Posted the on the "Body and Paint" section, but would like to repeat here as well.

I would like to find an OEM hardtop for my '05 S2K; I have a few questions:

Are the OEM hardtops for the AP-1's and AP-2's the same?

What hardware will be needed?

Is there a separate harness for the needed for the hardtop rear window defrost?

Thanks in advance!

John M.

 

Oem hardtops are the same, you'll need the rear catchers/brackets, not sure if you'll need defroster harness for 05.
Levi

 

not saying to buy or not to buy from the hardtopguy here is a lot of info you are looking for.

https://hardtopguy.com/store/218/11/92

 

Or here:

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...+%28HARDTOP%29

 

Says the guest selling parts outside the For Sale forum.

 

You will need the catchers which bolt to the rear of your car. There are also longer bolts used to put these in than the ones you remove. This is really the only thing that is required.

You can use the front strikers that are already on your car but they will rattle. There are special hardtop ones available.
You will need a wire hardness for the defroster to work. There are two versions of this, 00-05, and 06+.
There are special brushes for the hardtop, but you can modify your brushes or remove them completely.

 

I'll use this thread to ask some questions too

Do you still have the rattle when using the thicker strikers?

I guess you don't have to connect the defroster?
Imola will be a garage queen in winter, so won't really need it

What's the downside of removing the brushes?

 

I can only speak for the experience I have had with my car...

My roof still rattled after installing the hardtop strikers... In the end, I had to buy some shims to bring the roof down tight enough to eliminate the noise. And be careful...there is such a thing as clamping them down too hard to the point where the roof goes below the window line... If your roof goes below the window line and you close your door, the window will hit the roof frame and damage the window and/or rooftop...

No, you don't really need to connect the defroster...it won't work...but unless there's some electronic detection that requires the connectivity, I don't see any harm in not connecting it... Like you, it's not a daily for me, and I don't drive it in conditions where I even need the defroster...EVER...

I don't think it's an option not to remove the brushes...you can't install the brackets without removing the brushes... Unless your question is a different one... If you question is what is the downside of not installing the new hardtop compatible brushes, then the answer is fit/finish... There is no functional need to install them...but it looks more finished if you do... I don't have them installed because I wanted to save the $50.00...but I'll probably buy them at some point and install them...

 

Thanks a lot MikeekiM!

Will make sure we don't clamp them down too hard! Thanks for warning
We're considering to buy the alloy craft and the shims to install the hardtop (didn't get oem hardware with it, except for the thicker strikers).
Connecting the front and rear will then take away the noise I guess.
Don't think we'll install the new brushes right away, but will buy them afterwards like you. I too like a nice finished look

 

You only see the brushes when you remove the hardtop and the soft top is down. Next time you have the top down look right behind the doors and you will see the brushes. The part of the brushes that need modifying is the bottom plastic part that isn't really seen when installed.

The following thread has a nice pic and description comparing the two brushes.
https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/540...top-with-pics/