Install your own top?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 126
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From: Nashua NH
Install your own top?
Anyone ever install thier own top? Top costs are reasonable but the labor charges are a killer. I used to do it on my British cars but the vette looks a little more difficult.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: washington MI
Re: Install your own top? (c4md)
I've installed my own top. Rather easy. You can finish the job in about 4 hours. I found it easy to replace the top with the frame on the car rather than off of the car.
Things to do
Remove all the screwed in trip pieces (front (screwed in), Weatherstripping and side unscrew weather stripping brackets. Remove rear weatherstripping. Then unscrew restraints under rear side window weather stripping.
Now pull off front of top. unclip unscrew front of headliner, then unclip the head liners plastic brackets that go on mid bows. Unscrew top mount point under headliner plastic bracket, There are two mid bows that need top unscrewed from. Then remove the rest of the unit, its just glued on. There is no need to remove headliner.
Clean all contact points and wetherstripping brackets. Buy 3 tubes of goop.
When putting new top on make sure not to glue any fabric which is is the countersurface of the top, glue the loose fabric pieces on the back one on the exterior of the frame and one which mates with the rear weatherstrip.
rescrew bows, appy side tensioners then brackets that contain top on sides then do the front. Let dry and put on wether stripping and headliner.
very easy.
Things to do
Remove all the screwed in trip pieces (front (screwed in), Weatherstripping and side unscrew weather stripping brackets. Remove rear weatherstripping. Then unscrew restraints under rear side window weather stripping.
Now pull off front of top. unclip unscrew front of headliner, then unclip the head liners plastic brackets that go on mid bows. Unscrew top mount point under headliner plastic bracket, There are two mid bows that need top unscrewed from. Then remove the rest of the unit, its just glued on. There is no need to remove headliner.
Clean all contact points and wetherstripping brackets. Buy 3 tubes of goop.
When putting new top on make sure not to glue any fabric which is is the countersurface of the top, glue the loose fabric pieces on the back one on the exterior of the frame and one which mates with the rear weatherstrip.
rescrew bows, appy side tensioners then brackets that contain top on sides then do the front. Let dry and put on wether stripping and headliner.
very easy.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Re: Install your own top? (c4md)
Its not hard, I did mine myself, without any previous experience. Check the archieves, also one forum member made the comment that he could screw up 3 tops and still be cheaper than what the shop quoted him. :eek:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 765
Likes: 11
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Install your own top? (Rick86)
Check the archieves, also one forum member made the comment that he could screw up 3 tops and still be cheaper than what the shop quoted him. :eek:
Advanced
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Yokosuka
Re: Install your own top? (Rick86)
Just did mine and it was a breeze. With some glueing instructions given to me in elementry school days many years back, a cooler full of cool ones and basket full of clothes pins, this job was easy. Clothes Pins you ask? When I glued the back strip, I used these to hold the material together to the frame during the curing period. Placed them side by side to ensure full coverage on the back frame. I think you also will be fooling yourself if you thing you can remove the weather stripping without destroying it. You need to replace these most likely. This was my experience and it was easier than replacing the top on a old VW KG. :cheers:
