I bought a new top for my 65 Mustang a while ago. I decided recently that I was going to tackle the installation myself. So, I did a search and found this series. After watching you do it, I am 100% certain that I will be taking mine to someone like you who knows what the hell they’re doing. Wow that’s a lot of work. You are a true craftsman and I wish I had a fraction of your patience.
Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad my video helped you diced if you wanted to do your top or hire it out. The tops are extremely time consuming and easy to make mistakes.
I do get a little carried away with the details in my videos but luckily there have been many great comments about giving people the confidence to do their own. Good luck installing your top. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching.
Just got the frame on and working your tips were absolutely helpful! Just watched all three for the third time! LOL building confidence and ready to make it happen thank you again for your videos they are absolutely helpful keep up the good work!
I'm happy to share what I have learned. I wish I would have had something like this to learn from before I damaged a couple tops trying to figure it out.
Thanks for your time to explain the things I'm going to experience as I attempt my first convertible top replacement. I appreciate your method and showing me the possible problems I will probably come across.
Your videos are very informative. I am contemplating converting my 89 bronco to a convertible soft top and have a design for the mechanism/frame and think I can use aftermarket vintage mustang hardware and actuators. This might be a really dumb question but when you are stapling, what are you stapling into? the metal frame? thank you
I really do appreciate your video. This is my first top and it happens to be a 69 pace car 396 automatic. Back glass was a bugger bear but turned out nice. Now for the top. Fingers crossed. Thanks
Thank you for this series for the convertible top. I have a 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible but there are no videos showing how to complete this top for my car. I've learned a lot from you. I haven't ordered all my pieces yet other than my well liner. So I'll get that installed, then order my top, pads, cables, rear window, etc. What are the screws you used to install the well liner piece?
I stapled the well liner to the rear bottom bow and I spray glued the liner to the panel behind the rear seat. I used a couple of small screw on the corners of the rear seat panel to hold it in place.
Hi, i'm JAKE and i'¡m writing to youi from COLOMBIA SOUTH AMERICA, you have all my admiration for this project, i thank you for evberithing i learned from your tecnique. have a nice day. your new friend JAKE
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of installing convertible tops. I am doing a 1972 Chevelle SS and I have a comfort level with the upholstery aspect but it seems to me the convertible top is a little more than I want to tackle. Do you have a business for doing tops .... and or do you have any recommendations who is up to show quality work? I live in central Illinois. Thanks for your videos! Doug L.
@@riderescue sure don't I'm 63 in Australia can't get anyone to fit a new top for me confidently I've spent 3 years restoring a 69firebird I've been an auto body man all my life I've just watched your other videos remove the frame and adjust realign fit back window excellent stuff can't believe how much detail you give absolutely amazing mate
Sorry, no. The well liner in this car did not need to be replaced. If you are only doing the liner, you need to remove the top and rear window from the lower rear bow. The liner gets stapled on first, then the window, and then top.
Can you tell me what clips hold down the chrome pieces behind the rear window on this car. I’m building a new body 69 Camaro convertible and I really thank you for your videos, they help a lot !!
Here's a link to Classic Industries clips. www.classicindustries.com/product/1969/chevrolet/camaro/parts/7672609.html and here's the trim. www.classicindustries.com/product/1969/chevrolet/camaro/parts/k723.html I hope this helps. 10 clips go onto the body pinch weld area first then you slide the 2 pc trim over the clips till they snap into place. They are not always the best fit but you can add small screws through the back side lip of the trim if needed.
Hi, I am getting ready to do mine! What is the name of the rubber piece that you are gluing down at 26:52. I can't find that part anywhere! Where did you get your top kit? Thanks!
Since I have done 6 tops now I will say a minimum of 6 times installing and adjusting the rear lower bow. My 64 Buick Skylark was my 4th top and I think that one was the hardest to do at about 10 times or more to get it to fit perfectly. Not fun but satisfying.
When I pulled the old top off there were rivets on the center bar to the pads and a hold down on the midde-front bow. But I noticed that you didn't use the rivets or the screw in hold down on that bow. Any rationale behind this?
I don't recall ever seeing rivets in the pad area you are describing. All of the tops I have done had small machine screws and I do re-use those. Check those rivets to see if there just dirty Phillips head screws. I thought I had those in my video but maybe I skipped that in the process. The center bar sleeve material sometimes is left off from the new top and is included as a part that the installer needs to glue in place. Some tops have that sleeve bonded in place from the manufacture. If the top does not have that sleeve glued in I leave it off for 3 reasons. 1, it is very difficult to glue on without making a mess. 2, in a high wind from driving fast the top lifts up and the glue pulls loose. And 3, I like how the top folds up and stores with that bow not glued.
