Installing a soft top

[Froggy]

I'm getting ready to help a friend install his new soft top. I did this on mine, but it was confusing. I'd gotten some contact cement from the Benz dealership that was supposed to be for this, but it became non-adhesive after 5-10 minutes--way too fast to work with. I wound up using a can of contact cement from Home Depot.

I used wax paper between the adhesive surfaces, removing it little by little as I was pulling and fitting the canvas to the rail. I got it done, but it seemed like there had to be a better way.

Was I doing it wrong?

Froggy,

Check out www.worlduph.com and you will find detailed instructions as to how to install top. I have been thinking of trying this project as well but each time I take a long look at it I change my mind. I have read these instructions several times and still may get the courage to try. Let me know how it goes.

I did this job with a can of Evostick which worked just fine - I'm UK based so don't know if you can get Evostick in the US. Basically you want an impact adhesive - trick is to cut it just right, line it up and then stick it together. Most important part of the whole job is to start at the back, centre the material correctly and the rest is easy (just don't cut anything until you're sure it's right).

Good luck

[maheath]

I used 3M Super Trim Adhesive. It setup well, but it was a pain to use because it's a spray adhesive. There's a few places where it really was difficult. Spraying the front was difficult with the frame on the car. You can't spray the inside bpws with the frame on the car. Now that I think about it, it's just a bad idea to use 3M Super Trim Adhesive with the frame on the car. I managed to spray the front rail and the vertical strips along the windows with the frame on the car, but I had it off for the rear rail and then took it off again to do the inside bows

Use 3M Weatherstrip adhesive for the seals.

The rear frame is the most important part and you're just asking for trouble if you attempt to do it by yourself. On my first attempt at the rear frame, I tried to do it by myself, big mistake. The next time, I had four people help. This time is came out really nice.

Froggy, sounds like you know what youre doing. I did mine myself, the hardest part was getting the old adhesive removed. Several people warned me about the rear part and how it must be stretched properly, and they are right. That was the hardest part, I did it several times before figuring out to use wax paper. Total job looks very good. By the way I used contact cement from Home Depot and about 10 throw away paint brushes.
Good Luck
Bob