Guys I've got aMugen hardtop coming for my S2K.

I'm cringing at the thought of adding more weight to the car so I'd like to remove the factory soft top.

I'm not fissed about losing the convertible as I'm not a fan of top down driving. One of my previous rides was an MX-5 and I did the same, ripped out the soft top and put a hard top on.

Ripping out the softtop on an MX-5 was as easy as unbolting it and lifting it out. I've searched and found a whole lot of hardcore threads on replacing a soft top. Drilling out rivets etc. I was just wondering though that if I simply want to take the soft top out, (not replacing), how hard is this job? I'd want to do it in a way that doesn't damage the top as it might go back on in future if I was to ever sell the car.

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions.

 

Cyclon36 has done a good deal of softtop replacements. He ought to know what the things to be careful of are.

Most documented work on softtops involve just removing the old, ripped softtop fabric in order to re-skin the existing frame. So to make it easier, one generally slices the old top off and drills out the rivets anchoring the old softtop fabric down.

Obviously, you won't want to slice up the top, but you'll still have to find a way to access the rivets and drill them out. When it comes time to re-install, you'll supply new pop-rivets.

Good luck bending yourself and your tools around in the car to fit.

 

You will only be saving aroung 6 pounds as the soft top does not weigh much. It's a waste of time if weight is your sole reason for doing so IMO.

If however you still want to remove the soft top, plan on approximately 1-1.5 hours to drill out the rivets, remove all necessary screws and unbolt the raingutter.

 

I think* he is probably more concerned with the motor -- which does weigh a fair deal -- I'm actually interested in doing this same thing myself. If you find an easy way, let me know. Is it perhaps possible to remove the motor, and not the top itself? (would this be easier, but still save the weight?) Forgive my ignorance on the subject...

 

I want to remove my softtop once my window comes for my HT also. I want to remove ALL of it, motors and all.

 

I suppose it's something you just have to figure out for yourself. I'll check it out when the hard top comes.

 

a lot of members on the board have done this. the whole softtop assembly weighs about 52lbs iirc.

 

That's pretty close. To remove it, you need to disassemble everything behind the seats -- center console, roll hoops, etc. I've done it in as little as 90minutes, but the first time it took me something like 3 hours. It's not hard -- just tedious.

 

Okay, as long as its impossible to remove the whole assembly without permanently breaking the car, I think I'm going to go ahead and attempt it soon. Too bad about taking everything a part, but I guess thats the only way. Thanks.

 

It's not that hard, especially if you have a manual so you can see an exploded view of everything you'll be removing. I took mine out w/motors (everything related to the ST), all together it's quite a bit of weight. You just have to remove a lot of bolts/screws and panels, no drilling or cutting, take you time, some of the hardeware is not in the most comfortable spot to get too but you'll figure it out.