[Santtu]

Unfortunately i can't understand very well how to fix the brackets. Could you post some others pictures? Or a video?

Taking pictures or video from the installing of those B-column brackets (posts #6 to #9 on first page of this thread) is super difficult as the location is tight and cramped. Fitting a tool, hand and camera in there will he difficult and even if done, viewer understanding the picture orientation will still be difficult.

Once you have your roof at hand, and the brackets, you can mock them up on their location (test also that the bolts will go actually in to threads in the roof before installing) and you will get it.

Identifying between left and right bracket is a subject of trial and error with the roof on car, once you identify those mark it so that you do not need to test this every single time you install.

For this winter I am also considering picking up much shorter M8 bolts for easier install. I do not quite understand why the roof came with 5cm (~2") of threads where half of that would do just fine. The location of the bolts is very cramped and they are difficult to screw, and the lenght of stock bolts is just excessive. In the roof itself the threads are not that long so that does not justify such a long bolts, either...

I'll be installing my hard top this weekend, our cabrio season here in Finland is pretty much over. But we have a wonderfully bright Autumn colors on trees (if there is sun instead of rain & clouds, that is).

 

[pippo44]

Hi guys, i bought the hard top but i couldn't find the cable for the rear windows in my car.. i've a 2019 spider so i'm sure there is the cable.. but where? can someone take a picture for me? thanks in advance

 

[Santtu]

Hi guys, i bought the hard top but i couldn't find the cable for the rear windows in my car.. i've a 2019 spider so i'm sure there is the cable.. but where? can someone take a picture for me? thanks in advance

I also had a lot of difficulty in locating this connector and several people sent me pictures to help. Perhaps this illustration is best there is:

and I just took a photo of the connector place by the window:

plus another picture with the extension cable in place and loop connected for summer mode:

 

[Santtu]

...and if there are more people out there without the extension cable here is the label for it:

 

[pippo44]

Thank you Santtu, i hope i can disconnect the cable without unmount the hard top.. i don't want to reinstall it

 

[Santtu]

Thank you Santtu, i hope i can disconnect the cable without unmount the hard top.. i don't want to reinstall it

I do not think there is any way for you to connect the cable after you have installed your hard top. This is where the owners manual goes horribly wrong. Unfortunately my post #1 was also wrong for the sequence (as I could not edit it when I learned this, forum does not allow editing old posts). Fixed this in post #32 under this same topic.

For last winter I ended up removing the fuse as a precaution for not to heat up the folded soft top accidentally or by a guest driver (my son, wife etc). It was not a problem, the cabin is so small that it heats up just fine without the rear window heater.

 

[ameridan]

In case someone is led to your instructions via my article link, I've pointed out the changes from your post #32, @Santtu. Added a couple more of your new, helpful photos as well.

 

[Santtu]

I swapped the original M8x55 8.8 bolts to M8x30 10.9 bolts. I cannot fathom why the roof designer included such a long bolt where the threads on roof are quite short, and the place to screw it is in small, tight, miserable, will require funny poses and aircraft mechanics fingers. Shorter bolt will do the same and be radically easier to screw in. Basic rule of engineering: A bolt will carry if it is both on treads for it's width and tightened correctly. Original at the bottom, new replacement at the top:

As I said in post #25 I forgot those sponges last spring and lost them. I manufactured new ones. Did not bother to finish those pretty, it does not matter as those are totally hidden between the hard top and car:

Winter is coming but I am ready for it. Atleast for roof, that is:

 

[BlueLineGarage]

omg.. looks awesome.. great add-on to the car & the carbon makes it pop. get the carbon door handles so it matches.

 

[Santtu]

get the carbon door handles so it matches.

Not really looking to change door handles, but links to carbon window trims would be highly appreciated. Have not seen those made out of carbon fibre and for sale anywhere.

 

[Stex27]

Then comes the hard part. Mount the other two bolts and support brackets on each side where a B column would be. The brackets come inside just behind the door and the place is difficult and tight to operate with.

Note that the brackets are not identical, they are mirror images of each other. They are not marked for side so you need to do some testing. I tried several times on both sides untill I was convinced I had it right. After this I labeled brackets for L and R for the future.

The hook at the end of the bracket goes around the soft top seal. When tightening the brackets one must be careful not to squeeze and brake that seal.

