rkitect
03-03-2012, 10:12 PM
So we're starting to have more top down days than non top down days here in the midwest, and I've decided to pull my hardtop off. This was the first season I've had it on and seeing as it's a Kirklin I kinda guessed as to whether or not it was fitting right. It stayed on at highway speeds, so I'm guess it was good enough, but could have fitted better. So I have a couple of questions for some hardtop veterans and some veteran mechanics.
The first is, does anyone know if there is a Kirklin installation or fitting guide? I'd like to know if I'm even remotely close to fitting this thing properly.
Secondly, When removing the top, I noticed a sloshing sound, and sure enough it appears as though I have some water entering the top. As you can see from this pic I have some tinting needing replaced.
http://gibsonhh.info:8081/photos/cache/Carl_and_Joanna/Cars/miata/Hardtop/DSC03930_w640.jpg
The white are is the area where the seal has failed and pulls freely from the top. Would it be as simple as replacing the seal here or would the entire sheet of glass need to be pulled to complete this job properly?
Thirdly, I noticed some microfractures in the fiberglass on the interior of the top. Should I be concerned or is this normal wear after 20 years of use (manufacturing date is 92 on this top). Seen in these pictures:
http://gibsonhh.info:8081/photos/cache/Carl_and_Joanna/Cars/miata/Hardtop/DSC03929_w640.jpg
http://gibsonhh.info:8081/photos/cache/Carl_and_Joanna/Cars/miata/Hardtop/DSC03928_w640.jpg
Lastly, I would like to replace all of the bolts on the top as they are undergoing the good ol' Kirklin rusting process. One, however, has frozen and the head has stripped. Any recommendations on how to replace it without ruining the embedded threads.
http://gibsonhh.info:8081/photos/cache/Carl_and_Joanna/Cars/miata/Hardtop/DSC03931_h640.jpg
TIA,
The first is, does anyone know if there is a Kirklin installation or fitting guide? I'd like to know if I'm even remotely close to fitting this thing properly.
Secondly, When removing the top, I noticed a sloshing sound, and sure enough it appears as though I have some water entering the top. As you can see from this pic I have some tinting needing replaced.
http://gibsonhh.info:8081/photos/cache/Carl_and_Joanna/Cars/miata/Hardtop/DSC03930_w640.jpg
The white are is the area where the seal has failed and pulls freely from the top. Would it be as simple as replacing the seal here or would the entire sheet of glass need to be pulled to complete this job properly?
Thirdly, I noticed some microfractures in the fiberglass on the interior of the top. Should I be concerned or is this normal wear after 20 years of use (manufacturing date is 92 on this top). Seen in these pictures:
http://gibsonhh.info:8081/photos/cache/Carl_and_Joanna/Cars/miata/Hardtop/DSC03929_w640.jpg
http://gibsonhh.info:8081/photos/cache/Carl_and_Joanna/Cars/miata/Hardtop/DSC03928_w640.jpg
Lastly, I would like to replace all of the bolts on the top as they are undergoing the good ol' Kirklin rusting process. One, however, has frozen and the head has stripped. Any recommendations on how to replace it without ruining the embedded threads.
http://gibsonhh.info:8081/photos/cache/Carl_and_Joanna/Cars/miata/Hardtop/DSC03931_h640.jpg
TIA,