I've decided to remove my softop since I now have a HT. However after doing further reseach, I have found that once you remove the softop motors you would loose 2/4 mounting holes for the side catchers (mount to the side of the car).

I have read that some people just let it be & run only 2 bolts per side, some fabricate a new catcher. I was curious on how the CR managed to mount the hardtop side catches knowing they do not come with a soft top. Do they have different catchers or is there an extra bracket welded to the side of the car?

If anyone has a CR, I would love to see pics of the side catchers. You would need to remove the side panel (which isn't that difficult).

 

I have been using the 2 remaining holes on each side for over a year - works well. same with an S2000 race car I know.

 

That's interesting. I'm sure if you call the dealership and ask for the part number you can find out. If the part number is different than the non CR catcher than its most likely a different piece. Honda might even have a diagram depicting the new catcher (if there is one).

 

I can't tell but this would be great to know for those of us that want to remove the softtop and keep the mounting points. Maybe the actual body was modified. I will take a closer look at this next time I see a CR.

Part list here:
http://estore.honda.com/epc/asp/rjane007.asp

 

I'd be glad to help with pictures, but uh, can you point me in the right direction as to which part of the car you're trying to look at?

Are you talking about the place where the hardtop connects to the car?

 

yes, right behind the seat - you may need to remove the plastic panel to take a look

 

Basically, when you mount the hardtop, there are 4 latching locations on the top.

1 on each side in the front which latches to the A pillar/windshiled frame & the other 2 are located on the side of the HT. They are in the section between the side windows & the rear window.

You will need to remove the plastic panels so we can see how the side catchers mount to the body of the car. To do this (one side only needed as I am assuming the right/left side are identical), first remove the side door sills (with Honda S2000 badge). Just pull on it and it will come off.

Next you will need to move the seat forward & remove the 2 screws/bolts inside the hooks which are on the plastic panel behind the seats. The panels look like they have vents on them. The 2 hooks have philip screws heads which are 8mm in size.

Finally, you will need to remove the plastic panel on the side which covers the side catchers for the HT. There should be a few clips & 1 screw that is holding that piece. After you remove that piece, you will see the side catchers.

I was interested in seeing if the side catchers had 2/4 bolts mounting it to the side of the car & if a new bracket was made. As I mentioned on the original posting, the non-CR only has 2 mounting points on the car & the other 2 are on the soft top motors - which would be gone if you gutted the soft top.

This would be great help!

- To everyone else that inputted, thanks! If anything, I will run with the 2 bolts on each side unless the CR has a part for this that we can order.

 

2 bolts has been safe for my car - just got spacers to simulate the soft top tower that was removed.

 

Spacers? So are they sandwiched between the catcher and the body? How do they stay in place?

Did you bolt on the spacers to the catchers & they rest on the body of the car?

 

basically I held the bracket in place and measured the space that the tower used to occupy, I replaced the space where the tower would be with a few large washers and tightened it up. It has not been a problem. Krazik - who actually races his S competitevely has or had it this way for a while.