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View Full Version : Something "Big" In Store for my xD


YELOSUB
08-18-2011, 09:39 PM
Well my wife surprised me for my birthday and it finally came in today...Headed to Randode's on Saturday for the install...Let's just say it's "HUGE"...Pics to come after install, stay tuned...And it hasn't been done yet on a xD...:)

Whack-A-Mole
08-18-2011, 09:53 PM
You've peaked my interest. I have no idea what it may be, but from watching you in the past I know it will be clean!

simmons0613
08-18-2011, 10:42 PM
tell me!!!!

katchkillah
08-19-2011, 04:43 AM
oooh someone throwing on them ist bumpers?

jester4666
08-19-2011, 05:28 AM
waiting *cue suspenseful music*

CWB211
08-19-2011, 07:09 AM
Can't wait to see what it is!

Resolve
08-19-2011, 08:04 AM
definitely can't wait to see what it is

JDMJim
08-19-2011, 09:14 AM
not motor swap, intake plenum, airride, turbo, not bodykit, AWD conversion?

simmons0613
08-19-2011, 09:22 AM
its about time something big happened lol HURRY UP AND POST IT THAT BEAST!

YELOSUB
08-19-2011, 12:42 PM
I know it won't fit everyone's taste but its what I've wanted for a long time...Tomorrow can't come soon enough...I was getting bored with the xD, hopefully this will restart my fire...

TIKI
08-19-2011, 08:04 PM
Can't wait to see what it is.

YELOSUB
08-20-2011, 09:53 AM
Today's the day...Headed over to Randode's in a little bit...I will take pics of start to finish...

robbiej
08-20-2011, 10:26 AM
You really should be in Reno right now......

YELOSUB
08-20-2011, 02:11 PM
Ok install started at 10....It's going slow but it is coming along....Taking pics as we go...

TIKI
08-20-2011, 02:18 PM
Needs some pics.

YELOSUB
08-20-2011, 06:34 PM
Won't post pics till were done....Just putting the final touches in and then gotta put the car back together...I think it looks sick though...

Whack-A-Mole
08-20-2011, 07:52 PM
Huff! Your such a tease.

YELOSUB
08-21-2011, 12:21 AM
Ok long day, just got home...Please be patient with me, gotta upload the pics...Turned out sick!!!!

---------- Post added at 10:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 PM ----------

Well the time has finally come...I did give you guys a hint in my original thread...I used the words "BIG" and "HUGE"...Well those words describe the size of the hole we cut in my roof...

I decided to ragtop the xD and also re-cover the headliner with black perforated vinyl to match the ragtop headliner...While we were at it I painted the visors and oh sh!t handles with flat black vinyl and fabric paint...That stuff rocks! The ragtop is 35" wide by 44" long...Its made out of black canvas top with the perforated vinyl headliner option...I got it with the brushed aluminum frame...

I owe a BIG thanks to Randy (RANDODE) for another kick a$$ install...This mans talents are truly remarkable...And yes, all out of his garage...He doesn't need a fancy shop, simply his hands and his imagination...So Randy, thank you very much...I know it was a long day but in the end the juice was worth the squeeze!

I also want to thank Will (phatchef) for hanging out with us all day and lending a hand, running to Ace Hardware and Checker Auto...Will also donated the plastic to cover my interior, blue tape, and a spray gun so we could glue down the headliner...So Will, thank you my friend...

I know I'm gonna hear, "oh my God you cut the support beams." They didn't do sht...Plus the ragtop frame fits tightly and I have absolutely no flex...It was so nice driving home with the ragtop open and the windows down...Oh what a feeling...

Here is the ragtop freshly out of the package:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0452.jpg

Headliner dropped and support beams exposed...Actually all but one of them were held in by glue:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0449.jpg

Frame positioning:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0456.jpg

Interior protected from all the metal shavings:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0461.jpg

No turning back now:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0465.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0473.jpg

Test fitting the aluminum frame:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0475.jpg

Test fitting the ragtop:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0481.jpg

Time to work on the headliner...Got the material at an upholstery shop here in town...Cost was $28 total:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0482.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0483.jpg

Painting the interior pieces...The A, B, and C pillars will be covered with the perforated vinyl at a later date:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0486.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0487.jpg

Here are the finished pics! Sorry about the quality of the pics...It got late and I was using my HTC Thunderbolt to take the pics:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0490.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0491.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0501.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0489.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0497.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0500.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0503.jpg

Last but not least...

