New Top Installed - Looking Good

[Exit98]

Got it a year ago Christmas. Finally installed. Sure is nice to be able to see out the back window

[124JOE]

sweet

[Kent124]

Who made the top?

[jfrawley]

That looks nice. It looks like a canvas top, is it? I just completed the install of a vinyl top on the '80 I am delivering to it's new owner tomorrow or Wednesday. Not an easy task but they sure look great when finished.





John

[LGuertin]

Is it canvas or Vinyl and did you install it yourself, if yes how long did it take you to install

I am really thinking about changing mine.
Thanks
Larry

[124JOE]

it takes about 2 hours
but i have changed mine 3 times

pull the plastic off the top bars
unbolt the hold down in the rear and cables
unscrew the front edge and latches

glue the front of new top to the bow and screw down the edge w/ latches
bolt the rear holder with top centered,close the top and pull the cables tight
fold the strips around the bars and cover with the plastic strips
and replace tirm


hope this helps

[wikkid]

Question for jfrawley, and others:
I see that jfrawley put a new top on a car that might want to be painted some time soon. Wouldn't it make more sense to paint first, then put the top on?
No offense to the owner who just wants to get behind the wheel, and paint later. It just seems that you would have to take the top off to do a good job with painting. Or am I way off base?

[LGuertin]

My car is coming back from the paint shop this week, that is why i am asking.
Should i do it this year or wait till next year (cost $$)

[124JOE]

dont wait prices may go up

[LGuertin]

Where did you get it from and is it vinyl or canvas ?

[124JOE]

i got my vinyl from iap 5 years ago

[wachuko]

it takes about 2 hours
but i have changed mine 3 times

pull the plastic off the top bars
unbolt the hold down in the rear and cables
unscrew the front edge and latches

glue the front of new top to the bow and screw down the edge w/ latches
bolt the rear holder with top centered,close the top and pull the cables tight
fold the strips around the bars and cover with the plastic strips
and replace tirm


hope this helps

Sure helps!! Thank you. Doing mine this weekend. and from all the write ups I have seen this is the easiest to understand! I will take photos along the way and document it in my main thread.

I went with a black canvas top... did a test fit just for the heck of it, and sure wished I had gone with a Tan... I went with black thinking about maintenance and thinking that the tan top was going to be a nightmare to keep clean and looking great, but blue car with a tan top would have looke awesome. oh well... next time.

[courtenay]

Hey Jamie - I was hoping you were going to take pictures of the process. I'm eventually going to do mine and your picture tutorials are (once again) going to be worth thousands of words!!

[NJFIAT1981]

Hi All,
Here's what both my top guy and paint and body guy said. Put the top on first. This way you don't run the risk of scratching up your new paint job. The top is carefully wrapped to avoid any overspray. I've done the same thing twice without any issues. Same guy that did EXIT98'S TOP.

[wachuko]

Hey Jamie - I was hoping you were going to take pictures of the process. I'm eventually going to do mine and your picture tutorials are (once again) going to be worth thousands of words!!

I am, this coming weekend. Will use all the docs I have and document mine with photos. Frank should be coming over as well.