Can anyone help or has anyone done their own top? Can it be done off the car or does it have to stay on the car to do it? I have seen them done at Carslise? but they were always on the car ??? Thanks

 

gotta be on the car, too much frame flex otherwise....

now this is IMO only....some things I have observed over the years about convertible tops, including my '72 here.....

forget those pesky cables, they make no differance wethere they are there or not, forget those fiber straps running from the rear bow up and over to the center bow above the window...they make no differance, I say this because many tops including this one over the years the cables broke and the straps on this '72 here made the top hard to put up, clip in on the deck, so I cut them out with a razor...the cables broke here also in that same time frame, early on, and both have been missing for over ten years now.....

top is tired, but so am I, it's just the window coming unbonded from the vinyl....all of them do that eventually, so no loss there....

 

I took my top off to buff off the rust and do some repairs. Had to tack on a few pieces of metal on the front header and use some filler. Then painted with POR15.

You take off the bottom rear bow that seals to the rear deck to get it started, but then it has to be reinstalled on the car to stretch it on up. Make sure of your measurements for the pads, and get a good stretch everywhere. Stretching and then glue on the sides was a major pain.

I would rent one of those space heater blower things, esp during winter.

 

Yes above, and to which I forgot to add, measure very accurately the center of the bows and the material for the front, and deck bows....mark them well, so you can line it up symetrically, and do each side as necessary....

heat guns are useful, but watch you don't scorch/melt the vinyl...easy to do...use a nice powerful hairdryer, less chance of messing up....

 

Hi TFitz, I recently installed a white top on my 70 corvette. I rented the Al Knoch DVD from Corvette Central for $15 to assess the degree of difficulty. Once viewed this I decided that Al Knoch's video would be enough to guide me through this medium challenging job. From Al Knoch I purchased, the DVD, tack strips, the felt, all weather stripping and the vinyl top (Approx.$550). Refurbished the frame while everthing was removed.
I followed the DVD instructions to the lettler and ended up with a top that is as good as original.

A Key learning is take the time (two person job) to get the top correctly positioned on the rear bow (an early step in the instructions). This makes the remaining alignemnt easier. E-mail if you have further questions.

 

Agree with all the above comments. My buddy and I did mine about 2 years ago using the Al Knoch video as a guide. Took us about 5 hours to do the whole job.

Also, if you are not hung up on originality, I suggest getting a Stafast canvas top from Al Knoch. Little more pricey but looks 100% better. Still uses the plastic rear window but the top material is the same as new Mercedes or Corvette.

Closer pic

 

Just a note of caution : In case you are planning to buy a Al Knoch top. I have bought and installed many Al Knoch tops over the years with beautiful results. Their tops have always fit and looked beautiful until recently. I bought a stay fast top in 2005 for a 87 corvette and it was about a half inch short on the sides. Stayfast tops don't stretch much so there was no way it was going to fit. I called the company and they said that I was probably doing something wrong. I explained to him that I own a restoration shop and know how to install tops , so they sent me another top. This one fit perfect. Move on to the present: I bought a vinyl top for my 68 a couple months ago and the date on the box was June 05. I was installing the pads and noticed that they were marked and cut wrong so I didn't even want to try to install the top since it was also made during the time that they were having problems. I called the company and they sent another top. I installed the top and it was 1/2 inch short on both sides toward the front. It runs uphill along the door windows making it 1/2 inch short across the front . If you tried to stretch it anymore you would tear the top. I contacted the company around a month ago and they never even got back to me. So if you are considering a top from them, I wouldn't.

 

Al may have some issues with their attention to customer satisfaction, and I did work with them on some shipping issues. The fit was right on, I had no issues there. They could use a bit more attention to tech support although I was able to get my questions answered after a few calls.

If Al's tops are not tops where would you suggest to purchase a good top?

 

Good info. I should have mentioned that the first Stafast top I got from them was about 1" too short around the rear bow. They sent me a replacement and it was about 1/8" short total which was workable. They need to make the Stafast tops slightly larger to account for the fact that they don't stretch as much.