Walrus, it sounds like it could have gone a lot worse. I usually err on the way-overbuilt side. Before I start, my hard top situation is to use a 3-fall block-and-tackle that I tie off to one of those nautical blocks. THen I hoist it up to put ropes around ceiling joists and boards for the top to sit on. It works, but that's it. The hoist was from a Jeep. The balance of the top on this T-bar is the tough part. It's a bear to wrestle with the top. Even with the hoist. I think it weighs 165 lbs. Every year I do it alone and have had some pretty ugly experiences, but I'm getting better. I have some dents in my trunk lid, I think from the PO. In '99 I brought the top up stairs to my condo (with help from my girlfriend, now wife) and have the scratches to prove it.

I tride to get away with using a 6"x4x4 block, the tall way, on the saddle of my jack. The car rolled and I smashed the oil pan of my wife's Honda Del Sol. I dinged the pick-up too. To save money I bought an aftermarket oil pan, it's different and the holes don't quite line up. Damn I'm Stupid...

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Steve
1985 Mercedes 500SL Euro (Gray market)
1995 BMW 520i Euro (Gray market)
1992 BMW 525it Wagon
1994 Honda Del Sol Si