@@riderescue that's ok maybe you will do another sometime, wish you could get that car back in your possession, I no what its like to give up cars and grieve for them, 69 Camaro was always my favorite I've had 3 Chevelle's couple corvettes my that camaro was my Elenore from gone in 60 seconds..
Boy, you got that right. I'd say more like $1500 or more for labor. Especially if you take the time to restore the top frame and paint it up pretty. Add hydraulic rams, hoses and pumps and the cost goes way up. I made a huge mistake while it was all apart and I didn't replace the hoses and one blew a few months later. Made a huge mess and added lots of work that would have been easy while it was all apart.
@@riderescue I just got my 67 Coronet back on Friday, and my top guy did a great job....and after watching your vids I can totally get how messed up a top can look without the tools, know-how and patience. Fear the "pucker". It got cold as crap here and I've had a heater on in the garage to help out the top.
@@riderescue i just got quoted 2800 and the guy said that's doing it for free 1975 olds delta scissor top. thanks for the video. i think I'm going to brave it. Oh that was a winter price he said 3 to4 thousand in the summer. I'm in Boston
@@riderescue i'm also a mechanic so it really looks like if you can deal with doing it over and over again until you get it right. by the way yours came out nice
I bought a new top for my 65 Mustang a while ago. I decided recently that I was going to tackle the installation myself. So, I did a search and found this series. After watching you do it, I am 100% certain that I will be taking mine to someone like you who knows what the hell they’re doing. Wow that’s a lot of work. You are a true craftsman and I wish I had a fraction of your patience.
Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad my video helped you diced if you wanted to do your top or hire it out. The tops are extremely time consuming and easy to make mistakes.
Same! I can do alot of s***.. this isn't going to be one of them! LOL
Amazing overkill video!!! Best info and craftsmanship. I'm going to attempt a 90 foxbody and have a bit more confidence now thank you!!!
I do get a little carried away with the details in my videos but luckily there have been many great comments about giving people the confidence to do their own. Good luck installing your top. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching.
Just got the frame on and working your tips were absolutely helpful! Just watched all three for the third time! LOL building confidence and ready to make it happen thank you again for your videos they are absolutely helpful keep up the good work!
Thanks for taking the time to help us DIYers.. I hope you are rewarded in some way.
I'm happy to share what I have learned. I wish I would have had something like this to learn from before I damaged a couple tops trying to figure it out.
Thanks for your time to explain the things I'm going to experience as I attempt my first convertible top replacement. I appreciate your method and showing me the possible problems I will probably come across.
Glad to help and good luck with your top!
Thanks for your time, I'll be doing my first top for my 67 skylark
Your videos are very informative. I am contemplating converting my 89 bronco to a convertible soft top and have a design for the mechanism/frame and think I can use aftermarket vintage mustang hardware and actuators. This might be a really dumb question but when you are stapling, what are you stapling into? the metal frame? thank you
I really do appreciate your video. This is my first top and it happens to be a 69 pace car 396 automatic. Back glass was a bugger bear but turned out nice. Now for the top. Fingers crossed. Thanks
Excellent! So glad my videos help. BTW, I love those Pace Cars.
Thank you for this series for the convertible top. I have a 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible but there are no videos showing how to complete this top for my car. I've learned a lot from you. I haven't ordered all my pieces yet other than my well liner. So I'll get that installed, then order my top, pads, cables, rear window, etc. What are the screws you used to install the well liner piece?
I stapled the well liner to the rear bottom bow and I spray glued the liner to the panel behind the rear seat. I used a couple of small screw on the corners of the rear seat panel to hold it in place.
@@riderescue Awesome. Thank you for your assistance.
Thanks for your help Worked great with my 63 Corvair
I'm glad my videos helped with your Corvair top. Thanks for the comment!
Hi, i'm JAKE and i'¡m writing to youi from COLOMBIA SOUTH AMERICA, you have all my admiration for this project, i thank you for evberithing i learned from your tecnique.
have a nice day.
your new friend
JAKE
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of installing convertible tops. I am doing a 1972 Chevelle SS and I have a comfort level with the upholstery aspect but it seems to me the convertible top is a little more than I want to tackle. Do you have a business for doing tops .... and or do you have any recommendations who is up to show quality work? I live in central Illinois. Thanks for your videos! Doug L.
Really good videos mate I feel confident I will give mine a go
I'm happy to hear my videos helped build your confidence. It's a lot of work and time but it is worth it and you can say you did it yourself. Cheers!
