I have the plastic window convertible top and a friend of mine has the one w/ the glass window, but he has a hard top and never uses his soft top. He is interested in trading me tops + cash. My Question is, what would be the easiest way to switch tops. I heard that the frame on the MY 01 tops with the plastic windows are different then the MY 02 with the glass windows. Is there any way that we could take out the whole assembly out at once. Leaving the top attached to the metal frame work. It just seem that the tops could be unbolted from both cars and then just switch all the frame work and tops from one car to the next. That way we dont have to modify any of the frame work. Has anyone done this?

 

I have read a couple of threads by people who have done what you're talking about, try "Search" if it's not worling look in the DIY's up in 'Technical'

 

I have found articles on how to make the MY 02 top fit on the MY 01 frame but nothing about switching the whole top and frame from one car to another. It seems it would be a lot easier then taking the tops off of the frames and then having to modify the frames of both cars and reinstall the two tops. Just looking to simplify things.

 

TTT

 

Any Ideas?

 

I swapped my 00 plastic window with frame out for the 05 and damn it was a pain in the ass. Your looking at at least 7 hours of work. I removed the seats to make it a bit easier!

 

hahaha then you got a hard top

 

I am trying to switch everything at once so i dont have to take the top off the frame. That would be a B**** since i would be doing it on 2 cars at once.

 

I swapped the cloth and modified the frame so I could have glass in my '01. It took 27 hours (18 the first time, and 9 more to get it right). It was suggested that it would take 10.

I'd go with swapping frames if I were you, but to do it twice, it will take a little while.

Get yourself a shop manual-- it will have the process.

 

swappint the whole assmebly can be done a lot easier than the fabric.

take the interior apart.

take the 10mm bolts holding the rain channels out all around the rear and remove the 3 metal plates.

unbolt all the yellow painted bolts(12mm?) that hold in the frame on both sides. dont forget to unplug the motor.

reverse and fine adjust any little clearances.

i was going to swap the frames when i did this but the donor car had a bent frame in the front and you cant just unbolt any of the little allen bolts that old the fram together as they are welded in.