agent87

2002+ Robbins top (retrofit kit for 00-01) install. I wish I could have made this a DIY but I'm sick and I just helped and snapped pics where I could.


OEM top already off. Here you can see the 00-01's top frame and the way it works. The #4 bow normally attaches to the top and moves with it. But with the glass window, that setup is changed.


The reason for the change: foggy plastic rear window.


Drilling out the rivets that hold the old elastic strap to the #2 and #3 bows. Handy-dandy vaccuum cleaner nozzle underneath to catch the shavings.


Chissling off the rivet head afterward.


The replacement "improved" (according to the instructions) elastic straps that came with the new top didn't have holes. The only thing that made them an improvement was the fact that they weren't worn out and old. Otherwise, they were the same length and construction.

agent87

Some quick work with a hobby burner fixed that problem.


Rivets and new elastic strap in place after one squeeze of the rivet tool. Thanks to e30dood for lending it.


Marking off where the elastic/nylon webbing straps will attach to the #3 and #4 bows and from the #4 bow to the rear. These new holes had to be drilled.


The rain rail was transfered to the new top. We used a C-clamp to secure the "speedy rivets". This method was crude and didn't look very pretty.


Pulling the spring and cord thing from the old top and transferring it to the new one. The new top will come with a string through the sides that you'll use to pull this assembly through.

agent87

A weight reduction was also performed on the car :chuckles: Of the items removed from under the decklid: a tampon, a permanent marker, and a part of a cup and it's lid. 2 of these 3 items were still useable!


h:


:reechy:


And in the end, the car came out with an antenna ornament.



The job was finished late and the top got all dirty from fingerprints. Otherwise, I'd show a picture of the finished product. One thing of note, this top replacement was incredibly similar to one on an NA Miata.

Nelson

Great write-up, I'm copying this to the S2K forum.

h22accord

Basicly designed similar Except that I can do a miata top in about 2 hours and an s2k takes much longer (at least for me). I personally prefer Sebring’s and 94-04 mustangs; I could EASILY do two of those in the time it takes me to do an s2k. Damn japs make everything so hard to get to, maybe someone smaller can do it much quicker but im 6'3" 200lbs and I cant fit in the back of the s2k to get to the bolts in the rear, plus all that plastic crap is a bitch to get off, out, and back in without breaking. Is glass really able to be fit into the 00-01? I didn’t know Robbins was making them now, I would have much rather had one of their tops. When I bought mine only electron and GAHH made aftermarket replacements. I don’t particularly like the fit of the electron top and GAHH makes great BMW tops, so I bought my top from GAHH. I did order another plastic window because I was told by them that if I got a glass I would have to unzip it every time I wanted to put the top down. Has anyone tried it yet?