DIY - Corvette Top Installation
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
Nice work Buddy. Looks like you are going the extra mile. Keep up the good work and keep the pics coming. 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Thanks Eddie, I know you did yours a few years back and warned me it would be tough.
BTW-Just discover the springs on the side do not come out of the sewn tubes. Might be a 68 only thing. Going to call Al Knoch's tomorrow for some advice.
BTW-Just discover the springs on the side do not come out of the sewn tubes. Might be a 68 only thing. Going to call Al Knoch's tomorrow for some advice.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Center the top around the bottom bow and glue both sides rail. Also glue the fabric and let dry. Once dry fold over the edges and align.
The top will stay put without clamps, but I decided to clamp overnight. Check alignment on ever corner. This is basically where your top will be installed.
Note, 68 springs do not go all the way through the pockets. I will call Al Knoch and see if they suggest cutting back the fabric.
Tomorrow I will install the fabric around the lower bow and start stapling the rear window section. (Note: Remove paper from window before you go past this step. Al Knoch's sews the tape on and is hard to remove once installed.)
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Installation of the lower bow. Tips by Al Knoch: Lubricate track and bead. (A step I wish I would have know) The key here is to get the top centered and start at one end and hope you finish even. The corners are a bit*h. Use a wide chisel and medium head screw driver. Be prepared to mar the track. Its going to happen. Al Knoch said he likes to do this step on a work bench with a heat gun. Probably a very good idea.
I'll try to take some better pics and replace these later.
I'll try to take some better pics and replace these later.
Last edited by Budman68; May 4, 2011 at 09:11 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Now latch down the top and work the fabric on the lower bow over. Try to work the seam to the outside edge. Now center the top and bow. I staple about every 3" before final staple. You need to pull upwards as hard as you can.
Once complete center the top at the front and clamp.
Now staple the remaining fabric at the rear. I would suggest trimming the lower window fabric first.
(Important - Staple slow and try to get you staples as close as possible to the center of the bow. I go a little wavy and had to pull some staples out.)
Once complete center the top at the front and clamp.
Now staple the remaining fabric at the rear. I would suggest trimming the lower window fabric first.
(Important - Staple slow and try to get you staples as close as possible to the center of the bow. I go a little wavy and had to pull some staples out.)
Last edited by Budman68; May 4, 2011 at 09:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Finished rear staple. Just for referrence, this is a poor job in my opinion. I wish I would have taken a little more time, but after all this is just a driver quality job.
Driver side looks good, pass side need a little steaming.
I went ahead and install the rear tack strip cover.
Driver side looks good, pass side need a little steaming.
I went ahead and install the rear tack strip cover.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Attaching front bow. First clamp the front and rear bow down. The pull as hard as you can on the front of the top and mark the front edge with a peice of chaulk. Mark several time to make sure you have a good line around the front. Apply glue to the underside of bow tack strip and top.
Pull top over bow, 1/8" over on the front and 1/4" on the sides. Make sure you are centered and start stapling.
Pull top over bow, 1/8" over on the front and 1/4" on the sides. Make sure you are centered and start stapling.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Glue sides overnight and reinstall weatherstripping on sides.
All you have left is to install the front and rear weatherstripping, then final clean.
At this point, I would leave the car in the sun all day to smooth out any factory or storage marks. Once you do that, readjust all your mount points at the front and rear.
I hope this helped everyone. Please post pics of your results.
All you have left is to install the front and rear weatherstripping, then final clean.
At this point, I would leave the car in the sun all day to smooth out any factory or storage marks. Once you do that, readjust all your mount points at the front and rear.
I hope this helped everyone. Please post pics of your results.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Actually, it was easier than most projects I've done. I would compare it to a cam swap or front suspension rebuild. The only issue was if you do mess up, the repair could be costly. I.E. new top.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
after reading this i made my appointment at the local top shop. i dont want to mess up the $500 top i just bought....OR live with one i put on that does not look good.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 208
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From: Hampton Fl.
St. Jude Donor '11
Any trouble keeping the deck lid seal in.
I can't seem to keep my replacement in the groove.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Installing was a pain, I used a peice of wood the size of the round tube and beat the crap out of it. The only place I had trouble was the curves.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 370
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