Top install pics! (Finally)

[shawn84&92]

Sorry it took so long. Here are some of the pics.
shawn

Here is the frame that holds the top at the rear of the car.


Here is the back window installed. It slides into a groove at the top and staples at the bottom.


This shows the top material stpled around the back of the car.

The top connects to the center bows by this flap of material. It is folded around the bow and glued. The headliner then clamps over it and also holds it. When you see a top balloning, this has come unglued or torn off of the top on the inside.

[shawn84&92]

Here are some of the finished pics.
It is not perfect, but I saved at least $500 and some of the wrinkles that you see in the pics have gotten better.
If you look at the rear window pic, you will see that you can see the end of the defogger on one side and not the other. I have the top twisted a little, and didn't catch it until I was way into the installation. I thought it would really bother me, but it hasn't.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.
If you read my other post, I said I could have done one much quicker if I had marked the new top from the old one. This would have let me staple the rear of the top very quickly. Instead, I pulled the assembly out several times to mark it. Oh well, I will know next time. Now I am looking for cars that need tops so that I can buy them cheap, put on a top and sell it
Shawn

[shawn84&92]

Thought I might show how I organized all of those screws
Shawn

[Trendkiller]

I think it looks amazing man. The window thing would probably bother the hell out of me but to be honest I probably wouldn't have noticed at first glance if you didn't say anything. Makes me feel better about possibly having to do mine one day. Nice job.

[shawn84&92]

I thought it would bother me too, but no one noticed it until I showed them.
I am just happy to have a rear window again. The car sat from November until now while I was deciding to do it my self or get someone to put it on. I finally ordered the top and waited until I was off of work for a week to do it.

[BlackSS1]

Looks great, makes me wanna get a new top. Nice work

[JohnnyBs98WS6Rag]

Nice job, should sticky this thread, first time I've see this job done w/ pics and all. NICE car too!

[99'CajunFirehawk157]

but I saved at least $500

YEP, mine took two days and was $450, looks like the upholstery shops, like auto body shops use a labor quote guide and they call for 10 hours of installation, in my case @ $45/hour.

Good Job, in my case I didnt have the time, place or patience to do mine so I had to bit the bullet.

[Eugenio_SS]

i love the way you organised the screws... smart + efficient.

[99'CajunFirehawk157]

Shawn, again great job and FWIW mine has those few light wrinkles on the sides too but I have not had my car out in the sun to tighten it up. My upholstery guy said that the way it was sewn by the computer, is yours a Kee Top by chance, I bet it is? (mine is)

[shawn84&92]

Thanks for all of the compliments. I have more pics, but most of them don't make sense, they were just for me to remember what something looked like. It really is not that hard of a job. I bought an air stple gun from Harbor freight, well worth the $30.

I bought my top from AA Best. I think the brand is EZ On.
I didn't see how to get those wrinkles out, but they are getting better.
shawn

[99'CajunFirehawk157]

One question Shawn: now that I look at mine on the inside, in yours, when the top is up, the first section of headliner cloth inside to-wards the front windshield, how does yours hang, loose or more attached like? I noticed mine is now loose but the other sections seem to be attached and the first time I put the top down, I heard a lot of Velcro noises?

BTW- your vett or your pops?

[shawn84&92]

99'CajunFirehawk157,
The headliner attaches at the very front, under the trim piece that has several screws in it. It should also be attached at every bow. I don't know what the velcro noises would be? Your car looks awesome, post some pics with the new top.

The Vette is dad's, I have three C4's. Two
I will keep and one I am getting ready to sell. We buy and sell cars from time to time.
Let me now If I can help.
Shawn

[99'CajunFirehawk157]

99'CajunFirehawk157,
The headliner attaches at the very front, under the trim piece that has several screws in it. It should also be attached at every bow. I don't know what the Velcro noises would be? Your car looks awesome, post some pics with the new top.

The Vette is dad's, I have three C4's. Two
I will keep and one I am getting ready to sell. We buy and sell cars from time to time.
Let me now If I can help.
Shawn

Thanks Shawn, yeah I looked at the old one and I understand now, the Velcro is used to hold the headliner to the side brackets where it rides up and down when you raise or lower the top...
new top

old top

[shawn84&92]

Cajun,
The top looks great, beautiful car! Those are the wheels I would like to get, they are my favorites. Do you have 11's in the back? I put on a set of C6 Z06 replicas in C5 offsets after i sold my 99 C5, and they rubbed on the bumpstop. They were only 9.5's. I am ready to get some 17's, what size and offset do you suggest?
Thanks,
Shawn

[99'CajunFirehawk157]

Cajun,
The top looks great, beautiful car! Those are the wheels I would like to get, they are my favorites. Do you have 11's in the back? I am ready to get some 17's, what size and offset do you suggest?
Thanks,
Shawn

Thanks Shawn! Yes 11's in the back, 17x11 American Racing part#50571163 with an offset of 7.75" with 315's, NO rubbing issues what so ever! Its all in the offset

[shawn84&92]

Thanks for the wheel info, that may have to be my next purchase! The 315's look mean.
Shawn

[bigrondownhiller]

Great job. Was the padding under the top in good shape?

[shawn84&92]

My top padding and cables were good, so I reused them.
shawn

[99'CajunFirehawk157]

I have a pair of new left over cables if anyone needs them, shot me a pm...