New rag top options

[007Cruiser]

Re: New rag top options

Andy....you should come to the NNJ all Tbird show in Pompton Plains. Second Saturday in June.

http://clubs.hemmings.com/njtbird/events.html

[Welker]

Re: New rag top options

Anyone have any pointers or guidance ? I'm fairly handy and an engineer, so could I do it myself if I bought the proper kit, a few friends and enough beer ?[/QUOTE]
Just a note. Whatever caused the rips and tears in the old top will likely do it again. There are a number of comments over the years about tops and the holes and what causes them. You might want to find those threads and comments.

[Fuchsaudio]

Re: New rag top options

Andy....you should come to the NNJ all Tbird show in Pompton Plains. Second Saturday in June.

http://clubs.hemmings.com/njtbird/events.html

Hoping to do so !!!

New (related) issue: closing up my top I apparently did not have a latch in place and one of the latches that holds the top down broke ! THANKFULLY (due to this wonderful forum) I located and purchased a pair. One to replace and one to be safe :).

[Chuck]

Re: New rag top options

Chalk up another vote for the junkyard option. If it were me that's the route I would go. I'm not sure I would tackle reskinning the frame.

Hope you do make the show in Pompton Plains, a number of us are going, I've already pre-registered and booked a room for the 9th. Do a search, the show's flyer is posted in the thread for the show. It's a nice show, the folks that put it on are very accommodating, and IMHO there's no better challenge than being judged against yourself.

[3rd Brd]

Re: New rag top options

Andy, here is another option - http://www.ebay.com/itm/251137680830?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageNa me=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Fuchsaudio]

Re: New rag top options

Chalk up another vote for the junkyard option. If it were me that's the route I would go. I'm not sure I would tackle reskinning the frame.

Hope you do make the show in Pompton Plains, a number of us are going, I've already pre-registered and booked a room for the 9th. Do a search, the show's flyer is posted in the thread for the show. It's a nice show, the folks that put it on are very accommodating, and IMHO there's no better challenge than being judged against yourself.

I live close and the wife and I plan to be there !! My local car top and upholstery shop (Blue Sky in Little Falls) http://www.blueskycar.net/ ordered the top and it just came in. It will be installed next week, so I should have a new top and my new pivot arms installed for the show.

[Rondor]

Re: New rag top options

My first convert. was a 50 Ford and I was 18. I didn't even see the top until it rained on the way home from buying it. When I put it up I was still in the rain. Bought one at a junk yard. Didn't work out too well but cheap. Another issue is color.. Bet Ash grey would be fun to find at a yard.

[ISSYRO]

Re: New rag top options

Back in 1987, my brother in law and I changed the top on a 1973 Fiat 124 Spyder. Remember it took us a full day but it was not that bad of a task. Never leaked afterwards so I guess we did it correctly.

[Guest]

Re: New rag top options

Does the value of a person's (or two people) time factor in anywhere with a job like this?

[007Cruiser]

Re: New rag top options

Does the value of a person's (or two people) time factor in anywhere with a job like this?

Depends on what the person (or persons) would have been doing otherwise.

[Jimr]

Re: New rag top options

Depends on what the person (or persons) would have been doing otherwise.

I have seen a lot of bad top installation jobs by both back yard upholsterers and the Pros. Check out the upholsterer very close before spending a bunch of money or do it your self and convince yourself it looks great.

[Guest]

Re: New rag top options

Seems to me that at some point the 'DIY' thing has to give way to spending money on a professional job, whatever that job might be.

Doing your own auto detailing, sure. It can be therapeutic, and unless you're using a power polisher, pretty hard to do any damage. But installing a new soft top? If the learning curve was that short, how would auto upholsterers remain in business?

As Jim points out, even the skill level and quality of 'professional' shops varies widely.

Just sayin'

[5bird7]

Re: New rag top options

Probably the best place to ask about which business in an area does the best job on installing replacement softtops, would be a dealership that sells a lot of convertibles. and go for the oem type fabrics.