Installing a Later Glass Window Top on your Early Honda S2K (photos)

1. Remove the Seats

The first step in this project is to remove the seats from the car so you have room to work in the cockpit. The seats come out much easier with the top down. There are a couple of 12mm bolts at the front and three 14mm bolts at the rear. You'll also need to unclip the wiring harness under the driver's seat and release the seat belt from the retainer clip.

You can see the entire process detailed in the S2KI forums, thanks to the original poster Clovis.

>>Join the conversation about Later Glass Window Top for your Early Honda S2K right here in the S2ki Forum!

2. Seats Removed

With the seats removed, now is a great time to detail your ride and give the carpet a good cleaning, or even replace it.

>>Join the conversation about Later Glass Window Top for your Early Honda S2K right here in the S2ki Forum!

3. Remove Interior Trim

Removing the interior trim requires four steps:

1. Uncovering and pop off the three snaps on the door sills, and remove the sills.
2. Remove the rear panel trim (shown here) that is secured by covered snaps behind the coat hooks.
3. Remove the rear side trim by removing the covered snaps, and the one screw near the bottom.
4. Remove the two screws at the top roll hoop trim.

4. Remove Rear Trays

The rear trays are a little tricky to remove. You will need to pull the roll hoop trim up and slide the side trays toward the center and then pull them out.

1. Pry the upper rear tray out by uncovering the hooks and popping out the three push clips. You may want to order replacement clips before hand as the can snap easily.
2. Remove the lower tray by uncovering and removing four snaps and then another four push clips.
3. Remove the side trays (Figures 5 & 7 shown) which are secured with a push clip and a screw clip and one screw.

5. Remove the Top Retainers and Weather Stripping

Removing the original plastic window top is the most time consuming part of the job. The first step in this process is to remove the retainers and weather stripping.

1. Lower the top to the middle position.
2. Remove the front frame retainer (pictured) by taking out the seven screws and set it aside.
3. Remove the one screw at the front of the roof weather strip and pull the strip out.
4. Remove the three screws and pull the retainer.
5. The pillar weather strip is removed by popping out the single push clip at the bottom.
6. Remove the three screws on the retainer and set it aside.

6. Release the Cloth From the Top of Frame

Take care not to damage the retainer, especially when prying it off. If the original top is in good shape, you may want to keep it in good shape to sell or reuse at some other time.

1. Pull the cloth from the front edge where it is secured by double sided automotive tape which cannot be reused.
2. Remove the cloth from the bows where it is secured by three flexible retainers. These need to be pried off carefully with a flat head screw driver, to be careful not to damage the retainer.

7. Release the Cloth from the Lower Frame

You'll need to break out the power tools for this section to remove some rivets.

1. Lower the convertible top to the lowest position.
2. There are two screws from the lower set plate (pictured) that need to be carefully removed. 
3. Raise the top back to the mid-position.
4. Drill out the rivet where it connects at the tension wire
5. Drill out the rivets at the frame pillar.
6. Release the cloth from the lower frame (replace the double sided automotive tape when reinstalling).

8. Remove Rails, Retainers and the Top Cloth

This is the last step in removing the assembly. You may need to make further frame modifications depending upon your model year S2K.

1. Remove the tension spring by taking out the screw and pull the spring through the frame.
2. Remove the 10 mm nuts from the rear top retainer, then remove it and set it aside.
3. Remove the three 10 mm nuts from the side top retainer and set it aside. You will use the rear post to attach the new nylon strap before replacing this side top retainer.
4. Remove all the clips along the rain rail which are only visible from inside the car with the top pulled all the way back. 
5. Remove the rain rail along with the top cloth that is still attached via rivets.
6. Separate the cloth from the rail by removing the rivets.
7. You will remove and can throw away the top covers which are secured by 2 male hooks. Plug the holes with waterproof putty.

9. Modifying the Frame and Installing the Glass Window Top

This step calls for drilling holes in the frame. Alternatively, you may be able to use double sided automotive tape and sew the nylon strap in place, but that isn't how the factory does it.

1. On each side of the rear and middle frame bows, drill two 1/8" holes, 3/4" apart. The holes at the rear will face the rear and the holes in the middle bow will face the front of the car.
2. Double-lay 10 inches of 1.5" elastic band. You should have 5 inches of band left free, and sew the ends together.
3. Rivet or screw the elastic band to the frame (two 4mm rivets or screws per side). The elastic band will lie against the top cloth and will be covered by the sleeve when the cloth is reinstalled.
4. Drill two more 1/8" holes 1/2" apart on the rear frame bow facing the rear.
5. Use 22" of 1" nylon strapping and rivet it to the frame using two 4mm rivets on each side. You will need to double lay the ends of the nylon and loop it around the frame. It will also lie against the cloth top.
6. Reinstall the top cloth just until you are ready to reinstall the side top retainers.
7. The other end of the nylon strap is attached to the rear post under the  side top retainers. This is why you need to wait before completely installing the top cloth.
8. Raise the convertible top all the way.
9. Position the rear bow correctly along the rear seam
10. Pull the nylon strap tight and attach it to the post (but leave a little play) as the side top retainers will complete the job when reinstalled.
11. Install your new glass window and bolt down the side retainers.

10. The Completed Product

Depending upon your abilities, the project should take about 10 hours to complete, but is well worth the effort. You may find the new top is a bit too tight to allow the roof to latch, especially if the ambient temperature is cold. The canvas top will stretch to a certain extent if you warm it to about 70 degrees, or let it sit in the sun.

>>Join the conversation about Later Glass Window Top for your Early Honda S2K right here in the S2ki Forum!