installing new rag top your self?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 163
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From: Milan MI USA
installing new rag top your self?
Has any one changed their own soft top .Was it hard? Or had it done professionaly what did it cost . Getting ready for new top on my HOT ROD Black roadster.And thought about doing it my self .If not to indepth.thanks terry. :conehead
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
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From: Moon Township PA
Re: installing new rag top your self? (Terrys69coupe)
Terry, when I had my 66 convert, the ONLY thing I never attempted was a soft top replacement. I talked with perhaps a half dozen folks who had done it themselves and said: yes, you can do it, but I will never do it again. There are so many tricks of the trade and techniques that I decided not to attempt it. Now, I have never shied away from anything els including pulling the rear suspension off for a rebuild and several engine pulls on three different Corvettes. If you want to get a preview buy the video (Corvette Central? I think) and see what the guys do to put a soft top on.
Gary
Gary
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
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From: Virginia USA
Re: installing new rag top your self? (GaryS)
There was a good article in Corvette Fever a few issues back on installing a soft top. I am going to try it as soon as I get the funds to buy the top. I will probally get the video also. I put a soft top on an MG I used to own and it came out good.
John
John
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,416
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From: NC,USA
Re: installing new rag top your self? (Terrys69coupe)
I would bet that an interior company would do it but not sure
Just glad I bought a coupe :jester less parts :rolleyes:
[Modified by ZD75blue, 8:34 PM 9/5/2001]
Just glad I bought a coupe :jester less parts :rolleyes:
[Modified by ZD75blue, 8:34 PM 9/5/2001]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 16
From: absecon nj
Re: installing new rag top your self? (ZD75blue)
i installed a couple of tops but it was on my 69 pacecar camaro took about 6 hours have a hairdryer ready helps to heat and stretch it to get wrinkles out.install new pads tacking strips and well liner youll save yourself about 400 to 600 in labor doing it yourself.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 1
From: South Alabama
Re: installing new rag top your self? (Terrys69coupe)
After taking a long hard look at mine I decided that this would be something best left to an experienced professional. I didn't want to mess it up. Had mine done by a shop here in New Orleans....if I remember right it was under $200 for the parts and around $580 for the labor. They did a great job and I have no complaints. :D
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,804
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From: Standing still with all my might Texas
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
Re: installing new rag top your self? (Terrys69coupe)
I was told by many different sources that rag top installation was extremely difficult and should be left to the proffesionals, so even though I have done all of the work on my car so far I decided to heed the warnings and let a proffesional do my top. I called several of the vette shops in the area and they all seemed to use the same local upholstery shop to have tops installed. For $420.00 labor they installed the top with new tacking strips (all supplied by me) and painted the frame. There was overspray on the car from the frame painting, they didn't adjust the side window weatherstriping correctly, there were staples showing in several places, and some minor misalignment. I had them fix the staples and misalignment before I took delivery, but I still had to spend about 3 or 4 hours of my own time adjusting the weatherstripping and removing the overspray. The top looks good, but I think it probably could have been stretched a little tighter on the top since it billows up a little more than it used to at highway speeds now. When it needs replacing again I will probably do it myself, I am fairly certain that I can do the job at least as good as these guys did and I will certainly be more meticulous about the little details.
Kevin
Kevin
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,080
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From: Frankfurt, Taunus Hills
Re: installing new rag top your self? (Kevin_73)
I remember at the beginning of the year Chuck Gongloff replaced his top on the monaco orange 69 Roadster......
Try and mail him, he is a experienced guy!
Try and mail him, he is a experienced guy!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: installing new rag top your self? (454Big)
I remember at the beginning of the year Chuck Gongloff replaced his top on the monaco orange 69 Roadster......
Try and mail him, he is a experienced guy!
Try and mail him, he is a experienced guy!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=36235
Also, check out rowley's tips on convertible top replacement:
http://rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair3.html
MJ
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
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From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: installing new rag top your self? (MNJack)
I did my top along with a friend. Was not too hard in my opinion. Terry Rudy has pictures on his web page. It took us about 2 weeks to do the job...working a few evenings per week...taking our time. Turned out well. Used an Al Knoch top and kit. Chuck
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 29,077
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From: Deep East Texas
Re: installing new rag top your self? (Chuck Gongloff)
I've changed out three convertable tops in my life... The hardest one was on a 57 Dodge... Mainly because it was bigger than the others I did. My opinion is that if you have a good reference, and take your time like Chuck did, you can do a good job. It's not hard to do and it's not hard to make it look good when the car is parked... The hard part is getting tight enough to prevent ballooning at speed. The way you do this is take your time and pay attention to the details.
Just my 0.02
Just my 0.02
