Just a quick tip, it's not a Philips screw for the Frankenstein latch covers but JIS. The metal is really soft and you'll strip it very easily if you use a Philips
if the screws aren't corroded or frozen, a Philips driver will work fine if you're careful. But yeah a JIS driver is definitely better. I picked up a Vessel ball grip JIS driver set from Amazon a couple years ago, and now pretty much exclusively use that for all JIS screw head fasteners on all my Honda, Mazda and Toyota vehicles.
Hey Alex! Just came across this vid as I just got a hardtop that needs paint. You did a great job on yours and the info was helpful. I definitely don't have a good setup to do paint myself at home, and would have to use rattle cans (looking at 66 Auto Color 2k single stage cans). Also have a small chip on the lower edge. So... lots to consider! Might be leaning towards paying the pros, but damn it's expensive out here in Cali.
You remind me of myself! lol I started body work about 4 years ago right outta high school and I gotta do the same thing to my Miata hardtop. Gotta say I’m a little nervous cause I’ve only really messed with fiberglass a few times before. Love both of your Miatas btw! hoping to have mine done soon.
Hey, I was wondering how the fiber repair on the edge has held up? That was a thin area without a lot of adhesion and SMC can cause a lot of trouble. In the video you said it was 'strong AF' but that was before you sanded it down to a thin edge for the edge protector. I'm about to restore a hard top, so I'd really appreciate your feedback!
Great content. I just would love to know more about adjusting hardtop on a car properly including latches and all that. Also how do you keep that red color of a car so shiny and not faded so quickly? I do detail mine but it doesnt last long..
Some googling should help but basically: the tension on each latch can be adjusted. Flip them open and there’s a little plastic cover that slides open revealing a spot that can be turned with a wrench to adjust tension. The latches should be snug when latching but not too hard to latch. Once you feel you have those set nicely I would check the back of the top to make sure those plates are fully up against the Frankenstein bolts.
@@AlexPerrucci yes might worth to check those plates as right side chrome latch is more up then left side. I can push it down but it comes back up.. Thanks for the answer Alex. Keep up the content
Question… I looked up the part NA01-R1-935B and it looks relatively small on the websites. Is this the same molding that wraps the entire bottom of the hardtop, from driver to passenger?
How did you remove the glass? I know remove the nuts. But, did you have to do anything special to get the glass out? Or was it simply by cutting out the old seal?
Yeah you need to use a tool made for cutting urethane on glass. The one we used is like a thin blade we put between the inside of the top and the glass.
How did you install that bottom edge guard? I have a shop right now that does not know how to install it with the rear latches in the back latches in the way. Is there a special trick? Thanks!
Great video! I was planning on fixing my hardtop this weekend. Do you think bondo fiberglass filler would be acceptable for filling in cracks near the base of the hardtop?
What do you call those chrome Frankenstein houses on the back? And are they supposed to have any rubber or anything where it meets the paint on the trunk? Worried about scratching the paint when i put the hardtop on the car. Thanks!
Very well done. Where did you find the reveal molding joint that goes at the top center of the window? The only place I found it is England's MX5parts.co.uk.
Best bet is finding one used locally. Mazda is currently producing them again if you have the cash. They come with glass and everything. Part# is: NCY1-R1-81XB-98
Hello! How is the fiberglass holding up? Curious because my top is also OEM SMC but I can't find anyone to fix it with anything but fiberglass filler. I was worried it would flake away after some time
Yeah they can be kind of tricky to put on. We used a thin strip of black butyl around the edge of the glass to hold the molding, once the glass is installed it will hold it as well. Just have to make sure the molding isn't pulled to tight or anything or the edges will want to roll up.
We used an Equalizer electric glass knife to cut the urethane from the inside edge of the glass. It will be very difficult without glass tools made for cutting urethane.
I want a hard top but they get stolen so much so I will never get one cause I don’t have a garage to store my car in. 😪 someone in my area had his security patches bolt cut off and they looked liked it was planned by people that have stolen some before.
Alex Perrucci Brilliant vid - 100 outta 100. The very first thing I bought for my MX5 - hey, that's what they're called in the land of Oz - was a hardtop. It comes off for only a day or 2 per annum. Reminds me of a favourite, a fixed head Lotus Elan Type 36. One day I may 'fix' my hardtop to my MX . . . Private message sent.
