What should I do? I have 2 convertibles and they need tops. Both are now cloth and have plastic windows. Cost is a factor and I really want glass.

Can I install these tops myself? I have alot of expierence in collsion repair, but I have never installed a top before.

HELP Please

Russ

 

My personal preference is 'SCREW VINYL!!!' .... lol. Looks cheap as hell.

As for plastic/glass ... Deffinatly glass. There probably harder to train to fall in the right spot when closing, but worth it when 2 years from now you can still see out the back window.

I've heard of some people installing it themselves and getting good results. And my friend made a point one time, is that at the quoted price to have somone else do it, he could buy a top and screw up the first time, and get it right the second and still save money when installing it himself.

Mabey you got some friends w/ a little experience that could assist, i'm sure that'll help a lot.

 

I just bought a new top, i dont plan on keeping the car and i just went with the least expensive one out there, black vinyl and plastic window, I wanted the stayfast with glass but figured id save the money for the next top for my next camaro convt. im sure ill sell my car to someone who doesnt know alot about camaros and just wants a vert. I really dont want to sell it to any members here cause of the front being hit in the past. it's still not fixed perfect and prob will never be a show car, just a daily driver for a highschooler who doesnt really care the frame might not be perfect,

but anyways, i intend on putting it on myself. i just removed the old one tonight, a lot easier than i thought it was going to be, just a few screws and some glue all over the place; just takes time to let the glue set before you can move on to the next part,

Im in need of some weather stripping and a new headliner. I'll keep u updated on my progress, i might finnish it tomorrow.

 

yea, can somone throw up some pics of the top w/o a headliner.

The front most bar (not the one that latches though) doesn't fold down right on it's own, and i need to manually push it towards the back when lowering. So i'm wondering if i'm missing somthing?

Also, the top is incredibly hard to lift. are there springs someplace to help lift it into place? thanks

 

the 2nd bow from tthe front is free floating, thats how mine works too, it has to be link that in order to fit in the trunk i think. I broke the little handle off of my 2 bow area, anyone know what it was for?

 

Vinyl belongs in Swimming Pools. Stayfast belongs on Thirdgen Verts.

When I got my top the trim guy doing the work tried to slip in a vinyl top and pocket a bit of extra profit.

I asked him about it and explained that the vinyl was better because you could wash it. He was of course shooting me a line of crap. I went home and did a bit of research and the next day being a Saturday, I called him at home and woke him up to make dang sure the top did not get installed. I pitched a running hissy fit, and when I saw him on monday morning I tore a great big chunk out of his AZZ for trying it.

The short version of my answer is SCREW VINYL. Stay STAYFAST!

You would not shortcut on anything else would you? The Vinyl looks like crap. You'd be ashamed to be seen in public with the top up if you put a pool liner on top of your pretty car.

That's my $.02 (and probably a lot more!)

Speedy

 

I had communicated with a couple of members who said they did their own top install: I believe one of their names was Craig Skiles (but don't quote me for sure). Yeah mine needs replacing badly & I also want the cloth w/rear glass window (& if I can get it rear defog). Sorry I couldn't be of more help

 

My plastic window folds smack in the middle when the top goes down, so its surprising that the top would go down right with a rigid glass window.

What did ASC use? Glass or plastic?

Also, neither of the tops on my car had headliners. When it's time for a new top, can I use one with a headliner. The car's an '89.

Thanks.

 

I put a cloth/plastic top on my RS and I really want a cloth/glass top for it but I have looked around and I can't find one. Any idea where I could??? I could probally install it myself. thanks for any help.

 

tops online has the stayfast/glass combo. Its $399. when i find a car i'm going to keep, i'll be buying one of these.

 

Redlightrunner,

There was a change to the convertible top made, I believe, in mid '89 to the top with the liner. Can you use a liner with your top without changing the frame? I don't know.


(I'm only partially ansering your question so somebody who knows more than me might see it and give you better info.)

Good Luck!
Speedy

 

About the convert top. I have a stayfast canvas / glass combo. It works great and folds up no problems. I belive i got it from topsonline.com. not 100% sure anymore though ive had it now for like 4 or 5 years. It still looks great. In my past experience you get what you pay for with things so i like to invest the money in quality parts. JUst my 2 cents.

 

To redliterunner:
The ASC tops originally came as cloth w/the rear plastic "window". I know I saw a top in Jc Whitney that came w/ a headliner (with choice of colors to boot) but as I said b4 when I replace mine, I'm going with glass. Now my 88"s top doesn't fold in the rear window section, so I should be ok for it but it seems as I've read from posts on here that the top changed somewhere between 88-9 model years. I would like to get my hands on the 89 up rear release lever as the pre 89's were very poorly designed (mine broke & I guess I'll have 2 do a custom fab when I get around to it).

 

I think having a headliner would be nice, but hav no idea what the difference in frames is or what to look for, so I'll probably just leave it.

Does anyone sell the pads that run front to rear along the inside of the top above the door glass? Mine are getting a bit ratty and need to be changed next time I do a top on this car.

The current top is about three years old, and will be due a change in the next two or so. Does this sound about right for top life?

Also, has anyone used one of those covers that protects the passenger area when the top is down? It appears to cover everything from the back of the tonneau cover pad to the front-most of the windshield and attaches to the tops of the doors on the side.

 

Hey redlite....

I'd been looking 4 one of those tonneau covers for passenger area for top down motoring, where'd U see one?

 

I have not purchased one of them but they come highly recommended.

http://www.calcarcover.com/product.aspx?cid=6&id=629

Speedy

 

Thanks for info speedgrafix but I want one that can be open to just cover back seat area or both back & pasenger side while driving to streamline the airflow when those areas aren't occupied.

 

88drop,

What you are lookng for sounds like a custom job. I imagine that to get what you are looking for on a thirdgen you will have to have it made.

Speedy

 

The cover that I had seen was sold by classic camaro, but was similar to the one in speedgraphic's link.

I think you're wanting one like I see often in Europe that zips open just to expose the driver's seat and controls...so you can drive with most of the interior protected. You see them a lot on little roadsters.

I've never seen one like that for a big ol' third gen. You could, of course, have one custom made, but you might have to install snaps or something to secure it.

 

Yeah U hit it on the nail, redlite.... oh well I guess I could just try to make one myself with some fabric & etc. Thanks all & have a great weekend.