Finally started on replacing my soft top! Took my old man and I 3 hours to remove it using Autotop's instructions. Decided to call it a day and reinstall it tomorrow.
Hardest part was getting the plastic stripping out of the base bow's channel. Also some extremely awkward screws to remove but we got there in the end. Not sure how we will get on with the reverse but lets see!
My tip: Definitely remove your parcel shelf and access the bolts that way for the bow. No reason to go from inside the cabin it's awkward as hell.
Another note regarding the headliner: I don't remember which thread it was but a member said you could not remove the headliner without removing the entire roof assembly from the vehicle. This does not seem true from what I can tell, though I can't say what the minimum removal would be. At the very least where I am right now with mine (soft top outer 100% removed from car), I can definitely remove the liner.
Would it be less effort to do it with the entire assembly/hydraulics out? Not sure on that one. Just some info/ideas for anyone doing a job around these things in future.
Some pics:
Old ratty roof
Damage from vandals during previous owner's watch. This has irked me every day for the last 3 odd years so I am excited to be rid it!
Interesting patch job..
OFF! Recommendation to others is to NOT cheap out on masking up the edges where the bow comes out. Everyone says this - and everyone is right. Literally the only part I didnt mask I had some vinyl wrap damage - but not fussed as that corner was bad anyway so I'll just patch... on top of the patch that was already there
Stay organised
Whie access was super easy (you can still access it without full disassembly), fixed up my headliner bracket/strip. All of mine were broken - I'm surprised half of them still held! Really easy to do especially if you have a little modelling drill to make a pilot for the self tapers.
Tidied up and cleaned out the area around the drain hole and did some organising the best I could with the hydraulic lines from the motor relocate