Placing the bracket and bolt in the correct position, and then screwing the bolt requires aircraft mechanic's fingers. For me the left side went in quite painlessly (bolt in the below picture halfway in) after I figured out following posture; Screw it facing forward of the car with right hand behind my back while supporting my body with the left hand from the threshold of the door. Nope, cannot see what you are doing unless you have an eye in your but. A second posture is more sensible but less fun to explain, you will figure your postures out when you are installing your bolts.

I put the bracket fork hidden inside the roof upholstery.

Could you better explain please? Could you post a video o more pictures?

 

[Santtu]

Could you better explain please? Could you post a video o more pictures?

The location of the brackets without the roof blocking view:

 

[Stex27]

Anyone out there able to help with this one?

Hi many thanks for the help. I have the same trouble. I can't find the wire connection. Do you made any progress on that?

 

[Santtu]

Hi many thanks for the help. I have the same trouble. I can't find the wire connection. Do you made any progress on that?

Reply #43 of this thread

 

[Santtu]

Video of the hard top removal (and few other Spring stuff like swapping to summer wheels):

 

[Santtu]

I was asked if I have seen any wear or tear on the soft top after storing it stowed under the hard top over past winters (2018-2019 and 2019-2020). The answer is nope, I have not.

The soft top season up here is at best 6 to 7 months so the soft top remains stowed for months at a time.

I do store my car on a warm garage in winter so I do not have it out there under the elements and harsh freezing cold.

 

[kingbiscit]

Hi. I finally managed to get hold of the hard top from Mopar. Huge thanks to the original poster as it gave me confidence to order it for my Fiat 124. Just got a question about the power cable, hoping someone might be able to help. Both ends have two connectors.

I unplugged the wire going from the car to the windscreen and connected it to the hard top. Is the idea you also keep the soft top connected with the other white connector?

Then connecting to the car I can only see the one black connector, whats the other one for?

 

[Santtu]

I unplugged the wire going from the car to the windscreen and connected it to the hard top. Is the idea you also keep the soft top connected with the other white connector?

Then connecting to the car I can only see the one black connector, whats the other one for?

View attachment 81873

You cannot connect it the way you described without braking the connectors. You will connect the white connectors to the soft top cable and car harness. Then on summer, without the hard top, you will connect the this extension cable (in picture) black connectors to each other, and then on winter with the hard top you connect one of the black connectors to the hard top cable. I.e. this extension cable that came with the hard top stays permanently in your car. With the plugs on the wire this is btw teh only way to actually connect it.

 

[kingbiscit]

Thank you for replying. Just to double check:

1. with hard top on
One white connector from extension connected to car (where soft top was connected), the other connected to the soft top (previously connected to car). Black connected to hard top.

2. without hard top
Keep extension in place, black cable previously connected to hard top, connects to other black cable.

Really appreciate the help

You cannot connect it the way you described without braking the connectors. You will connect the white connectors to the soft top cable and car harness. Then on summer, without the hard top, you will connect the this extension cable (in picture) black connectors to each other, and then on winter with the hard top you connect one of the black connectors to the hard top cable. I.e. this extension cable that came with the hard top stays permanently in your car. With the plugs on the wire this is btw teh only way to actually connect it.

 

[Fire]

Hi. I finally managed to get hold of the hard top from Mopar. Huge thanks to the original poster as it gave me confidence to order it for my Fiat 124. Just got a question about the power cable, hoping someone might be able to help. Both ends have two connectors.

I unplugged the wire going from the car to the windscreen and connected it to the hard top. Is the idea you also keep the soft top connected with the other white connector?

Then connecting to the car I can only see the one black connector, whats the other one for?

View attachment 81873

Thank you for replying. Just to double check:

1. with hard top on
One white connector from extension connected to car (where soft top was connected), the other connected to the soft top (previously connected to car). Black connected to hard top.

2. without hard top
Keep extension in place, black cable previously connected to hard top, connects to other black cable.

Really appreciate the help

Hi. I finally managed to get hold of the hard top from Mopar. Huge thanks to the original poster as it gave me confidence to order it for my Fiat 124. Just got a question about the power cable, hoping someone might be able to help. Both ends have two connectors.

I unplugged the wire going from the car to the windscreen and connected it to the hard top. Is the idea you also keep the soft top connected with the other white connector?

Then connecting to the car I can only see the one black connector, whats the other one for?

View attachment 81873

Hi just wondering if you have the Mopar link to order the carbon roof and costs? Thank you.