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb107/yelosub/IMAG0499.jpg

TexXBox
08-21-2011, 01:15 AM
:winner_first_h4h: :happy160: I applaud your courage and execution. Well done man.

YELOSUB
08-21-2011, 01:20 AM
Thanks! I'm not gonna lie, I was a little nervous...Once we started cutting, there was no turning back :)

TIKI
08-21-2011, 05:18 AM
Awesome job, looks great.

simmons0613
08-21-2011, 08:48 AM
:D I love it! I've been debating on doing this for awhile now, but I've just never cajones to do something like this on my own. But congrats and it look great!

YELOSUB
08-21-2011, 01:55 PM
Thanks Matt and Chris...Chris I got your PM and responded back...

jester4666
08-21-2011, 02:18 PM
very nice

phatchef
08-21-2011, 03:27 PM
looks great Tim. i have had mine for over 6 months in the xb and i love mine. Was a good time had for sure. now i know how to tear apart the wifes xd. looked great this am at breakfast.

simmons0613
08-21-2011, 03:32 PM
how much did that think cost you...I mean your wife? lol

YELOSUB
08-21-2011, 04:45 PM
The top was $425 from http://ragtops-online.com/ but that's because Randy gets a deal from the vendor here in Az...You might be able to call Randy at 602-904-0542 and ask him about it...Tell him I sent you...You would have to find a shop to install it for you...

htheduck
08-21-2011, 06:18 PM
Congrats! Looks good.

YELOSUB
08-23-2011, 10:43 AM
Thanks Howard...Still have a few things that I would love to do...***cough***airride setup...

simmons0613
08-23-2011, 03:13 PM
ask resolve about that

Resolve
08-24-2011, 06:49 AM
ask resolve about thatForget that he lives by Randy and I know he could get that hooked up for him and probably alot better than I could.

I am redoing my whole setup when I get into our new place. I will have a covered area to work and should be saving money so it will present prime opportunity to update some thing and finish some things and get new things going.

YELOSUB
08-26-2011, 04:28 PM
Yea Randy is a one-stop shop and his bag kits and installations are second to none...Randode, FTW...

SciFion
08-27-2011, 10:27 PM
Sweet result Tim! :happy107: What an awesome present from your wife..

YELOSUB
08-28-2011, 01:42 PM
Thanks Mike...Thats why I have kept her for 21 years :)

robbiej
08-28-2011, 07:05 PM
Very cool. I'm jealous, this is one thing that I would love to do to my car.

YELOSUB
08-29-2011, 05:05 PM
Thank you Rob...Can't wait for it to cool down here in Az...Even at 3am in the morning it's almost 100 degrees...In about a month it will be perfect ragtop weather...

YELOSUB
08-31-2011, 11:27 AM
Washed car yesterday for the first time since installing the rag and had no leaking issues...I was really happy....

robbiej
08-31-2011, 11:52 AM
yeah, PNW weather is not the best ragtop weather, but it would still be cool to have for those days when its just right outside.

Is it a universal fit top? And, did you add anything to the roof for strength? I was told that they couldn't put the Webesto panorama sunroof in our car becuse of the roof and I've always liked that too.

YELOSUB
08-31-2011, 02:47 PM
They cut it to my dimensions...I got it 35" wide (which is perfect) X 44" long...I could have went longer but would have had to re-position the antenna...As far as re-enforcement of the roof, there was only one actual beam that served a purpose...The frame of the ragtop provides plenty of support...

simmons0613
08-31-2011, 07:14 PM
But you did have to get rid of your dome light?

YELOSUB
08-31-2011, 07:59 PM
But you did have to get rid of your dome light?

Dome light is gone...Still have the front two map lights...

robbiej
09-01-2011, 04:48 PM
But you did have to get rid of your dome light?

I want to do a dome light delete anyway and put led's in between each oh shit handle.

If I had the cash to do this, I'd do it. May have to save up, lol.

YELOSUB
09-01-2011, 05:31 PM
I want to do a dome light delete anyway and put led's in between each oh shit handle.


If I had the cash to do this, I'd do it. May have to save up, lol.

Do it :)

CWB211
09-01-2011, 09:12 PM
I saw a DIY of that on either SL or sciko, just sets off the interior if you ask me, so cool... if I wasn't so utterly bad at wiring I would try it out also, haha.

YELOSUB
09-01-2011, 11:56 PM
I suck at wiring too, good thing I have Randode here in Az...