has anyone ever DIY a vert window replacement?

[jw 325ic]

Just use glue. Leave about 3 inches overlapping the canvas. Apply pressure during drying time. I did it to a pals canvas non-zippered top, worked well. Gonna be time to get a new top soon enough, unless the car is garaged and pampered. Good luck.

Exactly...the guy needed his top replaced...so a temporary glue job is (i guess) okay. Julien said his top is in good shape so stitching in a window is a different story...

[g.ruff561]

I wasted my 2 days off trying to install a zipper window. It sucks. I could never line up the zipper right. I worked on it for almost 3 hours at a time. A few times I got it all in except for 1 inch of space which created a 1 inch gap. Never did get it in. I finally took the car to an upholstery shop and had them sew in a replacement window. Cost to sew in was $100 bucs. Well worth it IMHO.............Be blessed...............G.

[AbsorbantNut]

Yeah, I did it DIY, big pain in the but though. I bought the kit off of that miata website for e30s, and the instructions were very.....bad. What I did was take out my window, use it as a template & just sewed it in through the original holes. THen put some glue on the sides as others have said. & if i were you I would mark a few sections on the original window before you take it out & mark it on the top so you can line it up correctly.

[reelizmpro]

I zipped in my window with the help of 2 other friends in 45minutes.

[McGyver]

my vert top had a zipered window on it
i i unziped the old window out
i went to downtop foudn the same size sipper (bought a couple feets or so)
i went bought a new plastic window sheet from a local upholstery shop for about 80 bucks
i put the old window ontop the new window sheet i traced it n cut it to its size

then i had the same local shop sew the cipper on the window for 25 bucks

and i zipped it in

i guess i got lucky when i picked this top up at the local yard cuz it had the original izppered window form

lol, $80 plus shipping for a zipper in window kit from emiata. (plastic with a zipper on it, glue, thread, needle)

[AbsorbantNut]

I took a bunch of pics too and could put together kinda of a diy, but a lot of it you need to just see/do physically

[Julien]

This is how I fixed my top.

Most convertibles end up looking like this after a few years:


Step 1: Acquire room mate with previous government surgery training and ask him very very nicely to do the work


Step 2:Cut stitches out of old window with exacto knife


Step 3: Carefully lay old window on top of new window, mark it and cut it


Step 4: Use provided needles to place new window in the top. Close top and make sure its sitting inside properly.

Step 5 : Acquire very sharp and strong leather needles (don't go too big, though) and start stitching window in, removing placement needles as you get to them



Step 6: A lot of patience and practice will yield you a new window in your top! (Ignore the fingerprint marks on the window)


Bottom line, not the best solution as it is very time consuming (this took 11 hours), but if you are patient results aren't bad at all!


I also submitted this post to the DIY section

Thanks for the help guys!

[reelizmpro]

If you have an M tech convert (late vert), you SHOULD have a zip in rear window.

[Julien]

If you have an M tech convert (late vert), you SHOULD have a zip in rear window.

I think only '92s had zip in windows

[RecycledTeen]

Julien - bravo, man, bravo! :up:

[glucklich21]

I think only '92s had zip in windows

Any power top E30s had them I believe.

[Huff]

Well played sir

[erik325i]

if you get the ebay top, get the good canvas. not the shiny vinyl shit.

I just shat a brick. I got the vinyl one, which I gotta say I kind of like the look of better than black cloth...

Which ebay seller sells the best quality canvas top? Which ones should I stay away from?
I need to get a new top for my car.

Erik

[Tico Frank]

I would love to see a zip in DIY. Even thought is seems pretty self explanatory I would love to see it done first.

[reelizmpro]

I would love to see a zip in DIY. Even thought is seems pretty self explanatory I would love to see it done first.

My 5/91 produced M tech came with a zip in rear window. It's pretty much trial and error lining it up right. Once you get the zipper started it's all cake from there. Then sew up the ends to make sure it doesn't separate on you.