Thanks - I'll give them a call and let you know what I find out.


Jim O.
Save the Wave...!!!

Hi Norsky

When I redid my 68 soft top, I ended up with a bit of extra work.
The front bow was corroded, through at some lip areas.
The tack strip from the front bow was brittle and unusable.
The metal lips that hold this strip in place were also corroded away.
It took a bit of welding and effort to get this redone.
Than I also had to straighten the aft bow , so it contours the body lid.
And of course, you will repaint the complete thing since your at it. So calculate an extra week just for this unforseen extras.
If you think your weather seals are ok, I still suggest to get a new header and aft bow strip. The aft bow weather seal hold the soft top canvas inside the bow and using a new one will eliminate any waiting time once you ripped the old one apart.
Watch the aft bow installation as this is critical for getting a non wrinkled window. Myne still has some small wrinkles, but it seems to be rather normal. Only visible from outside depending on the sunlight.
Good luck Gunther

Hey Gunther!

Thanks for the tips. I'm still shopping for a good price on the top. This winter "The Toy" is in a warehouse my neighbor has so I'll be able to get at it and do a couple of projects before the warm weather comes.

As soon as I get my income tax stuff done for "Uncle" I'll have the time (and hopefully $$$) to get going on replacing the top.

Thanks again!


Jim O.
Save the Wave...!!!

Jim:
You're waiting for Sam's rebate check too, huh?

Can't wait to get mine back. Have already informed the wife that I need $$$ for the Vette this spring. Should be about 3 weeks now - 1 week to visit with the accountant, 2 more for the e-file refund - I'll cross my fingers for the crossed flags!

Keep the faith and save the wave,

Norsky said: This winter "The Toy" is in a warehouse my neighbor has

I hope you noted the mileage when you left it there and didn't hand over the keys.

|UPDATED|2/4/2003 2:13:19 PM|/UPDATED|

Not that I don't trust my neighbor (and friend), but keys AND battery left the building with me. So unless it has been jacked up and put on dollies it should be exactly where I left it.

Jim O.
Save the Wave...!!!

Well warmer weather is finally here, I have a new Al Knoch replacement top kit, and no nerves...!!! I've gone over the replies and site links offered above so many times I feel I have them memorized - and still I'm hesitating at tackling the project myself. Add to that the concern that once I get started I wouldn't get things back together in time to head for BG in a little over a month.

A local body shop/service place near me (that I trust) refered me to a place that does all their top and upholstery work. They quoted me around $575 to do the installation (had I not purchased the Al Knoch kit he wouldn't have even quoted me a price) and could have it done in 2 days (but won't be able to schedule it until the 3rd week of June).

Is that a good quote or am I getting squeezed?

Jim O.
Save the Wave...!!!

i had a new top installed on a camaro a while back. $500 installed and that included the new top.

Hi Jim,

The PO had the top put on my baby, and although they did a nice job on the top itself, I wish they had made the proper adjustments first. I say this because in an effort to stop my side windows from whistling I did some checking on weather seals and adjustments on convertible tops. As it turns out you can only make these adjustments when the covering is OFF of the top frame!! Now that its finished it's too late and I am stuck with seals that don't fit tight and windows that whistle. If it had been me I also would have painted the entire assembly.

It may pay to take your time on this since it is probably the only chance you'll have to improve the way your top fits and give it that completely new look from the inside.

Since your old top is trashed anyway can you make some kind of fix just to get a back window in for BG? I know automotive upholstery supplies sell convertible top window material. On my T-bird we actually sewed in a new window by hand. We had upholstery thread and an upholstery needle (no substitutes will work here) and we just pushed the needle in and out with one person in the car and one person outside. The seams can then be sealed with marine seam sealant.

It would probably buy you an entire summer if you needed it and it would give you an opportunity to take your time and do it right. Good luck with it either way!!!!

Rick,

Thanks for the input. I don't know if the top is original equipment or not, but the plastic window is 'welded' into the top. So when the window cracked it went through the 'weld' and into the top material a couple of inches on both sides. So just replacing the window, if that's even do-able, would also require patching the top on either side. The temporary fix is an application of Red Green's 'Handyman Secret Weapon' - duct tape - on the inside and outside of the window and top (looks 'real cool' with that horizontal silver strip across the middle of the window!).

And I also have door window alignment issues on both sides. I haven't spent any time and energy on them yet as the top and windows are rarely up (fair weather driving 95% of the time). So your point is well taken in terms of getting everything to fit together before putting the new top on.

I'll have to noodle on a temporary window replacement this weekend for the BG trip before committing to doing the top replacement.

Thanks!

Jim O.
Save the Wave...!!!