Top cover install questions..

[garion]

While waiting on my steering box (damn you USPS..), I've 'repaired' my top cover. It only involved gluing the plastic pieces back into place... So now I'm attempting to put it on... Here's how I'm attempting to do this, with a question at the end..

So step one, strap down the top:


Then the back hooks:


Then the front plastic clips:


I'm missing the snaps, so no snaps on the side.

But finally, I have some hooks at the bottom of the cover, that I'm not sure what to hook to:


Where do I hook those?

[juvius]

that's a good question, john... i've wondered about that to...

[johndemar]

On the rear interior trim panel there should be a hole for the hook. Was your panel recovered?

[paintdudeluke]

O drilled mine, I think at one time there might have been a piece that it hooked to but a 3/8 hole is what I used. Don't be shy and drill a tight hole, it makes em a pain to get out when you're pulling it off.

[garion]

On the rear interior trim panel there should be a hole for the hook. Was your panel recovered?

Which panel are you talking about? I have a backseat there, not a deck. Or are you talking the side panels?

I found that the hooks will reach a bar on the top itself. I think its the front-most bar. Maybe thats it?

[dmwhiteoak]

In your first picture I believe you have it hooked wrong. The strap goes over the point with the latch closed. Seems like your putting alot of pressure on that latch the way it is now. Mine has holes in the side covers on both sides of the back seat.

[garion]

In your first picture I believe you have it hooked wrong. The strap goes over the point with the latch closed. Seems like your putting alot of pressure on that latch the way it is now. Mine has holes in the side covers on both sides of the back seat.

I just tried putting it over the point. Its much tougher to do that.. It ends up slipping off, pulling the latch back to more or less the same position I have it. It doesn't really feel like that much pressure in its current position.

[FiatJB]

The strap goes over the point with the latch closed, it should stay and not slip off. You may need to push the folded top down a bit. The hooks on the boot hook into a hole one on each side of the inside of the car. Those panels under the rear side windows. There should be a hole in each, unless as someone else mentioned the side panels were covered over at one time by someone and they hid the holes. Feel with your hands for the holes, you should be able to find them. It will keep the boot from flapping while driving

[FiatJB]

Go to JOann fabrics or a boat store and buy a snap kit. Cheap. I like using the boat store because you'll get stainless steel snaps. You get both the snap and the snap receiver and a seat and tool to install the snaps on the cover. All you'll need is a hammer for that. Screw the receiver snap into the side panels, if the holes are too big use a small scrap of tin from a coffee can as a backer for the screw to bite into. The finish look of the boot with the snaps and hooks really does make a difference

[garion]

So I've adjusted my straps:



I went searching for the hole people are talking about, and found one right behind the other end of the straps.. Is this what you guys have been talking about?



On the other side of the car, that hole has a plug in it...

[garion]

Correction, the hole on the other side doesn't have a plug. I found a different hole with a plug. So here's to hoping those holes are the correct ones!

[FiatJB]

You got both correct, i should have said the strap goes over the entire latch. You figured it out as well as the boot hook strap