opinions please-convertible top selection
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 768
Likes: 0
From: Glen Mills PA
opinions please-convertible top selection
Hello, I need to replace the top on my 69 convert. Any opinions on who has a good product, or are they all the same? I understand there may a fabric top available vs the standard vinyl. Anyone do this themselves or should I take it to a shop? Thanks for any guidance. Tom
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 1
From: VetteMOD
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
This place sells cloth tops and vinyl. I don't know what the quality is like as I have never seen one in person.
http://www.topsonline.com/
http://www.topsonline.com/
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
My advice is to leave the installation of the new top to the professionals. You may be able to save some time and labor expense by removing the old top yourself and truing up the top irons before taking the car to the shop. If you need to replace weatherstripping, now would be the time to do it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 1
From: Atascadero CA
I'm really happy with the top I bought from Al Knoch:
http://www.alknochinteriors.com
I don't know if they carry a cloth top, but the quality of the vinyl top is excellent. They also have superb customer service. I took my car to an installer instead of trying it myself, but the installer had problems, and damaged the top. I called Al Knoch customer service, and I got to speak directly with Al. Al called the installer, and then sent them a new top (no charge), plus provided the shop with detailed installation instructions. Absolutely stellar service, plus he's a really nice guy.
You can also have the top installed by Al's guys (I found this out later), because they attend local shows throughout the country (check their website for schedules).
http://www.alknochinteriors.com
I don't know if they carry a cloth top, but the quality of the vinyl top is excellent. They also have superb customer service. I took my car to an installer instead of trying it myself, but the installer had problems, and damaged the top. I called Al Knoch customer service, and I got to speak directly with Al. Al called the installer, and then sent them a new top (no charge), plus provided the shop with detailed installation instructions. Absolutely stellar service, plus he's a really nice guy.
You can also have the top installed by Al's guys (I found this out later), because they attend local shows throughout the country (check their website for schedules).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 1
From: Arlington Texas
I haven't done it yet, but when I replace the top on my '69, I am going with Al Knoch. They will make one out of the same material that they are using on the new vettes, which has to be a big improvement sound and insulation-wise over the original vinyl. The ballpark figure they quoted me for a top made out of new material was around $600.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
I went with Al Knoch top but left the installation to the professionals. I love to save money and do things myself but the top was not one of those projects. The installer ended up having to bend my top frame a little here and there to get it just right. He did not even charge me extra for his time and labor to adjust the top frame.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 561
From: Macedonia Ohio
69 top
I have done a lot of top installations. I have done 6 already this year. Al K has a top kit that is very good. He also sells a top made with stayfast material just like the new ones.
These are very nice and are actually a little easier to work with. There is no benifit other then the look.ie sound insulation: NOT
I would recommend taking it to a installer because there are a lot of problems that you can run into. Like rust, especially on the header. Also, tac strips will probably have to be replaced which can be a bitch if you dont have the experience of doing one. I would also recomend buying a weather strip kit and a tack strip kit. (buy the plastic tack strip kit)
If you want to do it yourself buy the installation vidieo. I will try to walk you thru the steps if you want. FYI; the first top I did I poked a hole in.
Larry
These are very nice and are actually a little easier to work with. There is no benifit other then the look.ie sound insulation: NOT
I would recommend taking it to a installer because there are a lot of problems that you can run into. Like rust, especially on the header. Also, tac strips will probably have to be replaced which can be a bitch if you dont have the experience of doing one. I would also recomend buying a weather strip kit and a tack strip kit. (buy the plastic tack strip kit)
If you want to do it yourself buy the installation vidieo. I will try to walk you thru the steps if you want. FYI; the first top I did I poked a hole in.
Larry
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
I did my 68 myself two weekends ago. I have some experience screening windows and stretching canvas for artists, but that's it. I removed the frame and cleaned it, hit it with rust converter, painted it, and replaced all the tack strips with the fiber ones. I've heard the the plastic ones don't hold staples as well... I can't say myelf. I figured if the original fiber ones lasted 35 years, they must not be too bad!
