Soft Tops: Re-useable ?

[Wayne M.]

A friend is changing his '66 convertible canvas (white), in decent shape, for a new black top. The non-original black top on my '65 is in terrible shape (rips at door jamb corner and extremely poor non-professional fit); besides, the original was white. Friend has offered to sell me the his to-be-removed top. A brand spanking-new top would look out of place on my driver.

Q: Are they re-installable on a different frame ? Will there be enough trim to ensusre a good fit ? Are there staple holes from the previous installation that will show up on the re-install ? Any tips on removing the to-be-transferred top to minimize grief on the re-install ? Don't even consider it ??? TIA

[Jeff]

Just went through this....

... I posted a while back wanting to find someone to remove the original canvas from my 61's topbows and then re-install it. No responses. Then someone posted a weblink for Rowley Corvettes regarding the installation of new tops. I e-mailed them and they got back and told me no problem, done all the time. (I can't find the link or e-mails right now though.)

To simplify things though, why not consider taking the whole top as mounted from your friend and giving him your top and bows and let him get his new top mounted on that? Seems like it's save you a lot of trouble.

JP

[Wayne M.]

Re: Just went through this....

Jeff --- I should have added that the "donor" is a very original car, and do doubt his convertible frame assembly is in excellent shape; on the otherhand, my frame is not original (has round # 2 bow, rather than rectangular) and is a little rough.

I remember your request and copied the link "rowleycorvette.com". I was hoping to be able to try this re-install myself, as a top-flight job is not necessary, just a good 10-footer leak-proof installation.

[Jerry Clark]

Re: Just went through this....

Hi Wayne:

Jeffs response, (second paragraph) sounds like a winner if your friend is agreeable.

I have seen some pretty competent canvas guys have nightmares trying to restretch other peoples installations, I have no personal experience with Rowley Corvettes but if they do it often they probably have some tricks up their collective sleeves that others may not but this definitely falls under the "don't try this at home" category.

jer

[Jeff]

Re: Just went through this....

Wayne,

I am sure it is a "DIY' deal after (E)speaking with them. My problem in not being readily able to do it myself is that you need the bows monuted to something, if not the car, so you can stretch out the set-up but my car is in it's plywood crate ("coffin", as my buddy, Ronnie, calls it) and even if I were to put the top on it, there is not enough headroom in the box to be able to unfurl it.

JP

[Lou Lapham]

Re: Soft Tops: Re-useable ?Sometimes

Wayne-I removed my own top and had a new window put in.I replaced the weatherstripping at the same time.Upon reinstalling the top that i had removed i found it fit a little different.The adjustment of the front bow as well as repositioning the pads and adding new weathestrips changed the geometry ever so slightly.It will be a crap shoot using your buddy's top but if it 's cheap enough even if it doesn't fit it's good practice for the new one you may have to buy and install.No two tops seem to be same because of the possible bow angle differences,weatherstrip condition and general frame condition,joint wear and such.When a friend of mine tried to have a brand new repro front bow added to his frame the geometry was so bad,on the so called exact repro front bow,he ended up buying a used frame assembly complete rather than let the trim shop continue to fight the alignment problem.Good luck,Lou