How To Repair Mustang Convertible Top

A shop will charge you $800 or more than for this task. You can buy the elevation for $200, plus some tools for $100 (which you'll keep), and y'all can do it yourself to salve $500. You can use the bucks yous saved to go to Vegas ;)

It took me iii days to do. I hope with this article you'll do it faster.

Step 1

This is my 95 mustang. The top construction on 1994-1998 mustangs are the same, and tops on 1999-2004 must be very like. I bought my top online and it came with step-by-step instructions. During the process the instructions were useful, however they had very few illustrations, they didn't mention many tools that you'll need, and missed a few steps. My general advice is to utilize the instructions and read this article because information technology'southward complimentary to the instructions.

Step 2

This is a tacking strip. You need to purchase ane together with the top because the old 1 volition cleft when yous remove the one-time staples.

Stride 3

This is a rivet tool. I bought mine at Habitation Depot for ~$xx. Also, purchase 3mm rivets and 4mm rivets.

Step 4

This is a special star-similar screwdriver. It'southward needed to unscrew the screws that concord convertible pinnacle and the inner cloth lining. I bought mine at Home Depot.

Step 5

This is a special 12-indicate 13mm star socket that y'all'll demand to unscrew the back of the peak. I bought mine at OSH. The fix is expensive but at OSH I could buy just the one that I need. I as well bought a handle for it. Don't buy an Fifty-shaped handle.

Step 6

Your start challenge is to remove the u-shaped metal strip that runs around the dorsum of the tiptop (see picture). In lodge access the screws that concur its sides you'll have to detach the side plastic panels. And in order to disassemble the side plastic panels, you lot'll accept to accept out the back seat.

Step vii

To disassemble the back seat, locate plastic "buttons" under the lower absorber, press them, and elevator the lower cushion.

Step viii

To remove the back absorber, unscrew the screws that hold the bottom, and elevator the cushion.

Stride nine

Now yous can access the clips that concur the side panels. Remove them using a hammer. You'll need to purchase the same clips to replace the ones you removed every bit they aren't reusable. I bought replacement clips at Kragen.

Pace 10

Now disconnect the rubber parts that agree each side panel every bit shown on the moving picture. Carefully remove side panels. you'll need to utilise some force to pull them toward the forepart of the car as in that location are clips that hold them (you can see the clip on the picture. Too, pay attention to the lesser part that goes under another plastic role.

Pace 11

Remove the rubber parts that obscure access to the screws of the back metal strip.

Step 12

Remove the screws that agree the back metal strip, and the strip itself. To access the back screws, open the hood. First challenge complete!

Stride thirteen

The second challenge is to remove the erstwhile top. Remove the screws that hold the front of the pinnacle using the star-similar screwdriver. The top must exist open up. After unscrewing the screws, remove the metal bar under the screws.

Pace fourteen

The instructions say that you should note how the corners of the top expect like so that you'll make the new one the aforementioned style. Here is the picture.

Footstep fifteen

Using a flat screwdriver or other tool of your choice, remove the staples that hold the front part of the superlative. The staples become into tacking strips. We'll supplant the tacking strips so it's ok if they crevice during this process.

Pace 16

Close the top half/way. Unscrew the screws that concur the inner lining.

Stride 17

At that place are iii horizontal metal bars that run across the top. The lining is screwed in a tricky way to those bars. The instructions call the front bar (with the staples that you've removed) as bar #ane, then other bars are 2, 3, and 4. When unscrewing the lining, make a notation of the order in which y'all unscrew it from the confined. (I didn't make a note and had to do extra piece of work considering of it).

Step 18

The back of the lining is attached past screws below the rear window and are hard to access. You might pause a sweat while unscrewing them. The good news is that there are just two of them, one on each side. Complete the removal of the lining.

Footstep xix

Disassemble the sides of the top from the frame by unscrewing the bars that hold them, and then pulling the superlative fabric (it'southward kind of glued there).

Footstep 20

Each top side end is held tight by a leap that runs through a metal ring on the top. Use the magic wire to hook the spring and pull it up; utilise pliers in another paw to release the loop of the spring.

Step 21

Now access the tightening cords that are attached to the side pillars of the peak and release them. Then pull the cords out through the loop in fabric. (no picture show)

Stride 22

The most difficult pace in top disassembly is to unscrew the screws that hold the dorsum of the top. At that place are more than a dozen of them and they are difficult to admission. Use a 12-point 13mm socket mentioned to a higher place.

Step 23

The back of the top is stapled to the metal bars that you accept simply unscrewed. Remove the staples but don't remove the staples that hold the window part of the top.

Step 24

Remove the staples that hold the top to bar #4 (just above the window). Don't remove the window part of the top unless you desire to change information technology, too. In my example, I left information technology in-identify.

