MERCEDES-BENZ #107 BODY 1972-1989
How to Install a Convertible Top
TOP #107-3040
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Back to How to Install
The following information is supplied as a customer service
guide only. World Upholstery & Trim recommends professional
installation of all our products. No guarantee or warrantee with regard
to results of installations made by this guide is made or implied.
Tools required:
Phillips & Slotted Screwdriver --Scissors --Marking
pencil or Chalk --Metric socket set
Blunt stuffing tool (rounded putty knife)--Awl
Spray Contact Adhesive 1 lb. #000-9410 or Brush On Contact Adhesive,
(purchase locally)
Pulling wire
Weatherseal Adhesive black #000- 9412--Silicone Sealant, Black
#000-9413
Protective blankets --Masking tape
Pliers or Vice Grips--Hooked tool
Additional parts not included that may be required:
Top Straps, pr. #107-3056, Top to windshield
weatherseal #107-2196,
Door glass to top frame weatherseal horizontal #107-2199,
Vertical door glass to top frame weatherseal #107-2200,
Upper A post weatherseal #107-2291/2292
Top to rear deck lid weatherseal #107-2198
Preparation
* Inspect contents of box against your invoice, especially
color and material.
* Protect car with fender covers or blankets to avoid
damage to finish.
* Tape protection over inside and outside of plastic
window on new top.
Pre-Installation
*Unlatch and release back rail and lid.
*Unlatch header bow and retract frame for better access
to weatherseals and retainers.
*Inspect top frame and seals for damage or deterioration.
*Lubricate pivot points with non staining lubricant (WD40)
*Delay installation if all parts necessary are not at
hand.
Top Removal
The front horizontal door glass weatherseal and vertical
retainer assemblies are removed as follows:
With a wedge or flat screwdriver, carefully remove the rubber
seal from the retainer.
Old or deteriorated seals may tear or not seal properly .
Order #107-2199 if required.
Next remove the seal retainer held in place by phillips screws.
The vertical door glass rubber weatherseal and retainer are
removed in the same manner.
Check the seal for serviceability, if replacement is necessary
order #107-2200.
Next remove the flat head phillips screw and cup washer lying
behind the vertical seal retainer.
The vertical flap can now be peeled from the vertical frame
member.
Clean off any old adhesive.
Repeat the process for the other side.
The header bow weatherseal and retainer are then removed.
Inspect rubber seal for serviceability, if replacement is
necessary, order # 107-2199.
Peel the top away from the header bow; pliers will aid in
the separation.
Again, clean off any old adhesive.
Remove the chrome screws and cup washers from sides of header
bow, these screws are also used to secure the side tensioning cables to
the frame.
By carefully applying a solvent to the listings, the adhesive
can be softened and the listings are then easily removed from the bows.
Clean any remaining old adhesive from the bows.
With most of the deck and vertical flaps now free, loosen
the nut that secures the side cable and pull the cable from the frame.
The back bow listing can now be removed from the frame.
Raise the rear frame rail to the vertical position. Start
the removal of the rubber weatherseal from the retaining rail by twisting
the seal inward and away from the rail while simultaneously pulling the
interlocking lip from the groove with a hook tool.
Be careful not to damage the seal with this tool.
The remainder of this step can be completed without the use
of this tool.
Inspect the seal for serviceability, if necessary replace
with # 107-2198.
Remove the flap from the rail, begin separation of the two
by using the hook and continue by pulling the flap.
Pliers may be used if necessary.
Clean off any old adhesive.
Before installing the new top it is critical that
the bow height be checked and if necessary be reset to factory specifications.
This is especially important on older cars which may
have had several replacement tops.
This is done with the frame up and the top locked into position.
The dimension of the exposed cable between the rear rail
and the back bow should be 17 1/2 inches.
Readjust the cable if necessary.
This is a good time to inspect the top straps. Worn, frayed
or discolored straps may be replaced with part#107-3056
Top Installation
Set the new top into position on the car. Check that everything
is in order and that window and car protection are in place.
With the front rail in the vertical position, apply contact
cement to the underside of the rear rail.
Apply the cement to approximately 2/3 of the channel at each
side of the locking pin.
Contact cement can now be applied to both the right rear
and left rear retainer flaps.
The adhesive should be concentrated from the seam to approximately
1 1/4 inches outward on the flap to insure an adequate bonding to the retainer
rail will be made.
While allowing the contact time to set and become tacky,
a dry run on setting the top to the rear rail should be made.
Start by centering the top to the rail.
The seam on the skirt of the top is positioned directly on
the edge of the rail.
The top is pulled around the rail so that the notch in the
flap meets the end of the rail, the skirt will flow in a smooth continuation
of the rail and meet the body of the car.
Fit the skirt along the edge in short segments forming a
relatively flush extension of the rail.
When satisfied, use a blunt stuffing tool to push the flap
into the channel.
Using this procedure, continue setting the top along the
rear portion of the retaining rail.
Before using a blade or scissors to trim away any excess
flap material from the inside the channel, make sure the fabric is pushed
tight into the curve of the channel. Rubber seal should be fitted
later..
Apply contact cement to the side sections of the rear retainer
flaps, both left and right.
Once the cement has become very tacky, set the rear side
portions of the top on the rail, remember the notch in the flap goes flush
with the end of the rail.
Again, once you are satisfied that the skirt is a flush continuation
of the rail, place the flap and using the blunt stuffing tool apply pressure
to permanently set the flap into the channel.
