I will need to have a top put on my 67 vert in a couple of months after I finish paint and have started looking at doing it myself or paying to have it done.
I have only recieved one estimate so far and it seemed kinda high but then I don't know.
They said includes the top, pads and install $1257 + tax. Tack strips would be extra.
I have looked at threads of people doing it themselves and it seems like lots could go wrong.
Mine is a power top and is a bare frame right now.
I watched a video on here that was in a recent post and it was ok but only showed them doing a couple things and then them saying we have a long way to go until it is adjusted, and that is someone who knows what they are doing. It really did not have much detailed info, like what can go wrong!

1. So cost ???? what shouls it be and should I supply the top or let them.

2. Should I do it myself. I have done everything else on this car from building the rottiserie to welding all of the sheetmetal to mechanical to paint no problem. But for some reason I get nervous when I yhink about doing this top myself. A $1200 bill pushes me closer to DIY but looking for feedback.
Thanks
EB

Eldon, I had a new top installed just over a year ago and also spent that much, but it also included the tack strips and the well liner. So you're in the ballpark.

Ed

I forgot that it did include the well liner also. I am worried that the "tack strips extra" is a chance for the price to be what ever they want.
I guess I could buy and install those before I took it in.
Is there a good place to buy this stuff other than CI?
EB

Labor's expensive here, $1800 is about the avg rate around this area...

Well I guess that my estimate is not that far out if any.
I guess I should ask him to nail down the tack strip, so to speak, and divide out the labor and top cost so I know if I would gain anything if I provide the top, pads and well liner?
EB

Many have tried it before, but it's a tricky endeavour, eh? I did the grunt work, and was glad not to have had to make those final cuts and adjustments that were made for me. Having gone through it...I'd farm this one out, and get lots of references to get it done right!

capt

I would avoid DIY top installations. It is not a fun, or easy project.
It's a royal PITA.

Shop around for a upholstery shop or a trim shop that has a good rep and makes their own panels, or buy the top - about $250.00 such as the offerings at http://www.ezsofttops.com/s-1397-camaro.aspx

Then with top in hand, find a upholstery or trim shop to install it. Also see if there is a discount for Cash. In today's lifeless economy you will see many merchants giving you a discount rate since they would loose on a credit card transaction in discount rates and merchant fees. Typically 4 to 8% based on their yearly volume, and type of card.

Also if you have the top in hand check out your votec high or other type of local trade school, to see if they do projects. Often they do at just overhead costs.

I used a local Mom and Pop in the area, they supplied the original style top, in white, black headliner with plastic rear window, pads and well. It is the best quality top I have ever seen. Feels thicker that any I have seen at any show. I paid cash and walked away at $500.00 plus state tax. Job took two hours, two guys.

I had a double texture top installed for $1600.double texture is a nicer, heavy material top that will last

canvas top install $900 tack strip included $100

captcanuck68 and 69-Pace,
I have looked, read and searched the web and there is so much info out there that it is hard to absorb it so I am leaning toward paying someone now.

bills69,
was yours labor only or was it everything included?

Looks like I need to shop around a little more.

Thanks
EB

You might ask a BMW, Audi, Jag, any high end dealer where they get their tops replaced.
Dealers farm it out. Ours here is A&W Upholsterers whom does it for all the dealers.

You know if the upholster shop does it for a high end car, quality of work, and if you buy materials from them, will be top notch. I'm sure they are going to use stainless steel staples.

I had a double texture top installed for $1600.double texture is a nicer, heavy material top that will last

And your guy quoted me more like $2500 after I had just spent over $1500 in his shop on my seats! Sta-Fast is not a $900 option over what you got!

I would not necessarily buy a top online and then try to find someone to install it...Some shops are extremely picky about brands they will install, and you can't blame them as they have to warrant the install.

Where can you buy just the material that replaces the old tack material in the grooves of the frame? Also if the tack strip material on the rear tack strip is not so good can that material be replaced or do you have to replace the whole rear metal frame and tack strip?
Some of my tack strip material is in bad shape, hard and full of staples. Do I have to pull all of those staples? Can I grind them off?
Can only part of the tack material be replaced or do you need to do the complete strip?
Thanks
EB

I would replace all of the tack strip.

Everett#2390

Any idea for supplier for that type of thing?

Eldon, all the repop houses carry the tack strips. HERE'S (http://www.rickscamaros.com/catalogsearch/result/?search_year=1967&q=tack+strip) Rick's stuff.

Ed

Thank you.
EB

I just had my '68 done. I had all the parts except the tack strip above the rear window. The first guy wouldn't use my top (he said it was too old and shrank) and wanted $1500 for the top and labor.

Then I went to see a guy I've used before. He put my supposedly shrunken top on perfectly AND re-covered my front seats for $850. He did both in one day.

Look around. In this economy some guys are hungrier than others.

I just had my '68 done. I had all the parts except the tack strip above the rear window. The first guy wouldn't use my top (he said it was too old and shrank) and wanted $1500 for the top and labor.

Then I went to see a guy I've used before. He put my supposedly shrunken top on perfectly AND re-covered my front seats for $850. He did both in one day.

Look around. In this economy some guys are hungrier than others.

Yeah Jim and I think the quality shows in your shop up there in MA and in mine here in Hartford. Al's has been in business well over 40 years and knows how to price to survive and ride out a storm. He does high quality work, low key shop, rarely advertises. Word of mouth keep food on the table.

