Convertible top replacement
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Al Knoch will rent you a video. He shows you the step by step process on a C2 but it is the same as the C3. I did it and it was relatively easy. You need a good staple gun and contact cement. Be sure to buy the installation kit that includes new tack strips. Not sure of the cost as this was 2 Corvettes and several years ago.
You can do it!
You can do it!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 13
From: San Angelo TX
Al Knoch will rent you a video. He shows you the step by step process on a C2 but it is the same as the C3. I did it and it was relatively easy. You need a good staple gun and contact cement. Be sure to buy the installation kit that includes new tack strips. Not sure of the cost as this was 2 Corvettes and several years ago.
You can do it!
You can do it!
I did my top using the video as a guide.
It's really not that bad of a job. The video is a must.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,268
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota in the summer, Las Vegas in the winter
All the above is good advice. I did mine complete for about $250 plus $100 in repairs to the frame. Get the urethane tack strips. I used the cardboard type and I would not use them again. I did it in a week working an hour here and an hour there. TAKE YOUR TIME!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
I bought a video from Al Knoch years ago. Very good and clear video showing every step and not leaving anything out. It showed him installing a top on a 67. I watched the video through several times before beginning and the job was very easy thanks to Al Knoch.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,529
Likes: 27
From: Auburndale Florida
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'09
I have a quote from Al Knoch to put a new top on my 72, next week at the NCRS winter meet in Kissimmee.
$500 for labor,
250 for a vinyl top or
$450 for a fabric top,
$50 for tack strips
plus the cost of any additional parts, weatherstripping and so on....
Kinda of shocked me, had no idea it cost that much....
$500 for labor,
250 for a vinyl top or
$450 for a fabric top,
$50 for tack strips
plus the cost of any additional parts, weatherstripping and so on....
Kinda of shocked me, had no idea it cost that much....
Last edited by mbeeman350; Jan 4, 2008 at 06:56 PM. Reason: spelling
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
I have a quote from Al Knoch to put a new top on my 72, next week at the NCRS winter meet in Kissimmee.
$500 for labor,
250 for a vinyl top or
$450 for a fabric top,
$50 for tack strips
plus the cost of any affitional parts, weatherstripping and so on....
Kinda of shocked me, had no idea it cost that much....
$500 for labor,
250 for a vinyl top or
$450 for a fabric top,
$50 for tack strips
plus the cost of any affitional parts, weatherstripping and so on....
Kinda of shocked me, had no idea it cost that much....
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 668
From: FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,529
Likes: 27
From: Auburndale Florida
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'09
Anyway, $350-450 is the going labor rate and $250-350 if they supply the top, plus the extras. So AL Knoch is a little higher, but that' OK. I want a "no excuse" job. I have seen his work, heard about it, and I have never heard anything negative about their work or products.
I made up my mind when I got this car that I wanted an Al Knoch top and I am prepared to pay a little extra...Mark
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 607
Likes: 0
From: North Alabama
They dont exist anymore and Al no longer recommends them...it's still in his video, but that is because the video has never been updated. I asked him about this when I got cardboard in the kit yet the video mentioned the poly type...Cardboard is what you get when you order the kit now.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Memphis TN
You have to leave the frame on the car. I take off the rear bow and install the top on it as the first step. I use a large piece of carpet that I keep in the attic of the garage to work on so nothing gets trashed. Then you will need to reattach the rear bow with the top on it to the frame on the car. It needs to be on the car so you know how much slack to take up. Thats how I do it anyway.