch your head.
I must quantify these statements by saying we used our hard top about 4
times in four years which is why we sold it.
I also made a very simple (cheap) rack to hang it from the garage roof
out of the way.
Happy to give more info if you need it.
Ian
-
Ross Bryon
New-to-Hard-Tops Questions
Nigel, Thanks for the feedback on demisting question...
Mine *is* an original one, by-the-way; the OEM hardtops did not acquire
heated windows and headliners until 1992. I've got one of the first
"bare" ones.
I found a very good FAQ on hardtops at
http://www.miata.net/garage/hardtop.html
... lots of detailed info on all the different variations from Mazda
and elsewhere - and how to determine which is which. Answered all my
questions and then some!
Thanks also to Ian and Eric for their ideas re liners. The quilted
liner sounds very 'posh' - and the flock... well, I'd have to see that
one. But I think that what I'm still searching for is a headliner which
is easily cleanable... wipe-able -- and still has the decor and
sound-insulating qualities.
Ross Bryon
'91 BRG V-Spec
On Apr 27, 2004, at 7:24 AM, nigel.e wrote:
[...]
Mine *is* an original one, by-the-way; the OEM hardtops did not acquire
heated windows and headliners until 1992. I've got one of the first
"bare" ones.
I found a very good FAQ on hardtops at
http://www.miata.net/garage/hardtop.html
... lots of detailed info on all the different variations from Mazda
and elsewhere - and how to determine which is which. Answered all my
questions and then some!
Thanks also to Ian and Eric for their ideas re liners. The quilted
liner sounds very 'posh' - and the flock... well, I'd have to see that
one. But I think that what I'm still searching for is a headliner which
is easily cleanable... wipe-able -- and still has the decor and
sound-insulating qualities.
Ross Bryon
'91 BRG V-Spec
On Apr 27, 2004, at 7:24 AM, nigel.e wrote:
[...]
-
Matt & Sarah Avery
New-to-Hard-Tops Questions
I used to have an unlined, non-demisting hard-top and it was an OEM one
so I can back you up there.
The lack of a demister was never a problem for me. With air-con and such
a small interior I can't see why you'd need a demister. Perhaps it was
added for markets where air-conditioning wasn't a common option?
I used to love the look of the Hard-top. It also had fractionally better
head room compared to the soft-top, but best of all, the greatly
increased rear visibility afforded by the larger rear window was such a
revelation compared to trying to see rearward through a tiny hazed
plastic soft-top window.
It got to the point where I had the hardtop on the car for cold rainy
days and no roof for good weather. Hardly ever drove around with the
soft-top up.
I remember seeing hood linings for sale on American websites, but I'm
sure you could get a local upholsterer to knock something up for a
fraction of the cost of importing one. A tan liner to match your
interior sounds pretty good to me.
I also have no idea about the plastic bungs. Can't remember those being
on my one, and as I sold it with my last car I can't confirm it.
so I can back you up there.
The lack of a demister was never a problem for me. With air-con and such
a small interior I can't see why you'd need a demister. Perhaps it was
added for markets where air-conditioning wasn't a common option?
I used to love the look of the Hard-top. It also had fractionally better
head room compared to the soft-top, but best of all, the greatly
increased rear visibility afforded by the larger rear window was such a
revelation compared to trying to see rearward through a tiny hazed
plastic soft-top window.
It got to the point where I had the hardtop on the car for cold rainy
days and no roof for good weather. Hardly ever drove around with the
soft-top up.
I remember seeing hood linings for sale on American websites, but I'm
sure you could get a local upholsterer to knock something up for a
fraction of the cost of importing one. A tan liner to match your
interior sounds pretty good to me.
I also have no idea about the plastic bungs. Can't remember those being
on my one, and as I sold it with my last car I can't confirm it.
-
Ross Bryon
New-to-Hard-Tops Questions
Matt/Sarah,
Thanks for the feedback... have stopped worrying about demisting and I
think I may look around for a local source for a liner if I can't find
a reasonably priced imported one. Have located one for only US$45.95 at
Motorsport Auto, but they have yet to send me a picture of what it
looks like.
On Apr 28, 2004, at 9:43 PM, Matt & Sarah Avery wrote:
[...]
Thanks for the feedback... have stopped worrying about demisting and I
think I may look around for a local source for a liner if I can't find
a reasonably priced imported one. Have located one for only US$45.95 at
Motorsport Auto, but they have yet to send me a picture of what it
looks like.
On Apr 28, 2004, at 9:43 PM, Matt & Sarah Avery wrote:
[...]
New-to-Hard-Tops Questions
Hi Ross,
We have both versions of the factory hard top for our '90 & '94. I find
the lined one notieably quieter & probably warmer (marginal). Unlined
(made of GRP not metal)has no heater, the lined has. Nice to have the
heater but not that necessary in my experience. But if the AC fails
sometime...
I think the bungs were a necessary part of the manufacturing process,
for joining the two shells together.The cavity behind the plastic bungs
is ideal for running the wires needed fo a decent interior dome light.
Check out the garage section of the Miata.net for a write up on the job.
Regards,
Dez
[...]
We have both versions of the factory hard top for our '90 & '94. I find
the lined one notieably quieter & probably warmer (marginal). Unlined
(made of GRP not metal)has no heater, the lined has. Nice to have the
heater but not that necessary in my experience. But if the AC fails
sometime...
I think the bungs were a necessary part of the manufacturing process,
for joining the two shells together.The cavity behind the plastic bungs
is ideal for running the wires needed fo a decent interior dome light.
Check out the garage section of the Miata.net for a write up on the job.
Regards,
Dez
factoryHi Ross, the hard top you have bought is an after market one as the
blowerones have the heated rear window and are lined.
I had a hard top on a previous car but the wiring didnt work for the heated
rear window, Never bothered to get it fixed as a few seconds with the
[...]
-
Ross Bryon
New-to-Hard-Tops Questions
Dez,
Thanks for the feedback... during this wet, muggy weather the Aircon
has coped with the demisting really well, so I won't be chasing after
demisting add-ons... as to the liner, I think I'll do some research on
different materials for this. If I do it I'd like to make the sort of
job of it which doesn't look like a "home made' one... yes, I saw the
miata.net write up on the dome light. Something for when I've got my
liner sorted out.
cheers,
Ross
On May 2, 2004, at 9:22 PM, Dez Cross wrote:
[...]
Thanks for the feedback... during this wet, muggy weather the Aircon
has coped with the demisting really well, so I won't be chasing after
demisting add-ons... as to the liner, I think I'll do some research on
different materials for this. If I do it I'd like to make the sort of
job of it which doesn't look like a "home made' one... yes, I saw the
miata.net write up on the dome light. Something for when I've got my
liner sorted out.
cheers,
Ross
On May 2, 2004, at 9:22 PM, Dez Cross wrote:
[...]
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