The other shops rip off so many of their customers or tell people bull like the top you bring in is damaged just to drive up the prices, and fuel relationships with questionable vendors and end up with no repeat business, and low referral rates. You leave there thinking you got a great deal and see you paid at least twice what everyone else got, you find they used shotty goods and poor craftsmanship when the top wears out in less then ten years.

In most cases our tops are better quality, and installed with care and quality. The high priced shops have to constantly bring in new leads to survive. The economy takes a hit and they are toasted and gone over night. AS THEY SHOULD BE! There is not a decent trim shop in the world that would say no to installing a top brought to them that was in perfect condition. If they say no, you should too.

I am still looking. I think I am going to restore the frame and replace all of the tack strips and then let someone take it from there.
Do you know if the tack strip on the rear most metal tack strip, the one that sells for $120 plus, is replaceable or do ypou have to replace the whole metal frame.
EB

I paid $400 for a top installed in 1984 - just had one put on with the restoration and it was $1700 this time.

Keez upolstery supply in Charlotte, NC will sell you all the material you need at a good price. I found a unemployed upolstery guy who is working out of his garage and he did an excellent job. 5 one hundred dollar bills and then did the complete interior for 3 bills, I supplied all the materials. Place an ad on Craigs list and see what comes up and then do some reference checking. With the unemployment so high there are good guys out there doing all sorts of stuff for cash. A business will charge $1200 and up to cover his overhead.

Good idea Bruce, I will look into that.
Thanks

total out the door

I am still looking. I think I am going to restore the frame and replace all of the tack strips and then let someone take it from there.

Eldon, don't take the top frame apart in pieces. Restore it in a whole. It would be like trying to put humpty dumpty back together again.... Think alignment issue down the road... When I did mine I wire wheeled the whoole thing and treated any rust spots, cracks, and then painted and it came out great.

Brandan-

Eldon, don't take the top frame apart in pieces. Restore it in a whole. It would be like trying to put humpty dumpty back together again.... Think alignment issue down the road... When I did mine I wire wheeled the whoole thing and treated any rust spots, cracks, and then painted and it came out great.

Brandan-
Listen to Brandan on this one, eh? Took mine apart, and two years later, even with photos... it was a nightmare to re-assemble. And draw a diagram as to how.where the washers/shims fit!

capt

I was planning on leaving it together. It was off the car when I got the car in buckets. I would like to go back a few years and kick the guys a$$ for totally dismantling the car, not bagging anything, throwing it in bucket and setting them outside to fill with water!
I have no idea what washers and where they would go. O BOY!
Thanks
Eldon

Here in Nevada at the Indian Spring Prson, you can make arrangements to take your vehicle there, and they have a body shop, upholstery shop, paint, etc AS you might guess there are Prisoners there who have all kinds of skills that are incarcentate. I contacted them about rebuilding a 68 Camaro Coupe, and was told YES you can take your ride there and you supply the materials and they charge $40 an hour labor. If you have ever been to Las Vegas,NV and gone to see the Car Collection on the 5th Floor of the Imperail Palace, there are around 350 vehicles on display (and they are all For Sale) The Prisoners at Indian Springs Facility do all the restoration work on these vehicles, plus I understand the Imperial Palace has another 350 vehicles they rotate so that Tourist do not see the same Vehicles when they come back to Vegas.....Point being, I do not know where you live, but you might consider contacting the Prison(s) in your area and see if they offer Vehicle work, worth a shot and would bet some Prison Craftsman will do you a great job. You can go on your computer and the search bar and type in bighousechoppers.com and see some of the Motorcycles built by the Priosners at Indian Springs, which is approx 60 miles from Las Vegas........All the Motorcycles are for sale as well, beautiful work, and of course the Prisoners have all the time in the World, and won't be rushing the job....Just my suggestion, would you want to do this!!!!!!!!Good Luck Also the $1200 quote some one gave you, that is what it would run here in Vegas, can find cheaper quotes, of course, You get what you pay for, has always been my expereience Also you did not state are you going to go with the plastic Rear Window, or Glass Window!!!!!!!! And last thing have you thought about having them build you a new Boot Also, this all add's up, and who ever installs the new top, I hope they do not do any short cuts, which may affect your top later.........

I did my own w/o prior experience.

I marked and then removed the frame, sanblasted and painted it. I saved the original top and window and used them as a guide for installing the new one. I bought an air powered stapler and a quart of contact cement and had at it. I replaced the tackstrip, pads and well liner also.

I did the install outdoors on a hot day so that the fabric was pliable. I had no reference material except for the old top. It took one full day of sweatin' and cussin', but it turned out great

And your guy quoted me more like $2500 after I had just spent over $1500 in his shop on my seats! Sta-Fast is not a $900 option over what you got!

I remember you telling me that after you asked who did my camaro top.You went and got an estimate after i reccomended him.

He did another double texture top on My Nova for $1600.I believe that was even after your $2500 quote.

I paid $400 for a top installed in 1984 - just had one put on with the restoration and it was $1700 this time.

I paid $375 in 1982.....$1600 2 years ago....

Now remember a perfectly installed top will have no wrinkles!

NONE!

From what I see here mt $1200 quote is not that bad.

I did my top myself back in 1980. I had it done this last time as part of the restoration. The guy that did mine was the same guy that does all of the upholsery for the Powerblock shows on Spike.

I would not assume that just any upholsery shop can install a top. I would want to know and see some examples of their work. There are a lot of adjustments that can be made - to make it fit correctly when up and also when down.

I will come down to Vancouver to see BPOS when my car is ready for the top install