Until I recieve my eagerly awaited technical bulletins cd-rom I was hoping someone could help me with a problem I have now. Ive finally decided to restore the convertible top on my 58. The top has been off the car for at least the fifteen years Ive owned it and while the frame is in good condition the canvass and other material items are in a sad state of rot. Ive removed the old tack strips and have the new ones in hand but how do I get them into the frame? The fourth bow doesnt look too hard ( do I use glue and if so what kind) but the header and body bow have got me stumped. Any tips on painting the frame would also be appreciated, Ive been wondering how to get good coverage behind all the movable arms. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks everyone.
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Re: convertible top tack strips
I'm about to do the top on my 61, so I'd also be interested in the answers to Kris's questions. Here's an additional question: My frame has been off the car some time in the past, and doesn't fit very well. I finally have it "rough adjusted" so that it will at least go up and down, but there is some fine tuneing left to do. Would it be better to try to fit the frame before removing the old top or with the fabric off. I'm also replacing all the weatherstripping, and will need to install it twice if I take the old fabric off prior to adjustment. Any tips appreciated. -
Same Predicament
I have the same problems as you guys... I have all the new parts, but don't know where to begin (All dressed up and nowhere to go?). There is a video available that covers convertible top installation, but I haven't viewed it, so I can't attest to its thoroughness. I did read several articles about it... and seem to recall that one of the final steps is to use a "steam gun" to "stretch" or "form" the canvas to its final resting place. This step will effect how well the top latches and seals when its all installed. I believe it was Mid America or Ecklers that used to list the video.... don't know if they still sell it. Good luck to all of us on this one!Comment
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Re: convertible top tack strips
I can't offer any help with your tack strip problems, but I know who can. Jerry Sullivan of Sully's Tops located in Clovis, CA has specialized in Corvette convertible top reproduction and restoration for many years. He is especially knowledgable on C1 tops which is right up your alley. Contact him at (209)299-9542In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Do-it-yourself/professionally done
I couldn't help but comment on the questions posed here. I have a 66 with a fair soft top. I have been asking around now for two years and finally came to the conclusion that soft top replacement is something most of us that are handy with tools can do. But, nine out of ten people that I have talked with that did there own top would not do it again! In addition, I have watched the folks at Carlisle do the soft top replacement right there. It looks moderately difficult, but these guys are pros, so how am I going to do this without getting halfway and then sending it out?
Gary SchislerComment
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Re: Do-it-yourself/professionally done
Guess it's part science (read the book) and a lot of art/skill. I've noticed that some of the catalog houses (C-Central) rent a 'how to' video tape. Don't know whether it's helpful, junk, the last word....
Maybe someone else out there has an input here. Seems like a good idea (sit back and watch a step-by-step job in your living room before your tear in). What do you know, folks?Comment
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Re: Do-it-yourself/professionally done
Last summer I helped a friend install a new top on his '62. Neither one of us had ever done this before but this was not the first project that he and I had tackled that was new to us.
He had gotten a copy of the installation video from Al Knoch and it was invaluable. We both looked at this tape a number of times BEFORE we started doing anything. Then we setup a TV and VCR in his garage and we would watch a step, stop the tape and then do the same thing on his car. If something didn't look right we stopped immediately and reran the tape. This worked very well for us. We took our time and definitely did not rush it. The top turned out great and gave me the confidence that I certainly will do my own on my '69.
The tape covers most areas that you are going to run into. But, it does not cover everything. One critical area is the frame. If your frame does not operate well or it is not in good shape, then just covering it with a new top probably is a waste of money. A poorly operating or misaligned frame is probably going to tear that new top and you can be assured it will be in a spot that everyone can notice.
We also tackled rebuilding the '62 frame. That was a more difficult and tedious job than putting the top on. But once again we took our time. My friend took a lot of pictures before he started to tear the frame apart. Those pictures became our assembly manual when we put the frame back together. We did make a few mistakes but when we did we stopped and did it over. We went through a few more rivets than you will get in a normal rebuild kit. So if you decide to try this buy some extras.
My advise, buy the video and take a good look at it at least a half a dozen times and if you say that doesn't look that hard then go for it. That is what we did and my friends top looks great. If the video scares you then stop and hire someone to do the installation.Comment
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