Taking off and putting on NC Miata hardtop by myself

[@gregory549]

+1 for great music. And now we all know the blanket method.

[@aclaffie]

I had to add the music because someone across the street was mowing his lawn.

[@MiazdaDude]

I would love to see a full review or more details of the hardtop like what additional items are required for the install.

[@payymeee4640]

If you even had a na or nb Miata. Is kinda the same.

[@peterstevens4223]

I just back mine into the garage and lift it off with my make shift pulley and leave it attached to trusses on the inside the garage roof!

[@aclaffie]

Back in the stone age when I got my first hardtop, I got one of those pulley things for the garage ceiling. I strapped the thing up and lifted it off the car, and just stood and watched the roof swinging ever so slightly over my car. Nope, I thought, I can't trust that. I have used it to put on and take off the top, but can't trust it for long-term storage.

[@Kirkster131]

Thanks for keeping us all entertained during lockdown...

[@alfnitro6104]

Looks like a lot of hard work, but you made it possible. If I went for one of those hard tops, I would probably never take it off.

[@theislerider9513]

Get a hardtop... it is worth it, if you sell the car. Hardtop is not that heavy. I think, under 20 kilogramm.. I can remove it myself, I am 70..👻🇩🇪

[@luhburrtorohdus1229]

@@theislerider9513you strong af sir

[@jessicablackwell956]

Such a pretty car.... such a pretty driveway full of pretty cars lol

[@vlenhoff]

I have the PRHT, but I also love the looks of the removable shell. Either way, you can't go wrong with a miata NC.

[@usat42]

my car has the folding roof 12.5 seconds and away you go . i take the roof where ever i go

[@Tintoycar]

First time i see the difference between manual hardtop and electric hardtop, the last one must have a small cockpit.

[@salami99]

that car looks great from the side.

[@maximeandre9234]

Bonjour, Ou trouver un Hard top please ?

[@troyboy2027]

Hopefully I can wake this thread up after a year but curious what hardware you had to buy or install in order to use the hard top since you bought it used? I’m looking into getting one for my 2011 but haven’t found info on if this top uses the Frankenstein bolts like the earlier versions.

[@aclaffie]

I lucked out in that the person who sold me the hardtop had almost all the hardware needed to use it: the side strikers, the replacement interior plastics, and the defroster pigtail. I did have to source Frankenstein bolts from a Mazda dealer, and they weren't that cheap.

[@troyboy2027]

@@aclaffie you wouldn’t by chance have the part number for the Frankenstein bolts? My dealer could only find the ones listed for 90-05 model years and had nothing listed for the NC Miata. My gut says they use the same bolts but ya never know until ya know… ya know? 🤪

[@aclaffie]

@@troyboy2027 From what I can see looking stuff up online, you're looking for NF28R138XB (Part #17 on this page: www.onlinemazdaparts.com/a/Mazda_2008_MX-5-Miata-Grand-Touring-Convertible-20L-MT/_51505_5962164/REMOVABLE-TOP-GLASS-TOP--COMPONENTS/5427560.html). Part says it only fits 2006-2008 but I can't imagine anything there actually changed for the entire NC production run. I tried looking up a 2014 and it wouldn't even give me the option of looking at anything RHT-related.

[@BROKENoTHUMBS]

Hi there, I’m looking to get an NC MX-5 myself but I’m a bit uncertain as to which version would be best for me, I see you’ve got both the PRTH and obviously the clip on hardtop, is there a noticeable difference in wind noise when driving them? Also can you feel a weight difference? I’ll be using it as a daily driver, I know the PRTH is probably the better choice but I love the look of the hardtop, any advice?

[@aclaffie]

I don't notice any difference in wind noise, the PRHT seals extremely well. There is a weight difference (2390 lbs vs 2500 lbs) but it's not noticeable just driving around, and the PRHT car does just fine autocrossing and track days. For a daily driver I think the PRHT is an easy choice just for convenience and security, although I also prefer the look of the removeable hardtop.

[@Tedaus20]

Hello. You removed it with one latch in the middle. Did you not put the right and left front/side brackets on? or did you just unscrew them beforehand and not film it?

[@aclaffie]

I undid all the latches before filming.

[@arnold-12]

Where did you pick up the aftermarket hardtop from? It would be a nice addition for myself when it rains :(

[@aclaffie]

It's an OEM top, but it's had its interior stripped because it was being used on a race car. I bought id from the racer after they crashed the car.

[@theislerider9513]

YAZZ.. I do exactly the same with an old blanket ON the trunk..and remove the hardtop by myself.. AND.. I have one of those baggage carriers mounted on the trunk. NO problem.. Another blanket lays behind the car.. to place the removed hardtop there. BUT.. I unscrew the 2 little srews and 4 bolts. That takes only 5 minutes..! Don't be that lazy.. 🥳 NEVER do it as shown here.. shoving the hardtop with force. This results in damaging the plastic protectors around the "Frankenstein bolt" BTW.. I am 1,75 meter, 80 kg and next year 70..🇩🇪💪👍🍀🍀🍀 Greetings from Berlin, MX5-NB, 2002

[@Incriveles]

Mines is the Mazda original detachable hardtop and when I’m driving on bad road surface it’s making terrible shaking noises... Do someone experience the same?! Is the rubber liner maybe worn out?!

[@therealrealshocker]

The rear Frankenstein bolt latches need to be adjusted to get rid of the squeak

[@Lewis-gf6on]

How do you remove the plastic trim on the inside of the hardtop?

[@aclaffie]

This is how I got it. It came off race car so the interior was removed and bits of the interior fiberglass was trimmed for roll cage clearance.

[@radekw708]

is there a soft top under there?

[@aclaffie]

Yes

[@ShaneXCS]

Boss!

[@sleeks9939]

Is the soft top on a NC to a hardtop inner changeable and easy to swap?

[@aclaffie]

If you're asking if it's possible to change a soft top car to a power hardtop, it's not.

[@sleeks9939]

Alan Claffie thank you.

[@Julie-uo8wg]

Ha ha ha what about a 5'5", 130 lb Girl?? I'd love to remove this by myself!!

[@TonyMoscato]

Where did you get the hardtop??

[@aclaffie]

I got it used from a racing team that crashed its car. You can see its interior trim is missing.