soft top

[enterprise]

Hi all;
Has anyone any info on replacing a soft top? Don't really like my "sand" colored top on my 04 Bird, or the material it's made out of either. The frame and mechanics are perfect. Body of the Bird is ice blue, as is the hard top.

Bruce

[My Raven]

Re: soft top

Factory OEM is Haartz fabric: Just make sure when you order you request an FoMoCo OEM top because I learned the hard way that just because you order Haartz top doesn't mean you won't get aftermarket ....

I finally have a perfect OEM top that replaced the original from the factory. The fit is perfect and you would never know the top was replaced.

You just need to cover your bases and make sure you are purchasing OEM ... Here is the thread from my problem.

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ghlight=haartz

[justjon]

Re: soft top

Buy a car you like .. perfect top replacement is darn near impossible..

[Icebluebird]

Re: soft top

Bruce, what is wrong with your sand soft top?

Don't throw it away, I will be glad to drive down to camarillo and take it off your hands.

I love my Light Ice Blue car with the full sand interior and soft top. If you clean it and preserve it with the products mentioned here, it will look really good.

Even a black top will show the dirt!

Welcome!

[enterprise]

Re: soft top

Got that, and thank you! Who did you have do the installation?

[enterprise]

Re: soft top

Great thought. Was wondering about what to do with original top.
Nothing wrong with existing top, wife just doesn't like color or material.

[Lindy]

Re: soft top

...put the hard-top on, if you have one. But, to each his own. Think twice about it, before you disturb the original top. --Lindy

[Ray]

Re: soft top

Nothing wrong with existing top, wife just doesn't like color or material.

All of the soft tops for our Birds are made of the same fabric material. There are ways to keep the top clean and protected. Just do a search and you'll find a ton of info on this topic.

[My Raven]

Re: soft top

Got that, and thank you! Who did you have do the installation?

Local Shop Here in Raleigh That Has Been in Business Forever and Has a Great Reputation ....

http://www.autointeriorsandtops.com/

[Leroy]

Re: soft top

When searching for my Bird, one of the first ones I lookd at was a Merlot with Sand seats. When I made the salesmen remove the hard top so I could inspect the operation and condition of the soft top, we found black stains in the folds of the Sand soft top. They assured me they could have the top cleaned and the stains removed. They called me two days later and said they were unable to do anything with it. From then on I narrowed my search down to Black soft tops only. Leroy

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[Sealy]

Re: soft top

When searching for my Bird, one of the first ones I lookd at was a Merlot with Sand seats . . .
From then on I narrowed my search down to Black soft tops only.

Yea, and look what you ended up with.

I've started my sandy-haired beauty on a steady diet of Ragg stuff. So far, I'm not entirely happy - but the relationship is young. For the amount of time I show the soft top, I'm not all that excited about it, yet. We'll see what the spring brings - I have way too many trash trees and birds in my neighborhood.

[Leroy]

Re: soft top

Sealy, What I ended up with is what I thought would give me the best service and require the least maintainence considering the region that I live in. Here in Northern Indiana we are subject to a lot of polution from the local Steel Mills, Oil Refineries and other industries. You can see the black build-up on the snow ater a couple days. Leroy

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[Sealy]

Re: soft top

Sealy . . .

Completely understand - grew up in Pittsburgh. Just giving you a little razz. Side story: When my grandmother was in school, she wouldn't raise her hand to answer a question because the sweat would run down her arm and leave streaks in the soot. We've come a long way.

[Will]

Re: soft top

Local Shop Here in Raleigh That Has Been in Business Forever and Has a Great Reputation ....

http://www.autointeriorsandtops.com/

Roger that, Joe. These folks put a new top on my 1972 VW Beetle back around 1980 & it was a perfect job all around. Two thumps up from Will.

[R-04-Merlot]

Re: soft top

Ol'Dave should jump in here since he had a Merlot top put on his Merlot beauty.