Anyway, the installation video was worth the $70 or whatever I paid. I got the Al Knoch top, Corvette Rubber weatherstrip, and Doc Rebuild tack strips. Hardest part of the install was the rear bow. I would never send it out to be done, but that's just me. I took my time and watched the video twice before starting, then watched it section-by-section as I was working on the top. Took about 20 hours from start to finish. Total cost, with weatherstrip and supplies (staples, contact cement, heat gun,etc.), was about $500. Don't even attempt this if you don't have a heat gun.
Anyway, the installation video was worth the $70 or whatever I paid. I got the Al Knoch top, Corvette Rubber weatherstrip, and Doc Rebuild tack strips. Hardest part of the install was the rear bow. I would never send it out to be done, but that's just me. I took my time and watched the video twice before starting, then watched it section-by-section as I was working on the top. Took about 20 hours from start to finish. Total cost, with weatherstrip and supplies (staples, contact cement, heat gun,etc.), was about $500. Don't even attempt this if you don't have a heat gun.
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
its not that bad if you buy the Al Knoch video..definitely worth the money. I have a white Al Knoch top..great quality and fit, but i will be replacing it with a black one soon...white just gets dirty too easy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Originally Posted by Larry Woods
Like rust, especially on the header.
Good point. I had to replace my header due to severe rust. The previous owner had done a good job of masking the problem and I did not know enough about vettes to notice the patch work until it was too late. Now I have a powercoated header.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I have a brand new Al Knoch top made out of the Stay Fast material out in the garage waiting on installation. I have the number of a good installer local to me I just have been hesitant on calling. I was thinking of removing my old top out in the garage and inspecting the top frame before sending the car over. I don't believe I am going to attempt the install myself. I did do my seat covers but for some reason, I think this would be harder to accomplish.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
Um...I forgot about the truck...
Eddie reminded me. I also redid the seat covers in my 69 C-10 ($300 for a damn bench seacover
) and installed a vinyl, vintage-button-down toneau cover. Stretching vinyl is stretching vinyl...
As long as you watch the video, have a 4' table to work on, have a heat gun, a staple gun, strong hands, and the ability to follow directions, this is a DIY job, IMHO.
Maybe I'm biased, but this was the first time for me, too...
I guess we all know our own level of DIY competency. I'm not ready to frame a house or weld a frame, but short of that, I'm good.
Eddie reminded me. I also redid the seat covers in my 69 C-10 ($300 for a damn bench seacover
) and installed a vinyl, vintage-button-down toneau cover. Stretching vinyl is stretching vinyl...As long as you watch the video, have a 4' table to work on, have a heat gun, a staple gun, strong hands, and the ability to follow directions, this is a DIY job, IMHO.
Maybe I'm biased, but this was the first time for me, too...
I guess we all know our own level of DIY competency. I'm not ready to frame a house or weld a frame, but short of that, I'm good.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 988
Likes: 1
From: Dyersburg TN
Originally Posted by CGGorman
Um...I forgot about the truck...
Eddie reminded me. I also redid the seat covers in my 69 C-10 ($300 for a damn bench seacover ) and installed a vinyl, vintage-button-down toneau cover. Stretching vinyl is stretching vinyl...
As long as you watch the video, have a 4' table to work on, have a heat gun, a staple gun, strong hands, and the ability to follow directions, this is a DIY job, IMHO.
Maybe I'm biased, but this was the first time for me, too...
I guess we all know our own level of DIY competency. I'm not ready to frame a house or weld a frame, but short of that, I'm good.
Eddie reminded me. I also redid the seat covers in my 69 C-10 ($300 for a damn bench seacover
) and installed a vinyl, vintage-button-down toneau cover. Stretching vinyl is stretching vinyl...As long as you watch the video, have a 4' table to work on, have a heat gun, a staple gun, strong hands, and the ability to follow directions, this is a DIY job, IMHO.
Maybe I'm biased, but this was the first time for me, too...
I guess we all know our own level of DIY competency. I'm not ready to frame a house or weld a frame, but short of that, I'm good.
CGGORMAN - just did a lady's 68 , had a heck of a time find the top tension cable springs for a 68 , took 3 orders from diff vendors to finally get the 68 only cable
