Installing a convertible top.

The Buddha · January 31, 2011, 10:41:22 AM

Quote from: Jared on January 31, 2011, 09:39:39 AM
Genius....well ok I'm pretty sharp with some things...Thanks for the compliment.

Ughhh...a Lebaron - we did a ton of those...(all different years but the later years were a little better ). No you just don't unzip it -You pretty much have to dismantle it all and reinstall it....(new pads-possibly tack strip etc too..).There's a section that bolts up under the rear deck that the window and rear side of the top are stapled to that is bolted to studs inside the car(fun to get to... you do it halfway blind). The top part where it zips is also stapled in on the rear bow if memory serves.

If you're going through that much labor it's worth doing the whole top.

DIY... This is one of those things I would lean towards having a Pro do it...When I learned to do them they didn't just put me in front of the car and say do it...I was paired up with someone who had lots of experience. It depends on the top and the skills/knowledge/patience/confidence of the DIY'er.

Is the plastic window busted? or just you can't see through it anymore? They have some polishes you can use to clean them up some...

The Dub...replace it. Sewing it puts holes in it...even with a sealer tape in the seam it will leak- plus it's 20 years old-may look ok but......Get a new one.

The lebaron has a fast browning rear plastic window.
The dub - just replace the top canvas only, or the entire thing. The headliner and all the rest is nearly perfect. Even the top is perfect, I've been looking @ it up close, it looks great really. I'm PMing you about the xs/gs blah ...
Cool.
Buddha.

jserio · January 31, 2011, 07:53:20 PM

But Mary, I thought you liked going about topless?

Toogoofy317 · January 31, 2011, 11:08:26 PM

Yeah, Jserio there is a picture of me that way in the Tard Farm

Hey Jared where exactly you live? I'd put you up at the Hotel across the street for a couple of days and get you into Disney. I think I've got a ticket to Universal too. C'mon be a quick break for ya!

Bring the bike we could go for a ride because you know Flick would get all uppity if we concentrated on a car and not on him!

Just a thought!

Mary

The Buddha · February 01, 2011, 06:35:39 AM

Quote from: Toogoofy317 on January 31, 2011, 11:08:26 PM
Yeah, Jserio there is a picture of me that way in the Tard Farm

Hey Jared where exactly you live? I'd put you up at the Hotel across the street for a couple of days and get you into Disney. I think I've got a ticket to Universal too. C'mon be a quick break for ya!

Bring the bike we could go for a ride because you know Flick would get all uppity if we concentrated on a car and not on him!

Just a thought!

Mary

Yea do that Jared (he's in MD BTW on the atlantic ocean - if he does go to FL and its above freezing I'll go to his place, sneak in there and sit on the ocean for a few days) and on the way stop by @ charlotte and get the xs/gs crap done ...
Cool.
Buddha.

Jared · February 01, 2011, 07:56:06 AM

How would I fit a motorcycle on a plane....hehehe Kind offer but it's quite a commute...That and bringing all my tools...

I'm on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay actually...On a small creek just off the Bay. You can sit in the Ice and snow now if you want...Creek is frozen

Ohh on your Lebaron window.... clean and polish it..... MaCguires Plastx or something like it will take care of it....or if there's a local boat canvas shop around they may have some good stuff too

Your local auto parts place may even have a kit to do it..( 25-30$ ).

Toogoofy317 · February 01, 2011, 08:26:28 PM

Ahhh, make it a road trip put the bike on a trailer like Verv4 and alfadacious did! They visited me the last week of December from that area!

They sent me a much more easier to read manual than the one I've got and it should be in on the third. I'm sure with lots of patience and determination. There are very few things that I can't do. Only two I know of are MRIs or Arc welding other than that look out world!
Mary

Toogoofy317 · February 04, 2011, 12:23:28 AM

Well, the top came in today! I'll give it a once over tomorrow to make sure it is the right top and hopefully will begin this weekend!

Mary

Toogoofy317 · March 02, 2011, 02:58:01 PM

Well, the top is on and looks pretty good

Only sucky thing is it still leaks up at that front seal. Can't for the life of me figure out why

Here is a picture of sunshine!

close up of the top

Mary

reajcox · March 02, 2011, 07:47:08 PM

Nice work Mary.

I did one on an 89 Z24 Cav last year and I cant believe it turned out as nice as it did. The absolute worst part was keeping the top lined up with the bows and keeping them centered in the tops sleeves so that they didn't pull.

yamahonkawazuki · March 02, 2011, 08:46:25 PM

mary check out the seal ( the rubber thing. ) if its old or hard, can put some clear silicone on it that can help. cause if air can get in, so can water. but other than that, excellent work. ive got to take the police enigne out of my wrecked cop car, and put it in my rx7 vert. have to redo the seal as well. half hard, half soft. a weird bastige of a convertible

yamahonkawazuki · March 02, 2011, 08:52:12 PM

engine out of said cop car is going into this thing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymglixjtqrg

teh aforementioned cop car

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AIR6ESG1Hc

jserio · March 02, 2011, 10:48:34 PM

Glad ya got your top back on without any major issues.

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Installing a convertible top.