Sofa King
Sofa King Reader
1/31/12 11:00 a.m.

We are painting a Miata and I can't figure out how the trim around the top well comes off. Anyone know the trick? I am talking about the trim that sits above the rain rail that the Parade Boot would hook over.

I have removed the end caps and the ends move a little, but I am hesitant to pull harder not knowing what is fighting me.

EvanB
EvanB GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
1/31/12 11:35 a.m.

When I painted mine I couldn't figure out how to get it off so I just masked it off. I know that is absolutely no help to you.

EvanB
EvanB GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
1/31/12 11:38 a.m.

This picture would imply that it is pressed on, perhaps held with some adhesive?

Edit: I think that is just the trim around the hardtop, not what you are looking for.

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
1/31/12 11:50 a.m.

It's stuck on with sticky goop, similar to the stuff inside the doors. I'm pretty sure you have to pull the top to get it off. Not that it's difficult. I've pulled them off on every Miata I've painted.

Sofa King
Sofa King Reader
1/31/12 12:28 p.m.

Thanks Keith! That is what I needed to hear.

Evan, Thanks for the effort! And on a completely different note, I noticed that your Miata had a Black Hardtop on your Classic Red car. I am painting this car blue and I have a perfect red top that I will have to paint Blue to match the car. And it pains me to paint a perfect top when the black one that I have is a little chipped up and could use a repaint. Would you be interested in trading your black top, for a near perfect red one. I am just west of Cleveland, so I am about an hour from you. It would be great if your top was better than my Black one, but either way I just don't want to paint this good red one.

EvanB
EvanB GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
1/31/12 1:39 p.m.

I would be interested in trading but I don't think you would be. I'll post up some pictures of mine in a few minutes.

EvanB
EvanB GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
1/31/12 1:48 p.m.

Here are some pictures of mine, chips around all the edges and along the top edge, as well as lots of chips and scratches over the rest of it. I would be good for a repaint but you probably wouldn't want to trade a perfect one for it.

Sofa King
Sofa King Reader
1/31/12 2:14 p.m.

My black top is probably a little better than yours is, but I don't really think that it would take much more effort for me to paint your top than it would to paint my red one. How is the rubber trim and headliner?

Mine doesn't have the defroster.

I was hoping that yours would be an improvement over my black top so that I don't have to paint both of my tops, but if I get close to the time to paint my top and I haven't found a better black one, I would still rather make the trade, even if the only benefit is that you get a better top. I have learned with fellow GRMers that good deeds have a way of getting paid back!

EvanB
EvanB GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
1/31/12 2:17 p.m.

The headliner is in good shape. I haven't taken a good look at the condition of the rubber trim but it hasn't leaked at all.

Mine came from a 92 with the defroster, I don't have any of the wiring for it though so it isn't functional for me.

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