BRAND NEW convertible cabrio tops installed

[fuzzysux]

Hey I have not forgotten about you, Im just getting the $$$ up to do this. Do you have any idea what seals cost? The ones that mate to the window are shot.

you are speaking about the seal that runs across the entire front of the top and also above the front windows? that is one piece. $225 for this seal as of September 2013 (edited).

this can also be installed afterwards - or upgraded after the top is installed, if you need to stagger the $$ out a little bit

also it is important to note that usually the top will leak in the front left corner because the top is worn and actually absorbing water or the material itself has shrunk over time -and is not USUALLY the fault of this seal. it is possible that your old rubber seal will work OK and keep water out with the new top. i'd be happy to take a look at it for you and give you my honest opinion of whether it needs to be replaced or not.

[NardusDC]

Fuzzysux - you've got PM.

Looking to get this done on my '92 Vert. Would also love to get the electrict top working smoothly - do you know how to adjust these?

[fuzzysux]

thanks NardusDC!
i replied via email with my thoughts and quotes.
as i mentioned but i will reiterate in the thread for other's benefit. alot of the smooth function of the electric tops relies on the mechanical assist of the straps which string each bow together and begin the top folding process. it is usually best to also have these replaced while the top is being replaced - then any electrical motor issues can be addressed.

[fuzzysux]

late night updates

another finished pic. i love the first stretch on a brand new top!
don't mind the poor quality.. camera phone and it was like 11pm.. so it is a little washed out by my fluorescent lites

[fuzzysux]

final pics

over-view

[fuzzysux]

pics

close up

[Gerta]

Fuzzy - here in Seattle the cost of labor is 10 hrs / ~$720. The installer that was recommended to me told me to go to Topsonline.com and get an "ez-on" top ($389 for german sonnedeck cloth). The straps run $300 or so from Blunt. Tensioners run about $30 or so ... all the seals will cost you $500 and the metal channel for the front seal about $60. Like you said ... putting $2k into a $3-5k car seems backassward, but you do it if the car is your wife's

You my friend are charging the community an awesome price and doing a great service! Can I ask what top you recommend?

[fuzzysux]

it is unlikely that the front channel needs to be replaced - i have always been able to re-use the original. also it is likely that the seals are all OK and that the top itself has shrunk which is causing the leaking. the seals are all relatively easy to replace (exception being the front seal, which is bonded to the top and frame to ensure no leaks on your left leg).
i would recommend having the top replaced (not a big fan of the "easy on" tops since they have a hard plastic portion on either side of the front bow, they glue in kind of weird on the under-side..) and seeing if that fixes your leaks. seal replacing is a DIY if you can tell the difference between a phillips and flat head screw driver.
most of my customers think that they need to replace all their seals and in-fact the top has no leaks after i replace ONLY the cloth top and re-bond the front seal to the top and frame.

[fuzzysux]

i have been thinking about an option where the customer ships me their existing top on a frame - especially for situations like this. i would be inclined to use this forum to gauge interest. if enough people are 100% interested, i can run freight quotes etc.. and i can install the new top on your frame, test fit on my own personal car and then return ship to the customer.
even with the extra shipping.. i think it might help save some of you guys $1k

any thoughts?

[Gerta]

I dunno about shipping. It might kill the deal cost wise. Unless you are passing along your killer shipping rates to your customers both ways, then it might work.

Do you use Robbins tops? I chose the cheaper (389 vs 559) ez-on top and another installer recommended the robbins. Of course he wanted 1600 bucks to install the top too.

[GillesBigCowboy]

This sounds great... I am planning a trip to NYC next year and wondering if I could drop my car with u, spend several days in the city then pickup the car with new top..... Train service to NYC nearby?

[fuzzysux]

hey, yes there are two train stations within about 10 minutes of my house - both going to NYC

[fuzzysux]

non e30 top progress pics

some of the non e30 tops from last month

[fuzzysux]

fox body mustang

2 part top with glass window on a fox body - this is not the finished product - but a mid-fitment pic.

[fuzzysux]

this is what your top should do if the straps are good

so once you unlock the front bow, your top should snap up to this position. if it does not, your straps are shot. i've done a lot of straps with customer tops this last month. this is a customer car with new straps just installed