im getting ready to bolt the top frame assembly onto my 68 convert. the body is in primer and ready for paint, but should i have the top fitted and covered before i paint the car? or paint the car and then have the top covered. any help would be appreciated. thanks.

Toss up. Kicker is the stainless trim around the back of the top has to go on before the top. If it's on it has to be masked off and won't have any paint under it. 'course if the top is on, then the guy who does it won't scratch your paint.

thanks for the info. i honestly forgot about the stainless piece having to go on before the top. Since the car is in primer, i will probably paint it and then have the top put on, just becuase im not a fan of masking trim. thanks again.

Good decision.

I would consider dueing all the demo to the top and frame incuding removal of the top before paint only because it can be messy w/painting frame , also you may have some rust repair below the rear crome trim on the trunk that should be painted before the top is installed. I was very glad to do it in this order, 1 car in primer, 2 remove top, 3 paint frame and under crome(on trunk) 4 paint car , 5 install new top. It seemed to work for me