Ok, the back seat is out. All the screws are removed from the side panel but the only thing holding it in place is the roll bar. It is loose so I can see that is the only thing holding it. The panel does have a slot in it to go around the roll bar but it would take a lot of bending to get it out around the roll bar. Any of you guys know how this comes out -- is there a trick? I don't want to damage the panel because I bet the side panels are fragile.
Quote from: eric lipper on September 04, 2020, 07:46:06 PM
Ok, the back seat is out. All the screws are removed from the side panel but the only thing holding it in place is the roll bar. It is loose so I can see that is the only thing holding it. The panel does have a slot in it to go around the roll bar but it would take a lot of bending to get it out around the roll bar. Any of you guys know how this comes out -- is there a trick? I don't want to damage the panel because I bet the side panels are fragile.
You have accessed the situation correctly. You have to bend the panels down or up to get it by the diameter of the rollbar. I have found that bending both half way keeps from having to bend one too much. Sometimes they will crack other times not. Take it slow. Best of luck.
Thanks Bob. Looks a little crazy but I will give it a shot and report back.
Quote from: Bob Gaines on September 04, 2020, 08:09:30 PM
Quote from: eric lipper on September 04, 2020, 07:46:06 PM
Ok, the back seat is out. All the screws are removed from the side panel but the only thing holding it in place is the roll bar. It is loose so I can see that is the only thing holding it. The panel does have a slot in it to go around the roll bar but it would take a lot of bending to get it out around the roll bar. Any of you guys know how this comes out -- is there a trick? I don't want to damage the panel because I bet the side panels are fragile.
You have accessed the situation correctly. You have to bend the panels down or up to get it by the diameter of the rollbar. I have found that bending both half way keeps from having to bend one too much. Sometimes they will crack other times not. Take it slow. Best of luck.
Bob, I chickened out on removing the side panels and replaced the hydraulic ram for the convertible top just by working through the well. After I looked at the side panels it really did not look like removing them made the job much easier. As an aside I would like to see someone do the Houdini on a convertible side panel because that looks like i would break it for sure and I did not want to damage my OEM side panels.
Quote from: eric lipper on September 05, 2020, 05:37:48 PM
Quote from: Bob Gaines on September 04, 2020, 08:09:30 PM
Quote from: eric lipper on September 04, 2020, 07:46:06 PM
Ok, the back seat is out. All the screws are removed from the side panel but the only thing holding it in place is the roll bar. It is loose so I can see that is the only thing holding it. The panel does have a slot in it to go around the roll bar but it would take a lot of bending to get it out around the roll bar. Any of you guys know how this comes out -- is there a trick? I don't want to damage the panel because I bet the side panels are fragile.
You have accessed the situation correctly. You have to bend the panels down or up to get it by the diameter of the rollbar. I have found that bending both half way keeps from having to bend one too much. Sometimes they will crack other times not. Take it slow. Best of luck.
Bob, I chickened out on removing the side panels and replaced the hydraulic ram for the convertible top just by working through the well. After I looked at the side panels it really did not look like removing them made the job much easier. As an aside I would like to see someone do the Houdini on a convertible side panel because that looks like i would break it for sure and I did not want to damage my OEM side panels.
If you hadn't done it before or are unsure of yourself then it was a smart move on your part. You don't want to take a chance if you don't have to. I have had to do the Houdini trick so many times I have lost count and still get that nervous feeling everytime I have to take one off for whatever reason. I am glad to hear you got it done.