Firstfives.org

What's the trick to opening the roof to reinstall the track plates ?

Headliner is pushed back. To install the roof panel the plates have to be off to allow the front nylon (football) brackets to sit on the track.

Position roof panel, attach rear triangle bracket plates to three bolts each side. Slide headliner,...a real bear to push, pull, wiggle into position to attach pegs.

The roof panel should slide back (?) by pushing the button, maybe have to help it, to be able to reinstall the track cover plates.

All mine is doing is wadding up the cables, not wanting to retract but about half.

The metal roof panel is installed AFTER the cables are installed. So, you install the cables with the bracketry for the roof panel, put the plates on and BAM!. Run the motor to put the cables into the vent position and attach the roof panel. Close the roof, then open it a ways to pull the headlining panel forward to attach to the metal panel. Done.

Done. I never removed the cables, just cleaned all the parts.

I doubt there are enough members any more to write about it. Suffice, fooling around to get the headliner snapped back on, the roof has to be helped to the rear by hand to keep the cables from bowing out of their tracks.

I've had them out and the cables out, but it's been so long I don't remember exactly how it went. Seems like it was pretty straighforward though.

It is as the Haynes manual describes. The problem with reassembly is in fooling with the top to get the headliner to slide forward, enough to get the pins to match up, by sliding the roof back, open enough to seat the pins.

Without the cables covered, using the handle or button to retract the roof only buckles the cables out of their tracks. Thus, it takes a hand to push the roof back while pushing the button.

Problem was, without the headliner happy, the whole contraption was jamming up refusing to retract.