Just a quick tip, it's not a Philips screw for the Frankenstein latch covers but JIS. The metal is really soft and you'll strip it very easily if you use a Philips
if the screws aren't corroded or frozen, a Philips driver will work fine if you're careful. But yeah a JIS driver is definitely better. I picked up a Vessel ball grip JIS driver set from Amazon a couple years ago, and now pretty much exclusively use that for all JIS screw head fasteners on all my Honda, Mazda and Toyota vehicles.
Videos like this are much appreciated. I wouldn't even know where to start with jobs like this.
Look at him admiring that shine "absolutely stunning" 😂
Great job looks great!
@6:26
Great eye for detail and you explained it well. You answered a few questions, now I know what i'm up against. Thank you.
Glad this could help!
Really informative video. It’s always good to know how pro’s do things, thanks Alex. 👍🏽😎
Thank you! 😊
Somebody needs to make a video on swapping the NA hardtop pigtail with the NB pigtail so a NA defrost hardtop works on NB.
This video is very useful because my hardtop is damage in the same areas I will use this video thanks
Glad it could help!
Hey Alex! Just came across this vid as I just got a hardtop that needs paint. You did a great job on yours and the info was helpful. I definitely don't have a good setup to do paint myself at home, and would have to use rattle cans (looking at 66 Auto Color 2k single stage cans). Also have a small chip on the lower edge. So... lots to consider! Might be leaning towards paying the pros, but damn it's expensive out here in Cali.
Very invaluable info, thanks for putting this together :)
You remind me of myself! lol I started body work about 4 years ago right outta high school and I gotta do the same thing to my Miata hardtop. Gotta say I’m a little nervous cause I’ve only really messed with fiberglass a few times before. Love both of your Miatas btw! hoping to have mine done soon.
So informative!
Yeet
Good job, Alex!
Thanks!
Looks better than new!
Use charcoal dust on your final sanding .. means you can see where and what you’ve sanded with final grits
Forgot to mention that. Yeah I definitely use guide coat when sanding primer.
I got one for sale in cali
Hey, I was wondering how the fiber repair on the edge has held up? That was a thin area without a lot of adhesion and SMC can cause a lot of trouble. In the video you said it was 'strong AF' but that was before you sanded it down to a thin edge for the edge protector. I'm about to restore a hard top, so I'd really appreciate your feedback!
Still looks perfect 👍
This is perfect. Thank you so much!
And people still ask if you can do it for them for $200.
Haha for real. 😂
They be like “the paint only costs 80 dollars, so I should only have to pay 80 dollars” 😂
Yeah at this point in my $900 hard top restoration in 2024, Im about $2,000 into the resto... so just add a 0 onto that $200 haha
Great content. I just would love to know more about adjusting hardtop on a car properly including latches and all that. Also how do you keep that red color of a car so shiny and not faded so quickly? I do detail mine but it doesnt last long..
Some googling should help but basically: the tension on each latch can be adjusted. Flip them open and there’s a little plastic cover that slides open revealing a spot that can be turned with a wrench to adjust tension. The latches should be snug when latching but not too hard to latch. Once you feel you have those set nicely I would check the back of the top to make sure those plates are fully up against the Frankenstein bolts.
@@AlexPerrucci yes might worth to check those plates as right side chrome latch is more up then left side. I can push it down but it comes back up.. Thanks for the answer Alex. Keep up the content
Question… I looked up the part NA01-R1-935B and it looks relatively small on the websites. Is this the same molding that wraps the entire bottom of the hardtop, from driver to passenger?
How is the noise on the free way with the top down, windows up? Would windscreens make the noise much more tolerable?
About what you would expect from top down. I’ve never used wind screens so I’m not too sure.
great job!
Thanks!
Good info and video. Not quite sure why the actual footage is only 1/3 of screen and your face & mic is 2/3's of screen. LOL
Hey man! Do you have a link to what bottom edge guard you used? Is that a factory thing or just some common part bought online. Thanks!
Yeah I got it from the dealer. The oem part number for it is in the description you should be able to find it online or at the dealer.
@@AlexPerrucci How does it go onto the top? is it glued on or does it press fit?
Did you have to replace the rubber gaskets under the chrome mounts that join up to the Frankenstein bolts?
I should, I didn’t.
Is it possible to remove the entire latch rear assembly away from the hardtop itself?
As far as I could tell, no, not without breaking it.
How did you remove the glass? I know remove the nuts. But, did you have to do anything special to get the glass out? Or was it simply by cutting out the old seal?
Yeah you need to use a tool made for cutting urethane on glass. The one we used is like a thin blade we put between the inside of the top and the glass.
