Hi, love the channel. I have a 2005 Mazda speed Miata that I'm restoring. I replace the soft top a few months ago. I agree completely it was the hardest thing I ever did on a car. But I would do it again (just not too soon) and I did do mine by myself. I did get help placing it on the car. I did the install with the frame off. The worst part was putting in the back metal brackets. I had my head holding up the glass my hands pushing in the metal on to the studs. It was hot I was sweating and cursing the entire time. My hands hurt for a week. I bought the Robbins top and I think it is good quality, well so far. I paid 800 for the cloth with the non zip able glass window. I had to use two ratchet straps to close the thing for the first few weeks. It closes fine now. I also fixed the two snaps on the window and used the Flying Miata replacement plastic pieces. It closes tight on the window now. Oh gluing the top in the front was a pain also. Good luck
I'm so glad to hear you struggled with it too. Lol. I'm waiting for all of the "Replacing the top is easy. I did mine in under two hours" comments to come flooding in. I know that "holding the rear window with my head" feeling all too well. Thanks for sharing and supporting the channel.
@@ExtremeDailyDrivers Now that you got it done aren't you incredibly glad you did finish, that you experienced it. A few times I was thinking of quitting. But I finished. It made me feel I can do anything now. I may do the body work and paint the car myself now. Would have missed out on that if I paid someone.
I know enough about these projects that no matter how difficult it is, it can, and will be finished. I also know what it's like to go to sleep on an unfinished project and that's not fun either. But to your point, yes I guess I'm glad I survived. Lol
...pay someone to do it, it is a dark day indeed and I live in sunny CA! Just kidding guys. There will always be something that we can do but is such a pain that it's better to "invest" into having it done, just like buying dinner when to tired to cook. I will say that it looks great, it's in the fitting period right now like wearing snug pants around the house to have them form properly. This build looks more badass every time we see it, great job guys!
That's a great analogy about going out to eat, JC. I think the terrible jobs for this build are almost complete. Hopefully, we'll be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel soon. Thanks for always watching.
Found your channel because I have a toaster too but I'm hooked on everything you 2 are doing,great content keep it up! If I ever get a Miata I'll make sure to get someone to do the top for me haha,don't worry Kelly the top looks great!
I wish you guys would have filmed the install. I'm about to do the top on my car and I want to install it myself, but it looks like theres not really much install help out there.
I'm sure you know the pain. We've all had those installs that were a fight from the start and this was definitely one of those installs. Thanks for watching and supporting the channel.
Awesome job on that top! Looks like a Speedster with that sloping roofline. I did my own top on a '69 MG Midget I owned in college. My wife helped me install it. It actually wasn't too bad, but each car is different. Got it from JC Whitney as that was all we had back then before online shopping, etc. The hardest job I ever did on a car was changing out all the bushings on my El Camino without a press. Used fire, bfh and big C clamp to wrestle those b@stards out. Pulling the dash on that car and replacing it years later after I had forgotten where everything went was also a pain.
Love the videos watching the whole series I did my top myself did most of it by my self was insanely hard but I’m glad I did it my self my wife helped me put it on the car just so I didn’t damage anything I have the same role at and all the inside metal was probably the hardest part and the corners at the bottom rear of the windows but other than that wasn’t to bad in the end I’m glad I saved a dime and did it myself because if I can suffer thrue that I can suffer through most of the other problems I have with mine
Digg-in the new top.... The install sounds significantly more frustrating then when you wrapped the xb steering wheel or redid the coil-overs on the toaster more than once! I'm thinking it's all down hill from here since you just finished the climb to Mt Everest. Sending love from sunny So Cal... :)
Wrapping the steering wheel was so easy compared to this and the coilovers tried to kill me, but I survived. I could do a coilover install in under 3 hours. It would still take me 10+ to do another top.
I have done this twice. I don't know what I am doing wrong but I must of skipped something. I didn't find it all that hard. Did you take the seats out? Did you remove the roll/brace bar? I did do plastic not glass for the rear window, maybe that was the difference.