This procedure is repeated for the other side.
Trim excess if necessary.
The key to a trouble-free installation at the front of the
top is keeping in mind that the front bow and listing stitch are your reference
points when gluing the top to the header bow.
Apply contact cement to the header bow and front of the top.
When setting the front of the top to the header bow, begin
by straddling the listing over the front bow and make sure the corner is
properly positioned.
Work your way across the front, keeping the stitch and bow
alignment uniform while placing the top to the header bow.
Go to the opposite corner, and place the remaining portion
of the front to the header bow.
Remember the stitch should be positioned uniformly over the
first bow.
Continue to check and reposition as necessary.
Once you are satisfied with the front of the top, install
the cable screws in the header bow.
Using an upholstery pin, locate the exact position in the
top that will align the screw with the cable eyelet and the hole in the
header bow.
Once this has been found, mark the spot and with a punch
make a small hole in the top.
Pull the side cables thru the pockets with the strings provided.
If the strings have been removed, use a wire pull to fish them through.
Put the chrome phillips screw through the screw eyelet, through
the top material, the cable eyelet and into the header bow.
Apply contact cement to the underside of the header bow at
the ends and along the front edge of the header and deck.
Once the contact cement becomes tacky, use a blunt tool to
set the front of the top to the underside of the header bow.
Apply contact cement to the underside of the front side flaps
and set into place.
With the front corners now in place, apply contact cement
to the outer side of the front side flaps and to the horizontal door glass
seal.
Allow time for the glue to set and place the seal into position.
When fitting the top under the header bow, the excess material
is removed by making two relief cuts.
The first cut is made along the deck seam and should stop
about 3/4 of an inch from the leading edge.
The second relief cut will be near the end of the header
bow. Work the excess material into a pleat.
Make the second notch cut leaving about 5/16 inch of material
from the apex of the cut to the edge of the header bow. Trim the reinforcement
as well.
Apply contact cement to the pull tab you have just created
and pulling it inward toward the center of the header bow, cement the tab
into place.
Contact cement can now be applied and the remaining front
of the quarter glued into place.
The front of the top is now ready for final trim.
Make sure enough material is left so that unfinished edge
of the top underlies the weatherseal retainer and not beyond.
The retainer screws should fall about 3/16 to 1/4 of an inch
inside the trimmed edge.
Re-install the header bow weatherseal retainer.
The weatherseal is held into the retainer by an interlocking
lip.
Using a blunt tool, work the seal back into the retainer.
Apply adhesive to the end of the header bow and the weatherseal.
Press the end of the seal into place.
Install the horizontal door glass seal retainer.
The weatherseal is interlocked in its retainer with a blunt
stuffing tool.
Thread the side tension cable through the hole at the top
of the vertical frame member, route it around the stud and bring it back
through the lower hole.
With the pliers, pull the cable taut and tighten the cable
stud nut.
Cement the pull tab to the vertical member by applying contact
cement to both surfaces and pulling the tab tight enough to properly position
the binding to the edge of the frame then set the tab.
With the upper and lower side corners set, apply contact
cement to the vertical frame member and vertical flap.
The extra material has been left at the bottom of the flap
to bridge the gap between the bottom of the vertical frame member and the
body of the car.
Glue and fold the material forming a seal of sorts which
lies on the body.
Trim the excess material.
Set the vertical flap into place on the frame using a blunt
stuffing tool to press it firmly into the corner. Trim the excess flap
material.
Use a pointed tool to find the hole in the frame member for
the flat head screw and eyelet.
Make a hole for the screw. Install the screw and eyelet.
Locate and make the necessary screws holes for the retainer.
Install the vertical door glass seal retainer with the retainer
screws.
Now install the vertical door glass seal, again interlocking
the seal lip into place with a blunt stuffing tool.
When attaching the listings to the bows, keep in mind that
the unfinished portion of the listing is wrapped around the bow first and
the portion with the folded finished edge is installed last to provide
a nice finished look and avoiding unsightly frayed edges.
It is best to use two light coats of spray adhesive on the
listings.
Protect the top from overspray and apply contact cement to
the bow and the unfinished listing edge.
When the adhesive is tacky, wrap the listing around the bow
and smooth it out.
Apply more adhesive to the covered bow and finished edge.
When adhesive is tacky wrap listing around the bow in the
opposite direction.
Smooth out the listing and repeat the procedure for the remaining
bows.
Remember the unfinished edge is wrapped first followed by
the folded edge.
With everything else in order the rear retainer can be raised
to the vertical position for installation of the rubber seal.
Interlock the lip of the rubber seal into the channel using
a blunt stuffing tool and work the lip into the channel.
Start the installation from the center and work toward the
end. It may be necessary to apply soap as a lubricant.
Latch the top into position.
Use contact adhesive to glue the horizontal side seals which
have been provided in the space between the door glass and the horizontal
flap on the top.
Remove tools and protective coverings.
Check for excess adhesive and clean off with solvent.
Elapsed time approximately 4 hours.
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World Upholstery & Trim also supplies additional
upholstery items for most Mercedes Benz models as well as Ferrari, BMW,
Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Saab and Jaguar models. Call us @ 805-921-0100
or 800-222-9577.
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Floor Mats * Carpeting * Headliners
* Tonneau Covers * Boot Covers * Convertible Tops
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01/15/2009
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