DIY 89 top replacement

TonyR · 04-28-2007, 04:38 AM

Well, I ordered a new top from A.A. Best (www.aabestco.com) and it is scheduled for delivery on Monday. I will be attempting the installation myself, hopefully all goes well, but just in case there, is a custom upholstery shop nearby that will do it for about $500. But, being a poor college student, I'd rather do it myself; I'm done with class at 2, and that's without even skipping, so I got at least a good 6 hours of sunlight. I hope the weather holds, it's supposed to be fairly warm until Tuesday... Anyway, I will document every step of the way for other DIY's with my digital camera, and until Monday, I will be trying to get as much info as possible on the details.

Wish me luck, I think I'm gonna need it...

TwotoneVert · 04-28-2007, 11:18 AM

Good luck.

mannythesaint · 04-28-2007, 05:05 PM

Hey Tony,
Good luck and the force might be with you.

I am thinking about doing the same in my 2000.

Hopefully everything will go fine.

Keep us posted.

mrfirebird73 · 04-29-2007, 03:17 PM

I would like to see how well it goes myself. I have an 83 that needs a new top. Good luck.

nyfreakinrican7 · 04-30-2007, 07:25 PM

You can definately be our Guinea pig

TonyR · 05-02-2007, 04:23 AM

lol, I'll be the guinea pig. I didn't get the top until late Monday though, and the weather's been somewhat trivial today. I may have to wait a few more days for it to warm up a little. I got astaple gun in preparation but ran out of light due to overcast. So, cross your fingers for better weather! I'll post a "before" pic tomorrow so everyone can see how crappy my old top is...

kenv · 05-04-2007, 11:55 PM

good luck

nyfreakinrican7 · 05-05-2007, 03:06 AM

It can't be worse than mine. I am missing the whole rear window section and the left 1/4 section. I have a garage now so I just leave the top down with the boot on.

TonyR · 05-06-2007, 12:05 AM

http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/ima...85d321a1df.jpg
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/ima...e8aaff8382.jpg
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/ima...807ea9ebc4.jpg

So this is my old top, notice the crappiness.

TonyR · 05-06-2007, 12:35 AM

This is the front header bow. First I had to peel off the weather stripping so that I could get to the screws holding the retaining plates in. There are three plates, one in the front and one on each side that hold the front part of the top down.

[IMG]local://upfiles/64620/162D15CBB2094AD19646E8B44E208D98.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/64620/C3274F8522DB4E6581937994B24CE374.jpg[/IMG]