Pace 25

Challenge two complete! Don't throw away the old top just nevertheless, y'all'll demand information technology.

Footstep 26

Challenge 3 is to supplant the tacking strips. There are 3 tacking strips: The center i and 2 side ones. There are two fabric strips that run on each side from back to front that are attached to the side tacking strips. I propose to supercede the side tacking strips only if they are damaged.

Step 27

To supplant a tacking strip, kickoff remove the rivets that agree the onetime tacking strip by using a drill with the bit diameter wider than the bore of the rivet and drill through the center of the rivet until it falls out.

Step 28

Using a utility knife, cut out a piece of tacking strip to lucifer the size of the onetime one. Then put information technology in place and drill the holes (4mm for side strips and 3mm for the center strip).

Step 29

Attach the strip using the rivet tool. The picture show is not accurate because information technology shows the forepart bar lying on the flooring. I detached the front bar because I was besides replacing the lock mechanisms which needs more tools, and I wouldn't recommend detaching the front bar if you are just replacing the top. Challenge 3 consummate!

Footstep 30

Challenge iv is to install the new top. As the instructions for the height say, put the new elevation on a flat surface, then put the old one on acme of it, and make the necessary markings. Keep in mind that the old top has stretched with time, and its sides might look bigger than the new tops. On my new top, in that location were holes on the sides that ended up beingness the right points for marking the cut-out lines (they should run through the holes).

Step 31

Make the cutouts. The cutouts are needed because the screws will become thought those holes. If y'all make the cutouts besides deep then your height will leak so be careful.

Step 32

Top installation procedure is the reverse of superlative removal process. Beginning, staple the top to bar #4. Use 10mm staples.

Step 33

And so, staple the dorsum to the bars under the window using 10mm staples. Utilise clamps to ready the cloth in identify before stapling. The cutouts should align with the spiral holes on the bar. (The picture shows that my cutouts were too small, and I had to brand them deeper afterwards.) Apply 8mm staples.

Step 34

Next, screw the back bars to the frame using the 12-betoken 13mm socket. Interruption a sweat again ;)

Step 35

Bars three and 2 are not stapled; instead, you need to unscrew and remove the aluminum sticks inside the confined, put them though the corresponding loops on the inside of the top, put them back in and spiral them dorsum.

Footstep 36

Don't staple the front bar yet! You must install the lining first. I made a error that'southward shown on the picture and had to undo it.

Step 37

Pull each tightening string through the loop of material on the side of the peak. Utilize the magic wire to exercise information technology. First, pull the magic wire through the loop, claw the cord, and pull it back. Attach the tightening cord to the colonnade.

Pace 38

Adhere the rings on the sides of the top to the springs with the help of the magic wire.

Step 39

Wrap the sides of the superlative around pillars and "mucilage" them to the aforementioned place where the old top used to be. Screw the panels that you lot removed in step nineteen.

Step xl

Install the lining to bars two and 3 (I tin't recall which one is first and so I asked y'all to note it). The gild is important.

Footstep 41

If y'all replaced the side tacking strips, make sure yous have stapled the side material strips to the side tacking strips using 6mm staples.

Stride 42

Pull the lining through the front bar, wrap it around and staple it to the center tacking strip using 6mm staples. Try to staple information technology exactly to the same place where it was to avert stretch lines later. Then attach the button clips that hold the lining to the corners of the front bar.

Pace 43

Wrap the new top around the front bar and staple it in only a few places. And then close the top and exam it for stretch lines. The top might not close all the mode but that's ok. Information technology'southward better if information technology'due south tight than if it'southward loose.

Step 44

After making sure everything is fifty-fifty and there are no stretch marks, staple the residue of the height. Pay attention to corners to make them the same mode the one-time corners were.

Pace 45

Screw the metallic bar to the peak bar above the staples of the new height and test the top once more. This time, try to shut it all the fashion. If it'due south likewise tight, endeavour to stretch it little by little, similar you stretch your legs during an practise. The instructions recommend to use a hairdryer to warm it so that it stretches ameliorate. Challenge 4 consummate!

Footstep 46

The next challenge is to install the u-shaped bar that runs around the back of the elevation, and then everything else that you took apart: 1. Using clips attach the "wings" on the sides of the tiptop to the body ii. Install the u-shaped bar with all screws including the side screws 3. Install the rubber parts around the window iv. Install Side panels (install new clips) 5. Install Top absorber half-dozen. Install Lesser cushion Challenge 5 consummate!

Screw in the remaining screws on the lining. With the back seat installed it should be more user-friendly to exercise. Don't forget to plug in contacts to the window defroster. The task is washed!

Source: https://itstillruns.com/change-convertible-top-ford-mustang-4446394.html

Posted by: zemanhicat1936.blogspot.com