I own a 2001 with a plastic top and my buddy has an 2003 with a glass top. Long story short, we agreed to swap tops, just straight trade. Is this fairly easy to do? Ive been searching, and all I find is the glass top's being modified to fit the plastic top's frame. But no straight trades. Is it as simple as unbolt my top and rebolt onto his? Basically what im asking is.. Can I swap my 2001 frame, top, window and all with a 2003 frame, top, and window? Is it as easy as bolt in and bolt out?

 

"I'm looking to remove the entire frame and soft top off my ap1 and install the '03 frame/ soft top. Is this possible?"

 

Do it with the frame and all, it's much easier.

 

yes, if you do with the frame then its a staright forward swap....pretty nice friend you got there wanting to take your plastic rear window

 

haha you lucky person you

 

Just wondering, why does he want plastic window?

 

i did this swap when they stole my seats ********. i got a 03 soft top for like 300 bucks shipped and started to go to work on the car. Took about 2 days because of scheduling issues. It is a bitch if yo use a 03 with a 00-01 frame. The tops are different on the inside. There is a strap that holds a frame bar that is not there on the 00 or 03 i forgot which one. You have to use elastic straps as well and then drill extra holes in the top frame bars to hold the straps. use rivets to tie attach the straps properly. After awhile they wear out though. Bottom line is i suggest getting the whole thing if you dont mind paying the extra money for an extra frame.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdm93cx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just wondering, why does he want plastic window?</TD></TR></TABLE>

lets just say he owes me big times =P<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM knowledge &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i did this swap when they stole my seats ********. i got a 03 soft top for like 300 bucks shipped and started to go to work on the car. Took about 2 days because of scheduling issues. It is a bitch if yo use a 03 with a 00-01 frame. The tops are different on the inside. There is a strap that holds a frame bar that is not there on the 00 or 03 i forgot which one. You have to use elastic straps as well and then drill extra holes in the top frame bars to hold the straps. use rivets to tie attach the straps properly. After awhile they wear out though. Bottom line is i suggest getting the whole thing if you dont mind paying the extra money for an extra frame. </TD></TR></TABLE>

and I KNOW about the skin swap.. i am talkin about the whole frame swap. Why does everyone keep telling me about modifying the frame etc etc. I KNOW THIS, but im not swapping skins, i am swapping the entire assembly

PS- im not gettin an atitude, i just keep getting the same response about modifying the top every other post and it has nothign to do with what i am asking

 

Stand up at your computer and control your tone when speaking to JDM_knowledge.

All jokes aside, it's a direct swap.

 

hahhaha im sorry jdm_knowledge, soo just bolt in bolt out? i have them both sittin in my garage but im so scared to take on the task

 

Have 2 people, 3 if you're scared. S@ntos and I did the swap in about 2-3 hours with beers and smokes in between. If you need a step by step I can drink one up.

 

if u drink one up i will be forever indebted to you

 

Be prepared. I'll drink one up with coffee just for ***** and giggles. It's only 11, I have another hour before I'm legally allowed to drink on the job.

* - has screws
# - has plastic clips
ST = softtop

Start with the top up.

1) Remove these interior pieces: Take your time and find all the screws, or else you'll be pissed.

Door jams
* Rear side panels (with the brushes, fuel door latch cover) that cover the motor
* Two rectangular panels behind the seats
* Center console lid
#Rear panel that the ST rests on, the long rectangle piece behind/above it, and the 2 sides of it that the frame rests on.
Seats (optional) gives you more room

2) Unbolt the 10mm gold nuts that hold the (3) metal stiffener bars that hold the rear edge of the ST to the chassis. The botton edge of the ST has a plastic gutter for water drainage; pull/pry out from underneath the molding.

3) * Undo all the screws that hold down the roll hoop covers.

4) Unbolt upper seat belt bolt.

5) Pull up on roll hoop covers to access bolts, undo the metal ST motor brace plates.

6) Loosen 12mm bolts that hold the motor assemblies, then drop your softtop all the way.

7) Take off the bolts, then carefully remove softtop from car with 2-3 people. I went up, then back over the trunk, then on the ground.

8) Install new one.

 

TAHNK YOU SIR!! i will do this probably tommorrow and ill let u know how it goes, seems pretty straight forward!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by its_mee_tuan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">TAHNK YOU SIR!! i will do this probably tommorrow and ill let u know how it goes, seems pretty straight forward!</TD></TR></TABLE>

I skipped the cussing and pissing and bitching part from not being able to access the screws, but yea, pretty straightforward.

Oh yea and the smoke breaks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr. Projekt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Stand up at your computer and control your tone when speaking to JDM_knowledge.

All jokes aside, it's a direct swap.</TD></TR></TABLE><FONT COLOR="d54544">haha i like that its goin in the siggy lol.
But yeah i guess pretty much what Dang said. I have never takin out the whole assembly but it seems he summed it up. good luck! </FONT>

 

i have a friend with the 03 glass top and mine is an 00 but he wont trade anyways good luck u should take pics of the whole process and post it in a d.i.y. cause im thinking of doing this cause i found a glass top with the frame and im thinking its going to be easier to swap the whole thing