Replacing Soft Top?

How tough is it to replace a soft top? Weekend job? Need any special tools? Best to have a pro do it?

Steve

Steve, I hear it is really hard from people who have done it. Look at this site and see what you think:

Dave


http://rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair3.html

I just had mine done, professionally, and it was worth every penny.

About 10 years ago I replaced the top on my 72 myself...
and honestly like any other simple project it took 5 times as long to accomplish as I thought it would.

Although it turned out pretty nice I would be unhappy if I had paid someone to do it...a few wrinkles that for the life of me I could not stretch out etc....

THAT SAID....

I had the tops replaced on my 64 and on my 72 within the last month...

I took both cars to a PROFESSIONAL.... labor was quoted at $300 to $350 a car... BUT I reduced that by removing the old top myself BECAUSE I wanted to actually do a lookie, feelie, close up, and personal inspection of the top frames myself ...

IF the frames needed any work done on them NOW WAS THE TIME TOP DO IT and I did not want the PRO to cover up an area that may cause me problems 5 years down the road...

Both frames did need a little attention in the metal header above the windshield area (minor rust..even a few pin holes)... and the tack strips on both cars were
just about shot..BUT were still usable

So I repaired the headers, repainted them, ordered new tack strips and new pads and I had already ordered the tops themselves at Carlisle...

The Pro charged me $275.00 labor per car to install them and they are absolutely wrinkle free and look great..

So I spent 275 bucks on each car.... Got an absolutely great job done ...and I did not spent at least 2 days in the garage doing it myself...even though I value my time very highly time spent in the garage is relaxation not work..BUT I still think I made the correct choice...

Bob Griffiths
68 SS 396 Chevelle
64 & 72 Corvette Convertibles
76 79 & 95 Corvette Coupes

Steve,

Last winter/spring I was going to tackle that project myself as well. But after doing a fair amount of research (and a fair amount of procrastination) I took it to a pro to do the work. I had ordered an Al Knoch Interiors top kit and a couple of the places I talked to before settling on one would not do the job if I had purchased the top from anyone else. Here's the thread I started on the project last fall and wrapped up this spring ('Convertible Top Replacement'). It has lots of good input from other members and another website reference to check out.

Good luck!