New top

[Eureka]

After blood, sweat, and tears:

Mostly sweat. Luckily I found a guy who had a newish top with frame for sale.

 

[ballmode]

I bet that was tough work... unless its different than a NA model to install

 

[AdamK47]

Sir, your car has a dent.

 

[Eureka]

Sir, your car has a dent.

My car has character. And more problems than just a dent. 🙂


It was bought as a project car... plenty of issues left:

timing belt is due
rust on rocker panel
rust on trunk lid
needs alignment and new tires
slow brake fluid leak
needs sway bar link, possibly new axle
needs tranny fluid replacement

But I'm getting through the list.. one item at a time. I've already replaced brakes and rotors, replaced clutch cylinders, and now the top. I've got tires on the way.... a lot of work left.

 

[AustinInDallas]

after my miata got broken into, It was a garage queen until there wasnt a cloud in the sky

ie:I feared chaning it SO MUCH, that I never even bothered

 

[satyajitmenon]

Looks nice... Is that a plastic rear window?

It's time to change mine. 🙁

 

[Eureka]

It is a vinyl one... it was the only one I could find for a reasonable price ($200). You might be able to get a glass one with frame for under $300 if you search CL long enough. If you have the frame already, it makes the job super easy (no riveting required). Just have a friend and it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a new rain rail too.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I was lucky and was able to find the same deal for my 95 miata. Somebody bought a wrecked miata with a perfect top as parts for some kit car build and he sold the top/frame to me for $100. Made life a lot easier.

 

[Fenixgoon]

how hard was it to install? i'm thinking about getting a new top for my NA. it's a 96 and on the original top (which isn't in all that bad condition given its age)

 

[thedarkwolf]

http://www.miata.net/garage/garagetops.html
It doesn't look like fun.

 

[Eureka]

how hard was it to install? i'm thinking about getting a new top for my NA. it's a 96 and on the original top (which isn't in all that bad condition given its age)

If you can find someone who has the frame, it's about a 3 hour job in total (removing frames from both cars and putting it on yours). There's only 13 or so bolts you need to take off, the rest is maneuvering the top and fabric.

If you plan to replace the fabric on the frame, which I didn't do, most people suggest leaving an entire weekend for it (over 20 hours of work time). The main difficulty is in drilling holes into the fabric, stretching it and then riveting on to the frame.

If you have the money, getting a hard top would just be a better idea overall. But I paid peanuts for this car and I'm not going to really drop any kind of money into mine.

 

[unokitty]

My car has character. And more problems than just a dent. 🙂


It was bought as a project car... plenty of issues left:

slow brake fluid leak
.

Its not uncommon for an NA to have brake fluid leak from the slave cylinder.

If my memory serves me correctly, the slave cylinder rebuid kits are only a few dollars.

Best of luck. Looks like a car that you could have a lot of fun with...

Uno
Who had to change the slave cylinder on his NA...

 

[thedarkwolf]

Uno
Who had to change the slave cylinder on his NA...

Everybody that has ever owned one has. I've had two so I've changed two lol 🙂. Rebuilt ones are cheap from any auto parts store and it is a pretty easy job.

 

[Eureka]

Its not uncommon for an NA to have brake fluid leak from the slave cylinder.

If my memory serves me correctly, the slave cylinder rebuid kits are only a few dollars.

Best of luck. Looks like a car that you could have a lot of fun with...

Uno
Who had to change the slave cylinder on his NA...

Luckily new cylinders are pretty cheap altogether... I replaced the clutch master and slave cylinders both for around $20. I just don't want to spend the time bleeding brakes.

I just changed my gear oil today. I used the motorcraft recommended oil.... buttery smooth now. I can't believe I waited this long to do it (I've had the oil for a month now).