Hey Brandon, if you think this was bad, don't ever work on an earlier 90's jet ski! They amount of money I saved working on it myself wasn't anywhere near close as what I could of got from donating the blood I lost! Just an FYI!!!! 😉
Question i have a 2013 Miata glass rear window. I live in Florida and the hole window fell in except the top part was still glowed in . I cleaned the window took the old glue off, recouped it, put it back in mind it up crammed a bunch of pillows and boxes holding the glass in place. Do you know how long it takes for the group to dry where I can remove the pillows and stuff hoping it works scraped off with a razor blade, then regroup around the outside of the window I can clean up the mess. Hopefully it works my top only 3 or 4 years old garage car
I know this is an old video but for those out there never get the zipper glass top it never lasts I am having to buy a new top due to the glass being to heavy for the zipper the top was replaced in 2016 it broke in 2022
DO NOT pay someone to do this! Not hard at all. I did mine 90% by myself it just takes patience but the steps are not hard. Rivet gun is easier than it sounds, I was intimidated at first but one I went for it and completed the top I realized I underestimated my abilities. These two make it sound much harder than it is. Pro tip: completely remove the frame from the car! That is probably why it was such a struggle. All I used for directions were RUclips videos as well.
The roll bar is what what makes it so difficult. If you don't have one, it's probably not as bad. We still would never do one again on our own. This is one thing that I will be happy to pay someone to do. Thanks for watching.
@@funretirementprojects7765 I would not recommend a canvas top. I my opinion they are not worth the money. With that being said, it's your car, do what you like. I had a Robbins canvas top back in the day and it didn't last 3 years. I would go with a different company. That's just my opinion.
Sierra tops are mid-grade and the instructions are a JOKE. It's a tedious job, like doing drum brakes. Even a nicer Robbins top is just as much a pain but a little better quality.
Hi, love the channel. I have a 2005 Mazda speed Miata that I'm restoring. I replace the soft top a few months ago. I agree completely it was the hardest thing I ever did on a car. But I would do it again (just not too soon) and I did do mine by myself. I did get help placing it on the car. I did the install with the frame off. The worst part was putting in the back metal brackets. I had my head holding up the glass my hands pushing in the metal on to the studs. It was hot I was sweating and cursing the entire time. My hands hurt for a week. I bought the Robbins top and I think it is good quality, well so far. I paid 800 for the cloth with the non zip able glass window. I had to use two ratchet straps to close the thing for the first few weeks. It closes fine now. I also fixed the two snaps on the window and used the Flying Miata replacement plastic pieces. It closes tight on the window now. Oh gluing the top in the front was a pain also. Good luck
I'm so glad to hear you struggled with it too. Lol. I'm waiting for all of the "Replacing the top is easy. I did mine in under two hours" comments to come flooding in. I know that "holding the rear window with my head" feeling all too well. Thanks for sharing and supporting the channel.
@@ExtremeDailyDrivers Now that you got it done aren't you incredibly glad you did finish, that you experienced it. A few times I was thinking of quitting. But I finished. It made me feel I can do anything now. I may do the body work and paint the car myself now. Would have missed out on that if I paid someone.
I know enough about these projects that no matter how difficult it is, it can, and will be finished. I also know what it's like to go to sleep on an unfinished project and that's not fun either. But to your point, yes I guess I'm glad I survived. Lol
...pay someone to do it, it is a dark day indeed and I live in sunny CA! Just kidding guys. There will always be something that we can do but is such a pain that it's better to "invest" into having it done, just like buying dinner when to tired to cook. I will say that it looks great, it's in the fitting period right now like wearing snug pants around the house to have them form properly. This build looks more badass every time we see it, great job guys!
That's a great analogy about going out to eat, JC. I think the terrible jobs for this build are almost complete. Hopefully, we'll be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel soon. Thanks for always watching.
Looks Great!!! And you did it yourself.
Thanks!
Found your channel because I have a toaster too but I'm hooked on everything you 2 are doing,great content keep it up! If I ever get a Miata I'll make sure to get someone to do the top for me haha,don't worry Kelly the top looks great!
What do you mean, "if I get a Miata?" Dude, you owe it to yourself to get one. Trust me. Thanks for watching!
Love the show!! Nice job, helped a buddy do an mg top many moons ago!
Then you know the pain! Thanks for watching.
I wish you guys would have filmed the install. I'm about to do the top on my car and I want to install it myself, but it looks like theres not really much install help out there.
There are a million videos on how to do it. If you google Robbins Top Install you will find a guide that we mostly followed. Good luck!
Hearing you speak of this. I can feel the pain for real 😅
I'm sure you know the pain. We've all had those installs that were a fight from the start and this was definitely one of those installs. Thanks for watching and supporting the channel.
