1 or 2 piece top....

[damiens]

My window has a tear. It is taped and my top is in relatively good condition overall. I currently have the original 2 piece top. When pricing out new tops, I found replacement window sections and complete top pricing. Have most of you kept the 2 piece top or changed over to the 1 piece? The only draw back I can see is that the window will probably fog before the top is worn out and with a 1 piece top you would need to replace the whole thing. I am trying to weigh that against the seamless look of the 1 piece.....

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Damien

[daz1320]

I went with a new 2 piece top.It cost me $1150 installed but he did a perfect job.It took him 4 hrs. and he came to my job.most other shops charged between 900-1050..

[Eikon]

Wow.. I need to learn how to install 'vert tops. I could move to TX or AZ or FL and just replace like 1 top per day. That would be a pretty great living.

It's like $250 per hour. Geez!

What kind of tools do you need to do that?

[top_secret]

a convertilble FSM supplement, a glue gun, and a stapler.

I'm making my own rear window out of vinyl, I'll post pics of how it turns out when I'm done.

[slip69]

and alot of time..the guy that replaced my top took about 6 hours..but only charged me 200.00 for the labor since i hab purchased the top on my own

[guyaverage]

I made a new window out of clear marine vinyl. It is thinner than the factory window, but it was $35 for a roll large enough to make 5 windows. It looks almost perfect. I cut out the old, cracked and hazed factory window, traced it onto the new piece, cut it out, and my friend sewed it in with his sewing machine in his garage. It was tricky to sew, but if you have used a sewing machine before you'll do ok.

As a test I cut a piece, poked a screwdriver through it, then tried to rip it. I had to pull very, VERY hard to even get it to tear even just a little. If it lasts only a year I'll still be happy. It was not at all difficult, and I dont even have a vert manual. Time consuming, yes. But difficult, not at all. Use rust resistant (not standard) staples. I got mine at Home Depot for $8. You'll use a bunch. I used twice as many as the factory did. Didnt use any glue, its rained here several times since and I have had no leaks what so ever.

After you take the top off and put it back on even just once, you will be able to do it again twice as fast and will scratch your head in disgust hearing about shops charging what they charge for this job. Figure 6-8 hours total if its your first time, working at a slow deliberate pace. I had to do mine a second time because I accidentally poked a whole in it, right where it mattered. I have no idea how I did that, but anyway the 2nd install went a whole lot quicker than the first and it looks great.

[slip69]

where did you get the marine vinyl from? thanks for posting on how to do it.

[top_secret]

I did mine with clear vinyl and then sewed velcro on it, and now I'm trying to sew velcro onto the top.. I realize it won't last as long as factory (but lets be honest, they get hazed after a couple years) but if I velcro it then once I get it done I will just have to trace the old piece onto vinyl, cut it out, and I can sew velcro on it using a sewing machine and just velcro in a new piece.

[guyaverage]

where did you get the marine vinyl from? thanks for posting on how to do it.

I'll have to find out, my friend makes car covers for race teams, he got a sample of various fabrics and some clear vinyl from a company he gets a lot of his material from, then he ordered a few yards for me.

You could probably go to a local marina and they will more than likely have it or can at least order it. I have seen it on Ebay a few times too. I have heard some fabric stores stock clear vinyl, although I have never checked myself.

I measured it, the stock piece was about .040 inch thick, the stuff I am using is only .020 inch, but its definitely strong. Time will tell how long it stays nice always being exposed to the winter weather, and how well it will take the summer sun and heat without stretching, and not get scratched up from the top going up and down all spring and summer. One thing I did notice is that it wrinkles a bit more than the factory window did, after the top has been down for a little while, but at least the wrinkles flatten out within a few minutes after the top is back up. It might have held the wrinkles longer because it was only about 40 degrees or so in the garage when I was finishing it up and the vinyl was a little stiffer than when it was warm. But for now I am beyond happy with it, I had no idea it would make the car look so much better than before.

[top_secret]

walmart sells it as thick as the stock one... its clear vinyl, sold by the yard but its nearly a yard wide too, its like $3.77 a yard or less depending on thickness.. in their craft section. the one I went to in san antonio had the super thick **** I bought but the one in houston just had thin ****.. but i'm sure if walmart has it than an arts and crafts or fabrics store should as well. and like I said at less than $4 per yard its cheap too.

[guyaverage]

I read someone else saying that Walmart had it, I checked a few of the local ones and none had any. Maybe its a regional thing..?

[top_secret]

ask the ladies back in the arts and crafts section! old people use it to make covers for their furniture!