Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Keeping it sharp - paint, wax, detailing, etc.
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MacMan

Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by MacMan »

Hi,

I'll be looking for a new top soon. I've discovered there are a few places that sell them such as Bruce's, Vick, International-Auto, and World Upholstery.

Price ranges are small for vinyl, but pretty wide for canvas. I'm sure some of the distributors are obtaining their tops from the same manufacturer - I can't imagine there are four separate manufacturers for Fiat Spiders tops in the US.

Questions: Does anyone have any opinions on quality? Is vinyl OK for just occasional summer driving? Do I need any additional parts when ordering a top?

Vinyl
World Upholstery: $245
Bruce's: $245
Vick: $285
International-Auto: $319

Canvas
World Upholstery: $365
Bruce's: $475
Vick: $545
International-Auto: $690

Thanks.
So Cal Mark

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by So Cal Mark »

you'll need the cables that run through the sides, and a tube of weatherstrip cement
mbouse

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by mbouse »

i used 3M's vinyl contact cement in the brush on can.

like mark said, side cables are HIGHLY recommended.

vinyl verses canvas will be hotly debated until ... forever. a quality vinyl top will most approximate original equipment, and will last a long long time. the most worn part of any top i have seen is the rear window. if you can learn to protect that rear window from scratching itself to total opaqueness, you will be much happier much longer.

you'll wanna take enough time to pull the old top off and clean the frame thoroughly. quite often the #1 bow will have deteriorated beyond the point of reuse, and you may have to search for a replacement. give yourself enough time to be able to do that (don't plan on an important car show two days after you plan on beginning this installation).
racydave

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by racydave »

I just installed a Robbins Top. Its vinyl and the quality looks very good. My friend has experience in top installations, and helped me out. Neat TRICK is when you feed the cables thru the top, the chanel has some holes in it. We blew compressed air in one hole to open the cavity up, and the cables went thru easilly!!! And like Mike said, check out the header bow. It sits against the windshield as the foreward most part of the top frame. Mine was WASTED! I got lucky and found a beautiful used replacment.
MacMan

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by MacMan »

Thanks for all the info. The frame appears to be in good shape, but it does need a good cleaning.

Any thoughts on the different top suppliers .. has anyone bought a top from one of the four?
So Cal Mark

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by So Cal Mark »

I used to sell Robbins, and the quality was good but the prices have gone up a bit. I've been using World for a few years now. FWIW, the guy at World told me he supplies tops to the 4 largest Fiat vendors in the US
mdrburchette
Posts: 5754
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:49 am
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 Sport
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by mdrburchette »

My vinyl top came from IAP twelve years ago. I've been wanting a canvas top but this darn top just won't wear out!
1972 124 Spider (Don)
1971 124 Spider (Juan)
1986 Bertone X19 (Blue)
1978 124 Spider Lemons racer
1974 X19 SCCA racer (Paul)
2012 500 Prima Edizione #19 (Mini Rossa)
Ever changing count of parts cars....It's a disease!
So Cal Mark

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by So Cal Mark »

one summer in the Calif sun will wear it out 8)
kristoj
Posts: 909
Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:26 am
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat Spider 2000 Turbo
Location: Ohio

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by kristoj »

World Upholstery. High quality and good to deal with.
John
'82 Fiat Spider Turbo
'56 Abarth 750 GT Corsa MM
'59 Lancia Appia GTE Zagato
'62 Lancia Flaminia 2.5 3C Convertible
'68 Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato
'70 Moretti Sportiva S2
'12 Abarth 500
'59 MV Agusta 250 Raid


Pictures of my baby!
MacMan

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by MacMan »

This website is fantastic. There's too many suppliers with different prices to choose from and more expensive is not always better. But it's hard to determine quality differences without a little input - thank you.
punes

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by punes »

I am just finishing up installing my black stayfast top. It was bought 3 years ago and its from E-Z On. It fit pretty well...considering it was the first one I have done.

There are directions online somewhere that were pretty helpful to me, although I did have some issues a local auto upholstery guy guided my though.

If I could make one recommendation is do not glue the front of the top to the header bow. I did and being my first install didnt like the fit...so about 1 hour with a blow drier and it was freed from the bow... I eventually found a retaining strip and along with the 6 or 7 screws it was fastened properly.

I prefer the look of cloth.

79 Fiat Spider
So Cal Mark

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by So Cal Mark »

I agree that that cloth tops look MUCH better than vinyl, and it seems to me the car is quieter with the cloth top. It just makes the car look more expensive
mosu

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by mosu »

Punes, what kind of issues did you run into with the EZ-ON top? I have one that waiting to go on the car the first nice weekend that I catch. I just want to be better prepared for the job as it's the first top that I'm doing as well...
racydave

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by racydave »

The bow just in front of the rear window can pivot. In order not to scratch the plastic rear window during installation, it should be covered in a substance that will not scratch plastic windows. I suggest some cloth, cut up an old T-shirt? Paper towells are made of wood fibers and may scratch. I found that fitting the header to the windshield to be the most important part of a install. Also the bow directly over your head has adjustors for tension to the top. I screwed them in to relieve the tension for the install. I added some tension later.
punes

Re: Need a New Top - Suggestions?

Post by punes »

Mogin..the EZ ON top fit great...its just the installation is tricky...there are tricks you find out or people tell you...after the first install you learn for the next.
Dont glue the front of the top to the bow...if you do you cannot adjust it...use the 6-7 screws and the retaining clip..its a must
Measure the centre of the rear retaining clip of the top and centre with the cars centre...push rear retaining channel as low as possible and tighten 5 screws.

This is something new I learned...when the front and rear of top are attached before first closing, bring front of top close to windshield but do not latch...at this point take the 2 cables running through the sides of the top, and loop it through the little circle clip just in front of the rear retaining clip...mine were hidden with the top up...but as I lowered it they became visible...then put the cables through the rear cable restraint clasp....then close the top..I learned that the tighter you make this cable, the lower the sides of the top come down to cover the rear triangular window...and it makes fastening the top to one of the 3 holes on the triangular window easier.

I now just have to glue the cloth to the bows, and rivet the sides just inside the windows.

The tricky part is using the latches, front bow and main rear adjusting bolts of the frame to get a nice even fit...they all have bolts for adjusting...for example the further back on the bow you tighted the top latches...the closer the bow fits over the windshield frame.

Its fun but sometimes frustrating.

Good Luck
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