On the morning of the top install, Florida weather was true to form; the ride in the rain to Emo's Upholstery in Lakeland, Florida, confirmed our suspicions-man, did the roof leak. Even though it took Emo only the better part of a half day, he's been doing the job for quite some time. Plan on it taking a little more time if you do it yourself.
We asked Emo what he thought it would take to give our top the longest life possible in the Florida sun. His personal favorite is Formula 2001, by Turtle Wax. He has used it as a cleaner and protectant for quite some time. When your new top is finished, it's a good idea to leave it up for a week or so, and if it has small wrinkles, parking it in the sun can help remove them.
When it comes time to remove...
When it comes time to remove the staples left behind in the tack strip, be gentle. From the factory, this is only a pressboard material, and if you destroy it, an aftermarket material will need to be installed.
Under the canvas top is a...
Under the canvas top is a padding that runs front to back on the sides. To remove it, take out the screws holding it to the header and work it to the back. It should be fastened in the front and back only.
After you unsnap and remove...
After you unsnap and remove the well liner, remove the tack strip that the top material fastened to. To do this, remove the screws (or bolts) holding the top to the body, and then lift it all out.
Remove the tack strips from...
Remove the tack strips from the old top. Don't get the tack strips mixed up or turned upside down; if you do, the holes to attach them to the body won't line up.
Next, remove the well liner...
Next, remove the well liner (plastic bag in which the top folds down).
Now attach the new foam and...
Now attach the new foam and its wrap. The foam and covering wrap are wider at the back than at the front. Fasten the wrap with the screws in the front, and then gently pull it taut and staple it to the rear top bow.
With the foam covering attached...
With the foam covering attached to the top frame, apply contact glue to the inside of it.
Then, place the foam on the...
Then, place the foam on the wrap, fold the flaps over, and tape the seam. We used masking tape.
Cut the wrapped foam along...
Cut the wrapped foam along the contour at the header, and flush behind the rear bow where you attached it .
Sometimes it helps to measure...
Sometimes it helps to measure the distance from the bottom of the window to where the tack strip attaches. We chose instead to use the supplied marks as our reference point. We marked them with a pencil to make them easier to see.
Lay the middle piece of the...
Lay the middle piece of the top-well tack strip on the bench, and, after locating the center of the rear-window panel and tack strip, attach the panel.
After you attach the center...
After you attach the center panel, continue to attach the sail panels to the side tack strips. Remember, we followed the factory-supplied marks.