@@riderescue sure don't I'm 63 in Australia can't get anyone to fit a new top for me confidently I've spent 3 years restoring a 69firebird I've been an auto body man all my life I've just watched your other videos remove the frame and adjust realign fit back window excellent stuff can't believe how much detail you give absolutely amazing mate
Do you have a video of putting in the well liner?
Sorry, no. The well liner in this car did not need to be replaced. If you are only doing the liner, you need to remove the top and rear window from the lower rear bow. The liner gets stapled on first, then the window, and then top.
@@riderescue Do you have a diagram or picture of how it is attached back by the rain chanel
Can you tell me what clips hold down the chrome pieces behind the rear window on this car. I’m building a new body 69 Camaro convertible and I really thank you for your videos, they help a lot !!
Here's a link to Classic Industries clips. www.classicindustries.com/product/1969/chevrolet/camaro/parts/7672609.html and here's the trim. www.classicindustries.com/product/1969/chevrolet/camaro/parts/k723.html I hope this helps. 10 clips go onto the body pinch weld area first then you slide the 2 pc trim over the clips till they snap into place. They are not always the best fit but you can add small screws through the back side lip of the trim if needed.
@@riderescue Thank You.
Hi, I am getting ready to do mine! What is the name of the rubber piece that you are gluing down at 26:52. I can't find that part anywhere! Where did you get your top kit? Thanks!
How many times did you have to remove the rear bow in total (including off camera)?
Since I have done 6 tops now I will say a minimum of 6 times installing and adjusting the rear lower bow. My 64 Buick Skylark was my 4th top and I think that one was the hardest to do at about 10 times or more to get it to fit perfectly. Not fun but satisfying.
When I pulled the old top off there were rivets on the center bar to the pads and a hold down on the midde-front bow. But I noticed that you didn't use the rivets or the screw in hold down on that bow. Any rationale behind this?
I don't recall ever seeing rivets in the pad area you are describing. All of the tops I have done had small machine screws and I do re-use those. Check those rivets to see if there just dirty Phillips head screws. I thought I had those in my video but maybe I skipped that in the process. The center bar sleeve material sometimes is left off from the new top and is included as a part that the installer needs to glue in place. Some tops have that sleeve bonded in place from the manufacture. If the top does not have that sleeve glued in I leave it off for 3 reasons. 1, it is very difficult to glue on without making a mess. 2, in a high wind from driving fast the top lifts up and the glue pulls loose. And 3, I like how the top folds up and stores with that bow not glued.
Thank you I'm going to try mine any other help you can offer would be greatly appreciated thank you
if you post another one could you show more of whats going on inside the trunk/rear set area curious to see that..
Sorry, I wish would have done a good trunk and well video but the car is done and back to with the owner.
@@riderescue that's ok maybe you will do another sometime, wish you could get that car back in your possession, I no what its like to give up cars and grieve for them, 69 Camaro was always my favorite I've had 3 Chevelle's couple corvettes my that camaro was my Elenore from gone in 60 seconds..
Great videos,
Glad you like them!
I wish u could do my top. U do excellent work
Thank you!
Any tips on installing the pinch trim?
where is the best source of downloading a schematic to the top frame pieces? Mine was taken apart before I got it. thanks
I have not seen anything that shows all the parts and / or assembly diagram. I hope someone lets us all know if that is available somewhere.
Who manufactured your convertible top?
Where did you buy it?
I purchased the top and other parts from www.rickscamaros.com/ I don't know the manufacturer of the top.
👍👍👍
Any advice on getting 69 convertable windshield header to fit properly
Sorry, I have never removed or replaced the header trim.
Now you know why it costs $1k to install a top. (not including the cost of the top)
Boy, you got that right. I'd say more like $1500 or more for labor. Especially if you take the time to restore the top frame and paint it up pretty. Add hydraulic rams, hoses and pumps and the cost goes way up. I made a huge mistake while it was all apart and I didn't replace the hoses and one blew a few months later. Made a huge mess and added lots of work that would have been easy while it was all apart.
@@riderescue I just got my 67 Coronet back on Friday, and my top guy did a great job....and after watching your vids I can totally get how messed up a top can look without the tools, know-how and patience. Fear the "pucker". It got cold as crap here and I've had a heater on in the garage to help out the top.
@@riderescue i just got quoted 2800 and the guy said that's doing it for free 1975 olds delta scissor top. thanks for the video. i think I'm going to brave it. Oh that was a winter price he said 3 to4 thousand in the summer. I'm in Boston
@@bobdimartino6738 It is a lot of work but it's well worth it. Take your time and think all of it through step by step and you''ll do great.
@@riderescue i'm also a mechanic so it really looks like if you can deal with doing it over and over again until you get it right. by the way yours came out nice