Installed a new top on my '02.
07-07-2011, 05:25 PM
#1
Foghorn Leghorn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: I reside in a near constant state of amazment.
Posts: 2,923
Installed a new top on my '02.
I posted this in the 4.6 section but I figured it would fit nicely here too.
After putting it off for months I finally couldn't stand to look at my '02 GT's raggedy top any longer. I called around and the price to have it done professionally was anywhere from 1300-1500 dollars. Well, that just wasn't going to happen.
So I went on Ebay and dropped 300 on a new top and because I have never installed a convertible top before I went ahead and bit on a 'how to' video some guy was offering on Ebay as well.
After about 16 hours of tugging and stapling and restapling it is done and I am very pleased with the results.
In the interest of full disclosure I must admit that I also bloodied my lip and I am pretty sure I broke my nose when my needle nose pliers slipped and I punched myself in the face while trying to get a retaining spring through a grommet. It has been over a week and my nose is still sore as hell and my right nostril has a bit of a whistle that wasn't there before. Needle nose vise grips would have prevented that. But I digress...
The top fits like a glove and the instructional DVD was an awesome step by step how-to from tear down to installation taking all of the guess work out of the job.
I did play hell trying to get the top to latch but after calling the shop from whom I bought the top they dropped some helpful hints on me and I did get it latched. I just went through a helluva rain storm this afternoon and I didn't notice any leaks anywhere in the cab or the trunk so I'm tickled pink.
If you have no experience at it then I would strongly recommend getting the DVD and a good quality electric or air stapler. I tried using my trusty Arrow T50 and my Powershot staplers and those were non-starters so I went to Lowes and got their 30.00 electric stapler which sufficed.
In a nutshell, if you are needing a new top but don't have the fundage or the desire to spend the money to have someone else do it, do it yourself. I figure the money I saved is worth my whistling snot locker.
After putting it off for months I finally couldn't stand to look at my '02 GT's raggedy top any longer. I called around and the price to have it done professionally was anywhere from 1300-1500 dollars. Well, that just wasn't going to happen.
So I went on Ebay and dropped 300 on a new top and because I have never installed a convertible top before I went ahead and bit on a 'how to' video some guy was offering on Ebay as well.
After about 16 hours of tugging and stapling and restapling it is done and I am very pleased with the results.
In the interest of full disclosure I must admit that I also bloodied my lip and I am pretty sure I broke my nose when my needle nose pliers slipped and I punched myself in the face while trying to get a retaining spring through a grommet. It has been over a week and my nose is still sore as hell and my right nostril has a bit of a whistle that wasn't there before. Needle nose vise grips would have prevented that. But I digress...
The top fits like a glove and the instructional DVD was an awesome step by step how-to from tear down to installation taking all of the guess work out of the job.
I did play hell trying to get the top to latch but after calling the shop from whom I bought the top they dropped some helpful hints on me and I did get it latched. I just went through a helluva rain storm this afternoon and I didn't notice any leaks anywhere in the cab or the trunk so I'm tickled pink.
If you have no experience at it then I would strongly recommend getting the DVD and a good quality electric or air stapler. I tried using my trusty Arrow T50 and my Powershot staplers and those were non-starters so I went to Lowes and got their 30.00 electric stapler which sufficed.
In a nutshell, if you are needing a new top but don't have the fundage or the desire to spend the money to have someone else do it, do it yourself. I figure the money I saved is worth my whistling snot locker.
03-10-2012, 12:05 AM
#3
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 814
In the interest of full disclosure I must admit that I also bloodied my lip and I am pretty sure I broke my nose when my needle nose pliers slipped and I punched myself in the face while trying to get a retaining spring through a grommet. It has been over a week and my nose is still sore as hell and my right nostril has a bit of a whistle that wasn't there before. Needle nose vise grips would have prevented that. But I digress...
I figure the money I saved is worth my whistling snot locker.
Good info and im glad it turned out well...and I think we've all been there with the self inflicted wounds
07-16-2012, 12:58 PM
#6
Just did this myself, the only issue I have now is that the front doesn't meat the windshield tight, is this something I'm going to have to wait for the top to stretch to remedy or should I unstaple the front and redo it a little looser?