Good job dude • Honest²
How did you install that bottom edge guard? I have a shop right now that does not know how to install it with the rear latches in the back latches in the way. Is there a special trick? Thanks!
There should be room to slip it on with the latches there, that’s how I did mine. The guard has little cut outs to go around the latches.
@@AlexPerrucciThank you! I hope we can figure it out. I’ll let them know what you said!
Great video! I was planning on fixing my hardtop this weekend. Do you think bondo fiberglass filler would be acceptable for filling in cracks near the base of the hardtop?
Yes that should work fine!
What do you call those chrome Frankenstein houses on the back? And are they supposed to have any rubber or anything where it meets the paint on the trunk? Worried about scratching the paint when i put the hardtop on the car.
Thanks!
great video!
I didn't know there was a bottom guard, does it snap in or is it held in with adhesive?
no adhesive, it just presses on.
Very well done. Where did you find the reveal molding joint that goes at the top center of the window? The only place I found it is England's MX5parts.co.uk.
I got it from our local Mazda dealer. The joint actually comes on the reveal molding.
@@AlexPerrucci, that is good to know. I could not find just the joint separately. Keep up the good work.
What would you do if the seals were damaged?
Does the bottom edge guard come on one piece tho wrap the entire bottom edge. Looks like some parts images show it at 3 pieces.
Did you ever figure this out?
Hi I’m a new subscriber and I just wanted to know where can you purchase a hard top with the glass included? I haven’t had any luck finding one.
Best bet is finding one used locally. Mazda is currently producing them again if you have the cash. They come with glass and everything.
Part# is: NCY1-R1-81XB-98
2k what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!?!?!?!
Go crazy! 🤯
Hello! How is the fiberglass holding up? Curious because my top is also OEM SMC but I can't find anyone to fix it with anything but fiberglass filler. I was worried it would flake away after some time
Perfect! Still looks as good as when I first repaired it.
So if a customer brought in a hardtop in the same condition as yours, how much would your shop charge for the restoration? (Ballpark)
$600-1000 if I had to guess by the time you factor labor and materials.
Question: but did you remove the soft top that lays in the compartment when the hard top is on? If so why?
I removed my soft top completely. It wasn’t in great shape and I rarely take the top off anyways.
Hey I was wondering what you used to glued the black reveal molding to the window, I used window sealer and it still doesn’t sit flush to the window
Yeah they can be kind of tricky to put on. We used a thin strip of black butyl around the edge of the glass to hold the molding, once the glass is installed it will hold it as well. Just have to make sure the molding isn't pulled to tight or anything or the edges will want to roll up.
What type of adhesive did you use for window molding, and for the bottom protection strip ?
Very thin strip of butyl around the edge of both.
@@AlexPerrucci where can I purchase this ? And is that the chemical or the brand name ? I got clear rtv adhesive, you think it will work ?
@@Izzyek I wouldn't use rtv personally. Just search for some windshield butyl and a roll of that will be more than enough.
what technique did you use to get the glass out? I've tried doing it but the screen is really secure
We used an Equalizer electric glass knife to cut the urethane from the inside edge of the glass. It will be very difficult without glass tools made for cutting urethane.
Can the hardtop fit in the trunk?
Not in the slightest
How well does the fiberglass adhere to the smc hardtop?
Pretty well! I honestly found the kitty hair easier to work with though. Would recommend that if you don't have big spots to fix.
I want a hard top but they get stolen so much so I will never get one cause I don’t have a garage to store my car in. 😪 someone in my area had his security patches bolt cut off and they looked liked it was planned by people that have stolen some before.
Ah that sucks! Luckily I’ve never known anyone personally that had an issue with that.
They have attempted to steal mine amd they never can lol....also for sale
@@cochinitozpuerquitoz3128 I bought one like a month ago 😁
Alex Perrucci
Brilliant vid - 100 outta 100.
The very first thing I bought for my MX5 - hey, that's what they're called in the land of Oz - was a hardtop. It comes off for only a day or 2 per annum. Reminds me of a favourite, a fixed head Lotus Elan Type 36. One day I may 'fix' my hardtop to my MX . . .
Private message sent.
The top is smc not fiberglass so using kitty hair or other fiberglass resins isnt really the proper fix.
Peepee sex
My thoughts exactly
where do i get the glass mold ?
Dealership!
Does the bottom edge guard come in one piece tho wrap the entire bottom edge. Looks like some parts images show it at 3 pieces.
One piece. Make sure you have the right part # should be: NA01-R1-935B