Convertible Top Replacement
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Convertible Top Replacement
I am getting ready to start my top replacement and would like to be able to have it done by C3Extravaganza. Any one got any pointers or any helpful hints they want to share before I go flying out into the garage and tear into this?
I do have CGormans copy of Al Knochs Video and have watched it. They make it look pretty darn easy, even I think I can figure it out.
BTW, if you read this Chris, shoot me an email/PM, I am ready to send the video back so the next person can use it.
I do have CGormans copy of Al Knochs Video and have watched it. They make it look pretty darn easy, even I think I can figure it out.
BTW, if you read this Chris, shoot me an email/PM, I am ready to send the video back so the next person can use it.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
I would do 2 things different.
Where the 2 parts are tacked to the rear bow instead of just tacking it in fold over the edge like a hem and fasten through this double thickness. My Vette and old DeVille both had the same problem of tearing at the tacks.
Don't use tacks. They rust and look ugly. Find something else and maybe rip out the tack strip and install something better that can hold a better SS fastener.
Where the 2 parts are tacked to the rear bow instead of just tacking it in fold over the edge like a hem and fasten through this double thickness. My Vette and old DeVille both had the same problem of tearing at the tacks.
Don't use tacks. They rust and look ugly. Find something else and maybe rip out the tack strip and install something better that can hold a better SS fastener.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I am installing the Stayfast style top in black, of course. In the video they are using a 70 as an example. I hope to get out in the garage Friday or most of Saturday. I just found out from my son that he is going to be doing a speach in one of his college classes about restoring a car. His teacher wants me to bring the car to class. SO, now I really have another good reason to get it done.
Race Director
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From: Science Bitch! Mississauga, Ontario
Canadian Events Coordinator
Originally Posted by Eddie 70
I am installing the Stayfast style top in black, of course. In the video they are using a 70 as an example. I hope to get out in the garage Friday or most of Saturday. I just found out from my son that he is going to be doing a speach in one of his college classes about restoring a car. His teacher wants me to bring the car to class. SO, now I really have another good reason to get it done.
Les
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Race Director
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From: FL
Originally Posted by Eddie 70
I am installing the Stayfast style top in black, of course. In the video they are using a 70 as an example. I hope to get out in the garage Friday or most of Saturday. I just found out from my son that he is going to be doing a speach in one of his college classes about restoring a car. His teacher wants me to bring the car to class. SO, now I really have another good reason to get it done.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by TNBUSA
If you need some help(or someone to get in the way 
)let me know!
)let me know! As far as that goes, I could just call in sick. Yeah, thats it, sick, yeah. Oh, my stomach is killing me. I can use all the help I can get. Come on over.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by SteveG75
Where did you get the Stayfast top from? This is on my list of winter projects. I want to go Stayfast as well. I figure that I need the top, pads, cables and will probably do weather stripping as well.
I have watched the video twice now and can have the top installed in about 45 minutes, just like they do, with no wrinkles.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
No need to send it back to me. Just forward it on to the next guy...
Keep it until you have the top on. You'll want it. I think I watched it twice or three times before I started and then referred to it several times during the install. It was a good reason to come in the house and get a drink anyway!
Keep it until you have the top on. You'll want it. I think I watched it twice or three times before I started and then referred to it several times during the install. It was a good reason to come in the house and get a drink anyway!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
The hardest part is getting the top stretched on the rear bow so the bead on both sides at the bottom of the window is on the edge of the corner of the metal. Try to get this correct as it will never get better.It usally takes me two to there trys. I use a heat gun a helper and work outside in hot sun gets the best results. Lay the new top in the sun while putting on the pads and getting ready.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Forked River NJ
Originally Posted by Eddie 70
I
I have watched the video twice now and can have the top installed in about 45 minutes, just like they do, with no wrinkles.
I have watched the video twice now and can have the top installed in about 45 minutes, just like they do, with no wrinkles.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
My top replacement took an entire weekend. I'm talking 20-30 hours. The wife and kids were gone, so I could spend 12 hours at a stretch (HA!) working on the car.
The only other job I've done on the car that was more exhausting then the top was the dynamat/reflectix/carpet project...
The only other job I've done on the car that was more exhausting then the top was the dynamat/reflectix/carpet project...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by CGGorman
My top replacement took an entire weekend. I'm talking 20-30 hours. The wife and kids were gone, so I could spend 12 hours at a stretch (HA!) working on the car.
The only other job I've done on the car that was more exhausting then the top was the dynamat/reflectix/carpet project...
The only other job I've done on the car that was more exhausting then the top was the dynamat/reflectix/carpet project...
Your scaring me Chris. Hopefully, mine will not be such a headache. I am wanting to knock it out before next weekend. But that is just working on it a few hours at a time. I am already thinking about what to do about the frame. Paint it or just leave it.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by theandies
This is going to be my spring project so please take some notes for us and let us know your pitfalls and solutions. I'll take the video next when I'm ready.
John, the video is yours. Just send me your address and I will drop it in the mail in a couple of days or so.