1990 Corvette. Top is cracked. Looking at new or replacemnt. Not sure which way to go. I have been on most of the web sites (Ecklers, ZIP, MAMotor). Pretty much about the same prices. Concerned with replacment and the frame being bent. Bolting down an putting stress on top. With the core charge, who knows if they will accept and will spend just about the same as a new top if I do not ge the core charge returned.

Any thoughts

Thanks

 

check the 'for sale' section, there's a few there, with any different top there are adjustments that need to be done cause they all 'dont' fit the same.

 

When you say cracked, do you mean the metal frame? I had a problem where my frame was cracked and it was pulling away from the fiberglass top, made it impossible to cinch it tight and driving over 25 mph made me paranoid that the wind was going to work it's way in and finish ripping the top off the frame.

I decided to do a poor mans fix so I finished ripping the frame off the top, and since I needed a new liner anyway, I removed that and the pad that was glued to the underside of the fiberglass top.

I cut some fiberglass matting into about 1" strips, 6" to 18" long, and I used a brush to brush fiberglass resin onto the top where the frame used to attach, and I used about 3 layers of fiberglass matting total, making sure all 3 layers were entirely saturated with resin before placing the frame back on (using some resin where the frame was broke to "glue" it back together) and then I used about 10 clamps until the resin cured.

And actually, my top had gotten ran over so when I went to pull the frame apart from the top, it was all ready to go, but in 3 pieces total.

I have not removed it since I bolted it on, but I was able to cinch it super tight and so far it's holding just fine.

A few things I would have done differently if I were to do it again.

1. Use a big marker and try to draw as many reference marks as possible so you can glue the frame back on in the exact same place. Mine is a little crooked looking, but like oldalaskaman said, there are adjustments because they won't all fit the same. I may just need to adjust it.

2. Get a helper - have ALL the fiberglass strips cut in advance, don't try and use a 2" wide strip and fold it, it tends to want to unfold on you. Each of you should have your own cup with resin to work it in as fast as possible. I had trouble with the resin turning on me, part of the reason was because I spent too much time folding, and refolding and refolding and refolding the damn 2" strips that I tried to fold into a 1" strip.

3. Get as many clamps as possible, at least 4 of them should be "screw" clamps, not those simple spring clamps. They won't put enough pressure on it, but they are good to hold everything in place while you get the real clamps clamped.

Don't worry about getting excess resin on the inside of the frame, the liner pad will go right over that and it won't show anyway.

I wish tops weren't so expensive, mine is pretty hammered now, but it's bolted on pretty tight so I am able to postpone buying another one until I can hopefully find a good deal.

 

Keep an eye out on the free list and the auction site as well as here. I bought a solid top for mine fo $300 which is typical. Avoid Astro Tops, they have a bad rep here.

 

Depends on who you talk to. I have had and am, after 7 years, very happy with my Astro Top. Will admit most folks swear by Melrose.