top replacement guide?

[wengr]

Hello. Is there some online guide that would help with the replacement of the top on an 83?
This will be the first time I have replaced a top on any car. Thanks in advance.

[toplessexpat]

http://www.fiatplus.com/members/tech200.htm

[wengr]

That will do it. Many thanks.

[paintdudeluke]

Read the directions twice, throw them on the bench, pay attention when you take the old one off, and the new one goes on in the obvious way. My first one was under 4 hrs start to finish. I could replace it now in under an hour and a half. Piece of cake. Pay a little attention to the front edge before you screw the front piece tight (you'll know what I mean) other wise the front edge might look goofy and you'll have to redo that adjustment. Do that part with the front flipped back so you have slack to work with. There is nothing that needs muscled during the installation. Do some searches here. Piece of cake job.

[MrJD]

Anyone got a picture of their car explaining this?

[spiderrey]

One is the early car bow, the other is the later car bow. Top has to match bow.

[seabeelt]

Check out convertibletopguys.com they have a good explanation as well. I got my top from them as they are local to me and was very happy with the product. It fit extremely well.
R/

[toplessexpat]

Anyone got a picture of their car explaining this?

If you post a picture of the front of your convertible top we'll do our best to identify which one you've got. However, given you have a '83 I would suggest you have the later curved one (bottom in the diagram).

Here's a good pictorial tutorial too. http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... &start=225

Good luck!

[124spiderman]

Its in Spanish, but handy nevertheless
http://www.corujoxx.com/MIWEB3/clubfiat/capota.htm

[wengr]

Thanks for all the replies. Installation is going well. One thing is this car, (1983), has velcro down the backside of the rear quarter glass, and the old top had velcro to match. This new canvas top has no velcro, but instead it has a strip of material with adhesive in that area. Not sure what I am supposed to do with it. Supply my own velcro strip and stick it to the new top?

[124spiderman]

Velcro will work.