In the process of replacing my top on a '80. Trial fit looks good. But, what are the little brackets on top of the quarter window for? Also, it seems the area just above the quarter window has a small space where air or moisture could sneak in. Are these tops not totally sealed well in all areas? Also, do the side window flaps hang inside or out when windows are up?

If the steel cable that tensions the top is not going through the brackets on the rear quarter windows and then the channel lightly pinched on the cable you will have gaps as the top will not be stretched properly across the back ribs and pulled down enough.

Also, it seems the area just above the quarter window has a small space where air or moisture could sneak in. Are these tops not totally sealed well in all areas? Also, do the side window flaps hang inside or out when windows are up?

Based on what I see on my 72 (new top installed a year ago), the side window flaps are inside the door windows when the windows are fully raised. I recall a caution in the top manual I have about never raising the top with the windows raised (and doors closed, I'll assume). Even though it's not a tight fit, I've never had any leaks over the window tops.

If you're describing gaps on the angled top of the quarter window, my windows and the new top had matching velcro strips to close off (not necessarily seal) the gap. I usually press 'em down by hand to make sure. Again, no leaks from there, but I rarely drive it if there's precip.

Hope that helps.

Neil

So, even though the cable is inside the top material, you are saying to force the cable with top material under this bracket? Am I understanding this correct? It seems it would just pop out once the top is lowered, since the function of the taut cable when top is up, is to pull sides tight against windows.

80spiddy wrote:So, even though the cable is inside the top material, you are saying to force the cable with top material under this bracket? Am I understanding this correct? It seems it would just pop out once the top is lowered, since the function of the taut cable when top is up, is to pull sides tight against windows.

You make a slit in the fabric aligned with the bracket is my understanding from the written instructions that come with the replacement top package.

VampyRepo gave me a quick walk through and mentioned this as a critical step when I asked him about the top installation since he had the factory manual with good photos of the install and had just recently installed one. Mine was never fully installed and they left out the rivets along with the cables when they installed it so it crept back and self destructed over time along with does not leave me any clues to note about how to install it correctly when I finally get around to replacing it so I am still reviewing for missing parts and other issues I may have to deal with when finally rolling my sleeves up in a few weeks to replace it. My mothers sudden turn for the worse and recent passing rearranged my priorities and schedule the past month and a half so I am a bit behind.

I'll have to check the top I pulled off to see if the old top had those slits to prop the cable up on the brackets. That would make sense. Thanks. Sorry to hear about your mother. I lost mine last year shortly before I bought this spider.

Here are some on-line diagrams that I have found:

Thanks. That last pic is just what I was referring to. It looks like my old top had a slit on one side only for the cable to stick out and fit on that bracket.