I clicked your link but no pictures. Am I doing this right?

 

Pictures

I put them in the thread can you see them now? I had to put them in as stupid attachments, cant seem to get to the image manager.

 

Yep, they're up.....wow, got your hands ful.....but dont worry, I did it, so can you!! Dont forget to consider restoration of the blk frame.
Joe

 

Yes, by all means post. Any and all photos and tips are welcome.
I will be doing the same in about 2 months.

 

Phase 1 removal

First remove the chrome top pieces just behind the top of each door.

Next remove the carpet, and the door jamb. you will find small pieces screwed through the carpet ( two screws each) they are tie downs. and or twist lock things. These are for the convertible top hold down straps, and for the convertible top cover if you have one.

Carpet out

 

Phase 1 continues

Next lift up the vinyl flap to reveal the 22 nuts which hold the vinyl flap and the top to the sides and back of the car. Remove the nuts and washers and store in baggy or container. I recommend covering the back and sides of the car with a blanket so you can lean in through the back window. I think this is easier than working from inside, and since my back window was trashed i just went in that way

Remove the retaining strip and carefully remove the vinyl strips underneath, I think most new tops dont come with new ones.

Looks like I have some cleaning to do here.

I marked the pieces and put up arrows on the back piece so that I dont get confused later ( happens a lot to me), OH BTW SAVE THE VINYL STRIPS.

 

Good thread !! Thanks for posting.

 

Very interesting thread, keep on posting

 

Great work. This type of information will prove valuable to lots of Alfa D-I-Y'ers.

Note that the 22 studs holding the rear of the top can be somewhat fragile. Especially after years of corrosion. A drop or two of penetrating oil (I like PB Blaster) before trying to remove the nuts may avoid that "Oh dang" feeling if one (or more) break. Also, be nice to the future owner (or perhaps yourself) and apply a bit of anti-sieze to the studs/nuts on re-assembly.

While you have the top off, check the drain holes and rubber hoses. You can see one of the hoses towards the right side of the first photo in reply #7.

 

Drain holes

Eric
Thanks for the tip. When I do my clean up I will shoot a couple of pictures, and include clean up as a phase. Hopefully get to it today.

 

Loving your pics good job .. cant wait for next set.

 

Phase 1 removal continued

Ok Next set. Drill out rivets on side supports 3 on each side use 1/8inch drillbit. You may notice oil here I sprayed this on the turnbuckle ( later phase)

Peel vinyl/cloth from side support

Be sure to pull out metal strips behind side support. These are what go inside the top and the rivets hold onto them.

Here's where I am now.

 

Phase 1 continued

Now remove the turnbuckles (1 on each side) which hold the wire running through the frame to keep the top tight. I sprayed mine down with a bolt loosener.

Use 7mm wrench/socket to loosen the lock bolts from the little sleeves this is spring loaded, but not with a lot of force.

Pull the plastic cover off of the wire loop(if its still there). straighten the wire and pull off the bottom spring retainer and spring.

next unscrew the assembly from the frame

Store all parts safely. I eat a lot of Atoids ( sometimes I even clean the tin out before I store my parts)

Thats all for now.
Gabriel

 

Phase 1 continued

Next we have to remove the T bolts that hold the edges of the top turned down on each end of the windshield. ( 7mm)

Store them safely for later.

 

Many times you'll find that the "T" bolts were lost long ago and POs had used ordinary bolts. While replacement "T" bolts are really hard to find, you can make a suitable substitute from an ordinary "elevator bolt" available at Ace Hardware by grinding it into a "T" shape.

 

What a great post! It is truly said, "A picture is worth....etc." Sharing your step-by-step install with pics is truly a generous act. Keep up the good work, and I know I speak for all my fellow Alfisti when I say "Mil Grazi!"

 

Phase 1 removal continues

Thanks for everyone's support. Next we have to carefully remove the weathersrip from the front bow. I pulled back the sides and soaked the whole thing down with armourall/silicon lube.

next carefully pull the strip out of the track. You can get replacements at IAP or Centerline. Don't know if you can see it, but mine is cut off at each end, and should really extend beyond the track a couple of inches. I will order a new one,but to keep things going I will probably put this one back in temporarily. ( thanks to Roadtrip and Slash for info on Weather strip)

Next drill out the rivets(6)to remove the track. Same process as before 1/8th drill bit.

Clean and store safely for later.

 

Thanks for taking the time to document and post your efforts.

The weatherstrip for the front bow is available from Centerline and IAP.

 

Weather strip



Yep just found that out. Going to order and replace later, but want to get her on the road so I will use the old one for now, then update the thread later.

 

This looks great so far, keep it up!

I have a question though. When i bought my car, the top was new and recently installed. The turnbuckles on the vertical supports of the top in my car are not connected to anything. I have no idea what they do. My top fits quite well and is tight so I probably won't change anything, but for future reference, where does that tightening wire between the two turnbuckles go? What is its purpose? Thanks.


Happy motoring

 

Turnbuckles



The turnbuckles attach to a wire that threads through the top to the sides of the windshield where it is secured by a rivet. I will show this when I do the install.

 

Don't worry folks

Don't worry folks, work is progressing well. I am through the clean up phase and into the installation phase. Lots of pictures to upload, but just trying to get her back on the road.

Gabriel

 

Great post, take your time we can wait!

 

Phase1 Removal final step

Ok last part of removal. Peel the top off the front bow.

Ok Here is where we are. time to clean up.

 

Phase 2 Clean up

For this phase you will need acetone, rags and a scraper of some sort. Next scrape and clean the old glue off of the bows. I laughed when Home Depot offerred me a quart or a gallon of Acetone, but I used almost the whole quart. REMEMBER DO THIS OUTSIDE, or you will get even more brain damage.

I found this wicked scraper that worked well on the curved surface, I know it scratched through the paint a little, but I touched up with some black trim paint before installation.

In the end it was lots of acetone, rags and , elbow grease.
Here is the side pillar glue removal. BEFORE

And AFTER

Clean the front Bow underside really well.

 

Phase 2 clean up continues

Now I vacuumed up all of the junk not caught by the blankets, and ( I didn't forget) cleaned the drains from the rain gutter/rail at the back of the car.

 

Phase 2 Clean up continued

I scrubbed, vacuumed, then used some Fantastik to get the rest of the grime out of the back area. This leaves less stuff to trap and hold moisture in the rain gutter.

Here's how it looks now.

final vacuum