Cracked Top?????
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,252
Likes: 6
From: The Colony Tx
Cracked Top?????
Need someone that knows what is what to tell me if it is normal for the acrylic tops to just crack for no apparent reason. My insurance says this is normal wear and tear and will not cover the damage. Thanks for any answers in advance.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 29,937
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Cruise-In 1-2-3-4-5 Veteran
Re: Cracked Top????? (aj1988)
Mine split right down the middle last year for no reason that I could discern. 1993 coupe.
I did not try to claim it on my insurance, I just got a new factory panel and had it rebuilt.
I did not try to claim it on my insurance, I just got a new factory panel and had it rebuilt.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Re: Cracked Top????? (aj1988)
Yeah, they do crack. Are you talking a crack through and through, or the other cracks that are just here and there inside the plastic?? I have a crack that is about 14 inches long now on my passenger side. Ordered a used top from someone on ebay for a little over $400 to replace it. New ones can be had through MAD for about $1300.00 It is normal, but really shouldn't be...damn driveways and bumps. :smash:
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,230
Likes: 0
From: VA
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Cracked Top????? (SloVette)
The dealeship scratch teh hell out my glass top as the mechanic was using it as his workbench. Made them repalce it with a new one. The new one crack two months later. Cracks developed at the front corners by the front bolts.
Not sure how the old top was fine but the new one cracked two months later.
Not sure how the old top was fine but the new one cracked two months later.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 1
From: Pinellas Florida Misfit
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Cracked Top????? (ConeKLR)
If the top has spider-webs inside it, thats common.. if it is actually split... that is not and the insurance company should replace it. (At least State Farm does)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,252
Likes: 6
From: The Colony Tx
Re: Cracked Top????? (Springer's 95)
If you had one replaced by state farm, do you have and documentation? They are saying that it is normal wear and tear and will not do anything about mine.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 1
From: Pinellas Florida Misfit
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Cracked Top????? (aj1988)
I haven't had one replaced... but when my 86 with a glass top was insured by them, they specificlly wrote it out on the contract that it had a glass top and would be covered under the rest of the glass coverage. My 95 doesn't have a glass top, but I will see if I can dig up the policy on the 86.
Worse comes to worse... smash the thing in a couple months... then it isn't typical wear and tear :blueangel:
Is the top split or spider-webbed? If it has both, I would take it to the insurance agent and show them the difference.
Worse comes to worse... smash the thing in a couple months... then it isn't typical wear and tear :blueangel:
Is the top split or spider-webbed? If it has both, I would take it to the insurance agent and show them the difference.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Re: Cracked Top????? (Springer's 95)
My 95 acylic blue top developed some cracks? or crazes? at the front--one on the driver's side and the other on the passenger's side. They are almost identical and are about 1" long but are really hard to notice unless you are looking for them. I had the dealer look at these and he actually filed a "case number" with GM telling them that my car was fairly low mileage and extremely well maintained suggesting that they "help out" in replacing the panel. They respectfully declined since the car was more than 3 years old.
Anyway, I still have the top but if it gets any worse, I will contact the company that advertises in Corvette Fever (name escapes me now). If you send them your top they will replace the acrylic for about $400.
Anyway, I still have the top but if it gets any worse, I will contact the company that advertises in Corvette Fever (name escapes me now). If you send them your top they will replace the acrylic for about $400.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 1
From: Pinellas Florida Misfit
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Cracked Top????? (DougSilver)
I will contact the company that advertises in Corvette Fever (name escapes me now).
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 1
From: Pinellas Florida Misfit
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Cracked Top????? (DougSilver)
Quality.... it's poor. They use a rubber on the outside edges that shrinks and the glass isn't as good as others out there. Might be ok if you need one in a bind or are looking to unload the car, but other then that... I'd pass.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Cruise-In 1-2-3-4-5 Veteran
Re: Cracked Top????? (Springer's 95)
My repalcement top is an Astro Top. Drew's bunch uses rubber gasket around the outside of the lens instead of the metal surround, and the fit isn't as good as my original top. The car leaks in high-pressure car washes now. The old top didn't have any leaks. I haven't been able to adjust my top to a no-leak state.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Re: Cracked Top????? (Matt Black)
From the ads, I figured that Astro Tops just took your top and replaced the acrylic piece--sounds like I was wrong. Other than paying astronomical bucks to GM for a new top or trying to find a used one, what other options are there? Any other companies similar to Astro Tops but better quality?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 5
From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: Cracked Top????? (Goody)
Ordered a used top from someone on ebay for a little over $400 to replace it. New ones can be had through MAD for about $1300.00
They got it complete from GM for $1054, brand new. You can have your refurbed for around $400 if your frame is good.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,252
Likes: 6
From: The Colony Tx
Re: Cracked Top????? (Goody)
My top had the normal 'spiderweb' type cracks since it was in the good old Texas sun for years. This is now a real crack about a foot long and maybe 1/32 in wide. I have drilled a small hole at the end of the crack to stop it from getting any bigger while I fight the insurance company. The adjuster talked to a 'Corvette Expert' and this person says that this type of cracking is normal. Don't you just love the 'EXPERTS' in this field? I have owned a Vette since 67 and have worked on them ever since and sure don't consider myself an expert, unless you want to talk about changing clutches in a mid-year, I have only done about 20 or so and had it down to less than 2 hours working in my garage.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,230
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From: VA
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Cracked Top????? (aj1988)
Don't know but mine is cracked. Cracked big enough that you can easily fit a sheet of paper in the 5 inch cracks. My old top did not crack at all. The new GM one cracked at both corners in two months. Did my dealership mis-adjust the side windows maybe. They did say they had to to do that to fit the new top. They don't look right. I could see them mis-align the windows since i force them to buy me a new top. long story. :D
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Re: Cracked Top????? (Springer's 95)
Sitting in the driveway, working on the alarm system on a cool November evening - temps were about 35 F?? All of a sudden I hear BANG! :confused: I look around and no one us by the car. I look up and see the moonlight shining in through a new crack. :eek:
State Farm replaced - no problem. :cheers:
Bill :seeya
State Farm replaced - no problem. :cheers:
Bill :seeya