Convertible Questions, Spyder Owners Welcome

[FallenKing]

I just bought a GST that used to be a parts car, and I'm fixing her back up for the road. The top is bad though, really bad, so one of the metal support beams is broken, which tore a hole through it, but I think the top is just overall compromised because I temporarily duck tapped it to keep the water out and the whole car is soaked every rain fall. The motor sounds like it works, but it gets stuck halfway, I think because of the broken beam. When I switch to manual I can get it all the way down.


Has anyone replaced their top before? Has anyone replaced the whole unit with the beams?

I need pictures of the whole process, and I need to know if the top, the whole set up will fit in the back of an x5 if you take it out of an eclipse. I found someone doing a part out and the top and beams are good, for 200 bucks! Can't say no to that, just the top replacement on ebay is 350.

 

[spyderdrifter]

Yes, the entire top plus frame should easily fit in the back of an X5 just fine, as long as it's folded. You could even fit a folded spyder top in a hardtop DSM with the rear seats down. Get that deal, don't pass it up. I think it'd be a lot easier to replace the top as a whole since the canvas is already attached. At that point, you'd just be bolting it in and lining everything up. Good luck.

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

I replaced the top on one of my Spyders a few years back. I transported it in the trunk of a 90s Accord, so not much room is needed.
$200 is a helluva deal for a top assembly, so I would jump on that. Be sure to get the motors with it, as yours may be stressed from the damaged top. It's a pretty straightforward swap, but I would recommend having a friend there to help lift and line things up. It's possible to do it alone, but not fun at all.

 

[FallenKing]

Thanks for the Reponses guys, it sounds like I wont have to much trouble moving it or replacing it. Does anyone have a walkthrough? sounds like it should be pretty self explanatory once is start taking it apart, but pictures are always nice!

 

[spyderdrifter]

It should be relatively self-explanatory compared to replacing just the canvas. I've never done either, but as long as you pay attention to what goes where, you shouldn't run into any problems.

 

[DogWhistle]

There are YT videos on replacing the canvas, but none that I'm aware for replacing the entire mechanism.

As long as you pay attention to the attachment points on your old frame, you should be fine.

The frame piece below the trunk lip -- yes, there is one under there -- has to be inserted first.

I'm sure you'll do great.