Need urgent help with top installation

[dragracer]

Hello,
I'm in the process retoring my 70 Spider and now i've moved on to replacement of the top. I bought one of the cheap ones off Ebay and it came with a set of instructions. While i have no problems following the written instruction, the instructions have been copied so many times by the vendor that the illustrations are not clear at all. I very much need to see a picture of the areas that are rivotted to the top. The paperwork says there are 3 places that need rivotting. My old top did not have any rivots so i can' use it as a guide. I looked at Olberts site but again the pictures of the rivot locations is not clear. Unfortunately for me, no one in my immediate area has a Spider for me to look at for assistance.

This leads me to this question: Can someone please take some detail pictures of their installed top showing clearly where the rivot points are on the top? I'm a visual kind of person so the better details in the photo, the easier it wil be for my pea brain to know what areas the rivots are attached. I'm at a stopping point until i can get help on this issue. I don't want to proceed like a bull in a china store so this will be an exercise in patience until my fellow forum members come to my rescue.

For anyone who can help, please send picture to my email address : NEXTPLAIN@aol.com or post on this thread. I'll be twiddling my thumbs til then- lol .

[Foster48x]

dragracer,
Your in luck. I'm replacing my top today to. Give me a minute and I'll post you some pics of where the rivets are on the CS1 top.

Rick

[Foster48x]

Here ya go. The pics were taken with my cell phone so they aren't that great sorry. Looks like there are 2 rivets on each side of the front corners of the top where the flap hangs down to seal the window glass. The size of the rivets are listed on C. Obert's site. http://www.fiatplus.com/members/tech200.htm

They go through the flap and into a small bracket with a hole in it on the frame of the top to hold the flap down. Not sure if they're really necessary though. The CS2 top that originally came off of the car doesn't have them.

Here are some pics.
Rick

[dragracer]

dragracer,
Your in luck. I'm replacing my top today to. Give me a minute and I'll post you some pics of where the rivets are on the CS1 top.

Rick

Rick,
Thanks for the quick response. The EZ top i bought does not have any pre-made holes on the top where the rivots should go. I hate to take a guess and not be correct.

Looking forward to seeing your post. IF anyone else can help, please jump in with pictures or send me an email with photos attached. My email address is in opening post.

[Foster48x]

I just found another another set of rivets at the back of the flap (i guess to hold the back down). They look like they're at the top of the B pillar (the silver trim strip running vertical on the triangular top window). On the outside they're under the trim so it would have to be removed by cutting the rivet. They go through the top frame, then through the vinyl flap, then through the back side of the silver trim. I'll try to get you another pic of it.

My new top doesn't have the holes pre-punched either. Once I get the top installed and aligned I'll line up and punch the holes. Or I may just leave it without the rivets, haven't decided yet.

Hope that helps.
Rick

[Foster48x]

Once again not a great pic but you can see where the rivet comes out into the interior of the car.

[So Cal Mark]

I've never seen a top with the holes pre-punched

[htchevyii]

Once I got the top installed to my satisfaction, I just poked holes with an awl and stuck the rivets in. as long as the top is on and latched and you use the holes in the frame as a reference it sould be fine. I did try not using the rivets and the flap "flaps" around.
Here's a link to the best instructions I've found:
http://www.fiatplus.com/members/tech200.htm

[dragracer]

I've never seen a top with the holes pre-punched

Mark,

Thanks for letting us know. Do you have any pictures you can post?

[dragracer]

Once again not a great pic but you can see where the rivet comes out into the interior of the car.

So the rivot goes through the flap? I guess that means it shows on the outside of the car?

[htchevyii]

Yep, but only the front one, the rear is hidden by the weatherstrip.

[dragracer]

Thanks Rick and Trey. I really appreciate the help you guys gave me on this- it was my only sticking point before i began the installation. I read the instructions over anf over again but the words just didn't compute visually. Funny how something so simple just didn't feel right. I would never have imagined that the rivots would go through the flap like that and be exposed(front). Well, the garage is good and heated so its time to get to work.

Thanks again guys .

[So Cal Mark]

the rivets are the last step anyway, and lots of cars are running around without them. I don't usually put them in until letting the installed top stretch for a day

[mdrburchette]

I believe mine's one without rivets.

[So Cal Mark]

probably no ribbets, either