New Top Installed - Looking Good

[Exit98]

Hey, I started this thread!

Just kidding.

Got the top from TopsOnLine.com I think it was $300. It is canvas. I had it professionally installed, about $250.

Back in the day I remember my Dad and I spent a long afternoon fitting a new top to my 72 Spider. It took a while but came out fine. Probably vinyl back then but don't remember.

anyway, the Canvas/Vinyl choice and Pro/DIY install came down to the same issue for me.

Even though the top is usually down, I like the look of the canvas when its up, and I'll probably never buy another one.

I was very tempted to do my own install but since I'll probably never buy another one, I wanted this one on right. I saw the job this guy did on George's spider so I knew he knew his stuff.

[jfrawley]

Well, it's an interesting question on why I put the top on before paint. Like George, most folks say to install the top before paint, but here's the deal. I put this car back together over the winter and now it's being sold to one of Georges friends tomorrow. He wanted the top on first so his body guy to finish the deal. Plus, I have to drive the car to PA and there was no way I was going to do that with no top!

John

[wachuko]

Hey, I started this thread!

Just kidding.

Got the top from TopsOnLine.com I think it was $300. It is canvas. I had it professionally installed, about $250.

Back in the day I remember my Dad and I spent a long afternoon fitting a new top to my 72 Spider. It took a while but came out fine. Probably vinyl back then but don't remember.

anyway, the Canvas/Vinyl choice and Pro/DIY install came down to the same issue for me.

Even though the top is usually down, I like the look of the canvas when its up, and I'll probably never buy another one.

I was very tempted to do my own install but since I'll probably never buy another one, I wanted this one on right. I saw the job this guy did on George's spider so I knew he knew his stuff.

And that was the right thing to do, leave it to a professional to do it right... but in my case, why pay a pro if I can do it myself and spend twice (or three times) doing so... I get to learn how to install it, screw it up and then pay for a new top and a professional to install it a second time...

[Exit98]

Hey Jamie,

I've admirered your work since you started posting here. When you finish installing your top I know it will be on perfect. It would have been kind of fun to put mine on myself with the help of a couple of the NJ guys, and then we'd have that community knowlege in the bank, but I've got other projects to do and I hate it when Il Lemone is off the road, so, it on and I'm happy.

I just saw your other post about leaving on the old tar pad under your rear seat. Funny, I just said the same thing in my post about doing my floors. See here: http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=17087

It looks like they just painted over the tar when they put it together. Mine is sound back there and no sign of lifting or rust. I'll just put the insulation right over it. Are you going to insulate your back wall? It seems logical to me.

[kmac33]

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.

Maybe just being a perfectionist, but I would have to disagree on this one. If you look at the way the top fits to our Spiders, there is enough body panel under and around the installed top that you are potentially going to see areas that don't quite match. Plus you will see the cut line where the top is masked off even if you are spraying the exact same color. Unless you are being extremely clumsy and heavy handed when you are reinstalling the rear stay, there is no way you are going to scratch the new paint. The rear stay is so easy to unbolt and fold up and out of the way to completely repaint the rear deck all the way the edge(even with top still installed), there really isn't a reason not to if you want to have a better result. Not removing that rear portion of the top would be like leaving on the bottom quarter window and door chrome trim and masking it to paint, when those just pop right off.
Again, I know I'm being picky and "perfectionist" but if you are going to incur the expense of a respray, might as well get as perfect a result as possible.