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I'm looking for recommendations on adding a soft top to a hardtop only car. Any manufacturers better than others? Anyone sell a complete kit with brackets? Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks, Jim
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Re: C1 soft top addition
I'll leave the comments on materials to others. However you can do this yourself if you have the patience. You don't say who is going to install all this. For this discussion I assume you will. Read ST 12 and get Al Knoch's video. Pay attention to the distances between the bows when istalling the pads. Take your time fitting the top frame with weatherstripping before even thinking about putting the top on. It might take a lot of elongating of holes on the top frame body brackets (likely I did not use the right name of the brackets) to get the adjustment room needed to adjust the frame.
There are lots of other comments in the archieves.
Allen -
Re: C1 soft top addition
I see convertible top frames on ebay all the time. Think I saw one just yesterday bid up to around $1200. I bought a replacement rear bow aftermarket and wish I had waited for an original.
DonComment
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Re: C1 soft top addition
Jim...
Call Dale Robertson at Al Knoch, They can supply you a complete soft top assembly ready to mount on your car. Price must be compared to you purchasing a new frame, convertible top kit plus you time. Only caution is that Al Knoch fits the soft top to a car of your year before they ship it to you. the waith may be several weeks for them to locate a car for fitting.
Coffman would be another source that has complete tops. Check out the support brackets and hardware you will require also....Comment
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Re: C1 soft top addition
Hardtop only convertible top lids are valuable. Consider selling yours, and buying one already cut for both tops.Comment
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Re: C1 soft top addition
Jim,
Coffman Corvette is the original manufacturer for all of the convertible top frame resellers on the market. Check out their site at http://www.coffmancorvette.com They sell everything you need. Look at the AIM and other sources for an idea of where all of the pieces go. Just about everything is pre-drilled and the brackets are easy to bolt on. Plan on removing the seats for access to the rear panel mounting points.
Al Knock is the best purveyor of the top material. Coffman uses Al's canvas and I believe they will premount it on the frame for a fee. Expect to pay upwards of $2500 for the entire package.
I agree with the idea of buying another deck lid that already has the rear latch holes cut out. They can be found on ebay or at swap meets for reasonable prices. Of course you'll have to paint it to match.
Finally, take your time fitting the frame in place. It is a really Mickey Mouse contraption that rarely fits right the first time. I've heard stories of 2x4s and other leverage devices that were used by the factory to "tweak" the frame. You may have to do the same.
MikeComment
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