Awesome job on that top! Looks like a Speedster with that sloping roofline. I did my own top on a '69 MG Midget I owned in college. My wife helped me install it. It actually wasn't too bad, but each car is different. Got it from JC Whitney as that was all we had back then before online shopping, etc. The hardest job I ever did on a car was changing out all the bushings on my El Camino without a press. Used fire, bfh and big C clamp to wrestle those b@stards out. Pulling the dash on that car and replacing it years later after I had forgotten where everything went was also a pain.
I too have replaced bushings before and it's not fun. Thanks for watching.
Love the videos watching the whole series I did my top myself did most of it by my self was insanely hard but I’m glad I did it my self my wife helped me put it on the car just so I didn’t damage anything I have the same role at and all the inside metal was probably the hardest part and the corners at the bottom rear of the windows but other than that wasn’t to bad in the end I’m glad I saved a dime and did it myself because if I can suffer thrue that I can suffer through most of the other problems I have with mine
Facts!! If you can survive the soft top install, you can do anything!!! Props to you for hanging in there! Thanks for watching!
It's snowing here in Chicago... Where do you live? I need to move! Looks beautiful out by you...
The Sunshine State!
Digg-in the new top.... The install sounds significantly more frustrating then when you wrapped the xb steering wheel or redid the coil-overs on the toaster more than once! I'm thinking it's all down hill from here since you just finished the climb to Mt Everest. Sending love from sunny So Cal... :)
Wrapping the steering wheel was so easy compared to this and the coilovers tried to kill me, but I survived. I could do a coilover install in under 3 hours. It would still take me 10+ to do another top.
I have done this twice. I don't know what I am doing wrong but I must of skipped something. I didn't find it all that hard. Did you take the seats out? Did you remove the roll/brace bar? I did do plastic not glass for the rear window, maybe that was the difference.
Hey Brandon, if you think this was bad, don't ever work on an earlier 90's jet ski! They amount of money I saved working on it myself wasn't anywhere near close as what I could of got from donating the blood I lost! Just an FYI!!!! 😉
Oh you don't have to worry about that! I hate jet skis! Lol Thanks for watching!
Question i have a 2013 Miata glass rear window. I live in Florida and the hole window fell in except the top part was still glowed in . I cleaned the window took the old glue off, recouped it, put it back in mind it up crammed a bunch of pillows and boxes holding the glass in place. Do you know how long it takes for the group to dry where I can remove the pillows and stuff hoping it works scraped off with a razor blade, then regroup around the outside of the window I can clean up the mess. Hopefully it works my top only 3 or 4 years old garage car
You can't be serious. Are you asking me how long glue dries?
could you do a video of all the cars you have owned
Yes! I'm not sure how many of you will watch it, but yes, I'd love to do that.
@@ExtremeDailyDrivers I think it would be interesting
Sounds like a pain lol but glad it’s coming along. Bless up guys! 🙏🏼
#TOOTSIEEROLLTOOSDAYY‼️💪🏼😎
Thanks for supporting the channel!
What's your retract top with glass window on Miata
Watch the video for the answer.
I know this is an old video but for those out there never get the zipper glass top it never lasts I am having to buy a new top due to the glass being to heavy for the zipper the top was replaced in 2016 it broke in 2022
Good tip. Thanks for watching.
DO NOT pay someone to do this! Not hard at all. I did mine 90% by myself it just takes patience but the steps are not hard. Rivet gun is easier than it sounds, I was intimidated at first but one I went for it and completed the top I realized I underestimated my abilities. These two make it sound much harder than it is. Pro tip: completely remove the frame from the car! That is probably why it was such a struggle. All I used for directions were RUclips videos as well.
The roll bar is what what makes it so difficult. If you don't have one, it's probably not as bad. We still would never do one again on our own. This is one thing that I will be happy to pay someone to do. Thanks for watching.
I laughed so hard! I know what that feels like.
It's fun to laugh about it now, but that will be the last top we ever install!!
What canvas top with a zip out window would you recommend? I will be having it professionally installed after your experience.
@@funretirementprojects7765 I would not recommend a canvas top. I my opinion they are not worth the money. With that being said, it's your car, do what you like. I had a Robbins canvas top back in the day and it didn't last 3 years. I would go with a different company. That's just my opinion.
Is there a video of the actual installation, and not just talking about it?
Nope. Search RUclips for another video. Thanks for watching.
You definitly pull the Frame, if you do, it' not that horrible...
you havent seen my garage
Sierra tops are mid-grade and the instructions are a JOKE. It's a tedious job, like doing drum brakes. Even a nicer Robbins top is just as much a pain but a little better quality.