Can any of you guys offer me some expertise here? I've searched far and wide but every thread or site I find dealing with the install of the VIS hardtops still seems to leave me baffled.

I purchased the fiberglass Mugen style hardtop from VIS last week and it's at the body shop now being painted, but as I've removed the side panels so that I can prepare for installing the brackets, it got me thinking as to what exactly do the bolts that I've circled below bolt to, if anything?

I'm keeping the soft top installed and as far as I can see I can't manage to find any place where these things would bolt. The hardware kit I got from VIS has the two brackets for the side and I know to transfer the two catchers from the soft top, but aside from that the only stuff in the hardware kit were the window, window seal, and the two other rubber strips. I know the genuine Mugen and OEM hardware kits address these brackets in the back, but does the VIS?

Am I missing something here? Everyone states that the hardware kit they got from VIS was all that was needed to bolt the thing on, but it just seems kinda lackluster to have it bolted on the sides and fronts, but not the back?

 

Arent they just the same as the ones on the oem hardtop, to keep the soft top from moving up and down?

 

none of the tops bolt down in the back, just on the sides and the front

 

So I just leave the bolts there without mounting them to anything? It just seems kinda stupid that they drill those bolts in to the top just to be there for no reason.

 

Like I said the oem hardtop has some rubbers in there that keep the soft top down

 

ooohhhhh, so that's technically where I could mount the rubbers that would then help support the soft top you're saying?

I can't believe I completely overlooked that!

THANK YOU!

 

how does it fit btw?

 

I haven't fitted it yet. It's currently at the body shop being painted, should have it back on Monday if all goes as planned at which point it'll then be installed. I'll update this thread though once it's fitted and let everyone know how it turned out.

I will say this though, it came packaged extremely well and I have nothing but the highest of praise for Andy at VIS Racing, he did a fantastic job helping me out as far as the purchasing/guidance of it all.

Even my paint/body guy stated how impressed he was with the quality of the piece.

 

i can actually vouch that the VIS hardtop is a PERFECT fit that requires ZERO modification or sanding. the only problem i have run into is that it does make a little more squeeking noise than the guy at s2khartop.com led me on to believe. he said that they're hardtop hardware proved to give NO squeeking problems, but whenever i go over a bump or turn, i hear squeaking.... but its not bad. and also im not sure about the window seals how well they will hold out water yet. i havent tested them in wet conditions but they only stick onto the top instead of sliding into position or bolting on somehow... it just seems like they would eventually fall off.

all in all, i give it

 

the original mugen hardtop comes with a metal brackets and rubber to stop the soft top from coming and and braking the glass.