Advice on rag top frame.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 0
From: Dandridge TN
Advice on rag top frame.
Can anyone give me some info on rebuilding a rag top frame on a 69-72? My frame is in pretty bad shape and needs replaced or rebuilt and I was just wondering what to prepare myself for. Also, has anyone put their own canvas top on their frame? Thanks in advance.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
Re: Advice on rag top frame. (Steve Adkins)
Should be pretty easy. Strip and paint. I will do mine when I get my new top one day. Used roconditioned frames are well over $1000 now so reconditioning the one you have now should not cost anywhere near that. As far as the hinged points, I have not seen replacement parts for those areas but anything can be fabricated. Someone is reconditioning these things because the catalogs are selling them. Have you searched the web for info?
John
John
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: Advice on rag top frame. (theandies)
I've seen an ebay vert top frame in Saugus MA (near me) for a bit over $500. It is used and has 1 broken rivet. Rivets can be replaced easily, so
if your steel is still solid - I would try to recondition the one you've got.
I just saw the catalog price for one of these (forget if a refurb) $1900++ !!
OUCHHHHHH :smash: :smash: :smash:
:seeya
if your steel is still solid - I would try to recondition the one you've got.
I just saw the catalog price for one of these (forget if a refurb) $1900++ !!
OUCHHHHHH :smash: :smash: :smash:
:seeya
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 0
From: Dandridge TN
Re: Advice on rag top frame. (theandies)
John, no I haven't searched the web for more info, I figured I would start here and if I didn't get any info I would try elsewhere. These things are expensive and I would like to make mine worthy. Zip and some other places has rebuild kits, but I am not sure that the kit contains every thing it takes to completely rebuild it. Thanks for the advice. I will probably end up rebuilding it like every thing else on this project!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Re: Advice on rag top frame. (Steve Adkins)
I'm in the process of having my frame rebuilt. When I removed the top I found tons of rust and the frame was bent. So far I have spent about $400.00. The rust has been repaired, but the frame is still not as straight as I want it. I have another restorer that I want to finish it to make it perfect. I anticipate a few hundred more dollars. I have a package of new bushings and rivets that I'm going to install as well. I do plan to have a shop install the top once I'm done with the frame.
Jim
Jim
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 0
From: Dandridge TN
Re: Advice on rag top frame. (Frankenvette)
Jim,
Rust is one of my problems. On the header bow there is rust spots on both ends. I can buy one new for around $300, but I think I might can weld them up and grind them down. Is the top difficult to install?
Rust is one of my problems. On the header bow there is rust spots on both ends. I can buy one new for around $300, but I think I might can weld them up and grind them down. Is the top difficult to install?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Re: Advice on rag top frame. (Steve Adkins)
Steve,
I forgot to mention that I had my restorer install a new header as the old one was beyond repair. There are some on this board who have had success installing their top; however, I found a shop that will install my new top for about $250.00. That's cheap enough for me to pay someone to do the job.
Jim
I forgot to mention that I had my restorer install a new header as the old one was beyond repair. There are some on this board who have had success installing their top; however, I found a shop that will install my new top for about $250.00. That's cheap enough for me to pay someone to do the job.
Jim
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 0
From: Dandridge TN
Re: Advice on rag top frame. (Frankenvette)
Jim,
If I could find someone around here to install my top for $250 I think that would be worth it. That's something that has to be right or it will look like crap.
If I could find someone around here to install my top for $250 I think that would be worth it. That's something that has to be right or it will look like crap.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Re: Advice on rag top frame. (Steve Adkins)
Steve,
Check around on installation prices. I negotiated with the guy based on the fact that I have already done the prep work. In other words, he won't have to remove the old top or weatherstipping or clean anything. Normally he charges about $400 for the top which is the same as another shop near my house. Both shops do wonderful work. I agree that the top needs to be done correctly or it will look like sh$t. Thats why I'm paying someone else to do it.
Jim
Check around on installation prices. I negotiated with the guy based on the fact that I have already done the prep work. In other words, he won't have to remove the old top or weatherstipping or clean anything. Normally he charges about $400 for the top which is the same as another shop near my house. Both shops do wonderful work. I agree that the top needs to be done correctly or it will look like sh$t. Thats why I'm paying someone else to do it.
Jim
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 0
From: Dandridge TN
Re: Advice on rag top frame. (Frankenvette)
Jim,
Yea your right. Just talked to a guy that would do mine for $250 if he don't have to do anything else, top installation only. He said he would do the whole works for me, but could not give me a price until he looks at it.
Yea your right. Just talked to a guy that would do mine for $250 if he don't have to do anything else, top installation only. He said he would do the whole works for me, but could not give me a price until he looks at it.