Convertible top side cables

[TulsaSpider]

I have never had a convertible before. I guess I need some info because I didn't realize that my side cables were broken until someone told me **exactly** where to look. I plan to install my top (if it ever frickin gets here) next weekend. As I just stated my cables are broken and I didn't realize that they were that important and that they were broken, so when I ordered my top I didn't order cables. Murphy's law! My dillema is this I am broke at the moment, I get paid next week, but too late to get the cables shipped in for the weekend. Can't I just get some cables made?? I was looking at the IAP website, and they just look like plain old cables with loops on one end to me. Does anyone know the thickness and length they should be?
Thanks
Clark

[rlux4]

Hi Clark. When I got my car it came with a new top in the trunk. One of the first things I did was install it. But it was without the cables. I had the same concern as you, but I found out (here, at good 'ol FS.com) that it's pretty common not to have them on. Their purpose I hear is to keep the top snug past the 1/4 window. I figured I'd let them go until it became an issue. It's been 9 months and my top is still tight without them. So I don't think you have to worry too much about it right away, unless you're going for totally correct.
Ron

[So Cal Mark]

totally correct, or looking for proper fit along the side windows. Cables are the last step, so they can be added later. Just make sure you leave the strings in place or you'll spend lots of time feeding the cables thru

[Tappy]

has anyone mounting instructions for them ? i have them haning loose also ....

[TulsaSpider]

Oh Ok.. interesting!! thanks for the input guys! I thought that they prolly couldn't be installed after the top was on, so I'll just put them on later I think!!

[rlux4]

You hit it right on the head why I didn't bother putting the cable in Mark. The top that came with the car is an "EZ On Tops" and it didn't come with the string. I'm sure it's a cheapo, but it looks fine, and the price was right.
Ron

[Nick]

I just got a new top too, and we put one of the cables through (it fell off of the string so it took quite awhile to fish through). We hooked the looped end around the cable the way we thought it should be done, but it didn't quite seem right. If anyone knows of instructions or pictures of a correct one please let me know. Thanks!

[Curly]

These couple of pictures may help you figure out where the cables go.

[Tappy]

he thx curly that should do the trick , unfortunatly my mechanic skills are like your artistic talent

but i'll trie it anyway

[TulsaSpider]

Well.... I ordered mine from a place called Topsonline, but the tag says EZ on auto tops. It took almost a month to get here but it finally did. No strings however so I suppose I'll play it by ear on the side cables.

[Nick]

Where does the front end of the cable go, the one with the loop? We had to wrap it some odd way and I think its interfering with that part that the window touches.

[pauljdav]

Great info everyone! I installed my own top a couple of months ago and it was not too hard.

I have one of those cheap tops and it did not have the string so i bent a wire coat hanger and fed it from the rear of the top, then I duck taped the cable to the coat hanger and simply pulled it through. it took a couple of minutes on each side.

For the last question there is a screw on the front of the top for the "loop" on the cable to secure it.

The entire process only took me a couple of hours to save the 3-4 hundred my local installers wanted to charge for install.

By the way what is the preferred glue to use? I used contact cement that I simply "painted" on to where I needed glue.

Good luck to all who are installing new tops!

[TulsaSpider]

These couple of pictures may help you figure out where the cables go.

Hey guys!
With the weather turning soon I finally got some side cables and installed them. I just noticed that the "u-shaped tag" that the cable is supposed to run through. Well we crimped that down. While I can uncrimp it that's not really my question. On my top the cable runs well above that "u-shaped tag" so it won't go into it like that anyway. In other words the cable has to come down a bit from the channel in the vinyl top to go into the "u-shaped tag". What I am trying to accomplish is to make the part the secures with velcro above and behind the rear glass fit better. Should I leave it alone or bypass the "U-shaped tag" The other thing I was thinking of was just putting something like a strip of rubber on top of the rearward part where the velcro is to raise it up a bit and fit better. Methinks my top could have been a little wider!!