TeamSwift

Like any 23+ year old car, things break. I was looking to purchase a factory drivers side rod that goes from the bell-crank to the latch mechanism. After pulling the front of the top off and taking a good look, saw that I was in luck. The original rod seems to be just weak steel brake line, or something like it. After visiting a few local hardware stores, I settled on getting two .5 meter 8mm OD, 6 mm ID Stainless 304 on eBay from China ($13 USD, delivered). It's CONSIDERABLY stronger than factory. I don't have a drill press, so I took a cruise over to my Machinist, Distributor fixer upper and Transmission Guy. fainya does not have a plain Jane drill press, it's huge. Because I am lazy, I only wanted to do this once, so I had him do it. Nice work, but I'll probably wait for a little warmer weather to fully crank down on the front top screws.

Might be a good idea to consider replacing your ragtops "coat-hanger strong" rods.

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'91 Metro 3 cyl. 'vert. 5 speed beater, built as a fun daily driver.
'92 Metro 3 cyl. 'vert. Auto, all factory clean.
'92 Metro 3 cyl. 'vert. 5 speed beater back up.
'91 'vert with factory 160 hp 13B two rotor, Very clean RX-7.

Helpful post, Mark.
Thanks.

diesel fit.

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1991 Blue Geo Metro Convertible highly modified 1.0L Turbo3 5 spd. - 1991 Red Geo Metro Convertible customized with a Twincam 5 spd.

My Turbo3 Project
My Cardomain Page -Ol' Blue
My YouTube Channel
My Photo Gallery
SAAB Sonett II

Do you need me to start making these for you all?

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Fainya
97 Geo Metro LSI,1.3L-GT-DOHC-16v,4.10 5-speed,A/C,170,000,suspension lowered 1",4 wheel disk brakes,15"alloy wheels with 185/50-15 Toyo's,GT bucket seats,analog oil pressure gauge,cruise control, new paint job. 40 mpg at 65 mph.
Good, fast, cheap. You only get two.

yup.

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1991 Blue Geo Metro Convertible highly modified 1.0L Turbo3 5 spd. - 1991 Red Geo Metro Convertible customized with a Twincam 5 spd.

My Turbo3 Project
My Cardomain Page -Ol' Blue
My YouTube Channel
My Photo Gallery
SAAB Sonett II

Only thing, the #14 rod, the longer one on the passenger side will need a slight bend to clear over the button that releases the latch handle. Otherwise, the latches actually close MUCH better and fuller than before. And the latch and Bell-crank are not "in line", so a little custom bending will be required.

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'91 Metro 3 cyl. 'vert. 5 speed beater, built as a fun daily driver.
'92 Metro 3 cyl. 'vert. Auto, all factory clean.
'92 Metro 3 cyl. 'vert. 5 speed beater back up.
'91 'vert with factory 160 hp 13B two rotor, Very clean RX-7.

I've got a bump sticking up under my 91 top. Do you think that it might be one of those rods that has a bow in it ?


Ken...........

Yes.

In the first picture, the Boomerang shaped rod at the bottom, that's it. They really aren't all that strong, fainya said something about "Coat hanger", and I agree. With these Stainless, the locking arms pivot all the way and pull the top down.
Might have something to do with needing to replace all those plastic latches. Symptom or disease, I don't know?

IMHO, once it gets warm to stretch a top back out properly, might be a good idea to replace them with some quality.

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'91 Metro 3 cyl. 'vert. 5 speed beater, built as a fun daily driver.
'92 Metro 3 cyl. 'vert. Auto, all factory clean.
'92 Metro 3 cyl. 'vert. 5 speed beater back up.
'91 'vert with factory 160 hp 13B two rotor, Very clean RX-7.

ken, you can open your top about halfway and gain enough slack to allow you to get your fingers between the top fabric and the header to touch your fingertips on the raised/ bent johnson rod. use steady, gentle pressure and press it into a straighter position.

i know i sound like a broken record but 99% of all problems like this come from ongoing denial that the vinyl rag has shrunken past the point of needing to be replaced.

spend some of that hoarded cash, buy a "good" replacement rag, install it, and go on with your life.

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1991 Blue Geo Metro Convertible highly modified 1.0L Turbo3 5 spd. - 1991 Red Geo Metro Convertible customized with a Twincam 5 spd.

My Turbo3 Project
My Cardomain Page -Ol' Blue
My YouTube Channel
My Photo Gallery
SAAB Sonett II

and of course get a pair of those aluminum latch catches made just for this wonderful little car.

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Less IS more.

I have researched the stainless steel tubing costs, the time to make a pair of rods, and getting the factory dimensions. The ends
require an offset bend, and the longer rod requires a 4 degree bend in the center. I want these to be drop-in-parts.
Looks like I can build these for $30 delivered continental USA. And $10 for Canada shipping.
So lets start taking orders for these. I will aquire the materials for this project when I have 10 sets confirmed orders.
The stainless is more expensive, but a much tuffer material so they should last forever.

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Fainya
97 Geo Metro LSI,1.3L-GT-DOHC-16v,4.10 5-speed,A/C,170,000,suspension lowered 1",4 wheel disk brakes,15"alloy wheels with 185/50-15 Toyo's,GT bucket seats,analog oil pressure gauge,cruise control, new paint job. 40 mpg at 65 mph.
Good, fast, cheap. You only get two.

i'm in for a set.

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1991 Blue Geo Metro Convertible highly modified 1.0L Turbo3 5 spd. - 1991 Red Geo Metro Convertible customized with a Twincam 5 spd.

My Turbo3 Project
My Cardomain Page -Ol' Blue
My YouTube Channel
My Photo Gallery
SAAB Sonett II

how would you replace the rods with minimum removal of the top

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02 bmw 330ci zhp
'91 Geo Metro Convertible 5-speed parts car
'92 project squishy viewtopic.php?f=36&t=43375
'98 Chevy K2500
'76 Harley Davidson FXE

unlatch the front header, fold the top back a little bit. pull clamp screws out, the clamp off, and the glued edge loose from the header. then pull the fabric back just enough to allow access to the latch control rods.

remove and replace the rods, glue the front edge of the fabric back onto the header and replace the mounting clamp.

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1991 Blue Geo Metro Convertible highly modified 1.0L Turbo3 5 spd. - 1991 Red Geo Metro Convertible customized with a Twincam 5 spd.

My Turbo3 Project
My Cardomain Page -Ol' Blue
My YouTube Channel
My Photo Gallery
SAAB Sonett II