Installed a Germanex vinyl top...

[burlybryan]

and sh*t the bed, that sucker is tight. Like it's preshrunk in the wash. Not a millimeter of fabric to spare apparently. The car is in my office/warehouse space and I even warmed the top under the overhead heat to make it more pliable. I'll gladly pay someone next time to install one of these.

Anyhoo, I have a couple of loose ends I want to run by the BB. Is the window flap riveted to the b-pillar in front of or behind the vertical rubber gasket? It seems that when I orient the flap behind the gasket, the window doesn't make contact with the flap resulting in a large gap. When the flap is just left loose in front of the gasket, it makes a decent seal with the window.

Additionally, there is an interior piece of fabric behind the rear edge of the window that appears to want to wrap around the frame member that flanks the window frame. The frame is welded to the window so I'd have to cut the fabric to wrap parts of it around the frame. Is this correct?

Thanks for any assistance.

Bryan

[124JOE]

i did rivet the top at the b pillar
and i just let the flap alone
i have replaced my top a few times in the 18 yrs ive owed it

[dmwhiteoak]

I just installed my new top yesterday. I could not figure out where to rivet the top. My helper kept steering me to the front towards the bow. Now I'v got something else that needs my Attention today.

[burlybryan]

Dennis, the rivet at the front of the flap at the header bow is pretty self explanatory. Just be sure to pull it forward and snug prior to making the hole for the rivet. I think I'm going to end up riveting the b-pillar portion behind the rubber gasket - but I'm not happy about the gap created between window and flap in that scenario.

[steve8462]

you can use a clothes steamer if you have one. it makes the fabric more forgiving during the process. it also works great when you are trying to get your new seat covers just right!

[dmwhiteoak]

Bryan, I did not see anywhere at the header bow that I thought needed or would accept a rivet.I did however find the hole in the quarter glass frame that did. I will look again tomorrow. My top come from autoberry and is a good fit but the instructions only called for one rivet.This is the first time I'v had a clear view out the back window. Im scared to lower the top for fear of scratching it. I think I will try the towel trick.

[burlybryan]

Hi Dennis. On my front bow, there is a bracket bolted between the bow and the frame ends. This bracket has a hole in it for the rivet. I've decided I'm going to rivet at the B-pillar over the gasket. Need longer rivets.

Yeah, lowering the top is a little nerve wracking. Aside from the explosive release when undoing the clamps (its drum tight), mine just likes to bunch up and not go all the way down, so I have to train it a bit to not mash the window.

[124JOE]

i riveted it at the b pillar
yes it cause a gap where water dose come in
but only in high wind rain