Who does a good job replacing soft tops in Dallas/Fort Worth Area

[Whiplash]

Judging from the way my seat cover self-install is going I'm going to need to hire someone to put on my new soft top or I'll end up ruining it and/or hurting somebody. Has anyone hired anyone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to replace their soft top on a C3? I'm looking for somebody I can trust to do an excellent install on my replacement dated soft top. It would be great if it was someone that would actually come to the house and do the install on a Saturday. I've got a compressor and plenty of room. I'd really like to see it done for curiosity's sake as well.

I've found two shops that will do it but they're just hiring someone to come by and do it for them and then they mark it up. Thanks in advance.

Whiplash

 

[68Roadster]

Let me know how it goes, I've had a new Al Knoch top in the box for a year now.
What about Corvettes of Dallas on 35E? I've seen some older ones in there, maybe they have someone who knows whats going on....
Cee

If I run across anyone I'll let ya know.

 

[unleadedbrew]

Give Darrell Weber at Corvettes of North Texas a call. They restore a lot of C3s and they're good at it.
1719 W. Division
Arlington, TX 76012
817-801-4754
817-247-7617
Fax 817-801-9228

Good Luck,
Gordon

 

[68Roadster]

Thanks Brew......guess I'll wait another summer, no need to have it installed right now.....

 

[Whiplash]

Let me know how it goes, I've had a new Al Knoch top in the box for a year now.
What about Corvettes of Dallas on 35E? I've seen some older ones in there, maybe they have someone who knows whats going on....
Cee

If I run across anyone I'll let ya know.

Hey Cee,

I bought the car ar Corvettes of Dallas. They're one of the places that I got a quote from but they don't actually do the work. I hoping I can find who they outsource it to. I'm real happy with the car but I don't plan on giving them any more money for service if I can help it. I've gotten the run around a few times since I bought it.

Regarding Corvettes of North Texas, thanks! I forgot all about them. I'll have to give them a call and see what they'd charge.

I wanted to do the top myself. I figure with patience and care anyone can do anything. However I've discovred with the seats fabric can be a real pain. They're much worse then I expected. Most of it is pretty straight forward but the subtle pieces are a nightmare. I'm afraid the top would be the same only not as easy to fudge when it gets hard. If anyone know anyone specific please let me know.

Thanks,

Whiplash

 

[68Roadster]

This is what I have found, other than ordering a videotape on how to do it....

http://rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair3.html

I'm like you, if I can do it, I want to do it rather than spend the money. Guess we could always experiment with mine and then do yours the right way after we have learned all the lessons.......

 

[Whiplash]

This is what I have found, other than ordering a videotape on how to do it....

http://rowleycorvette.com/corvette_repair3.html

I'm like you, if I can do it, I want to do it rather than spend the money. Guess we could always experiment with mine and then do yours the right way after we have learned all the lessons.......

Hey Cee,

I called around to about 5 shops and got prices to install the top including the weather stripping from $300 - $850. I decided to go back to where I bought the car and have them do it. At least I know the car will be safe there. All the shops told me it would be 3 days. Not so much that the labor takes three days but to allow for the "walk away from it" time. All the shops said it was a tough job that needed you to walk away from it from time to time to avoid frustration and allow you to refresh your mental state.

I'm doing the seat covers now and it's taken me three days, 5 hours Sunday and two evenings this week just to get the back rest of the passenger side done and the cushion and cover in place but not streched on the bottom done. I'm going to try and get the bottom streched and clipped tonight. The driver's side is next. After all this it's worth it to me to have someone else do the top right and fix it if they don't.

It'll probably be two weeks before I get it in the shop, I'll let you know how it turns out. Perhaps we can go grab some wings for lunch at the most convenient Hooters between where you and I live.

Thanks for the offer on the lessons though

P.S. the shop that did my alignment this weekend flipped the specs and the alignment's rotten. It's back in there getting done right now. Another one I wish I could do myself.

Whiplash

 

[Whiplash]

Got the 71 back last week after having a local shop do the top installation. I planned on doing this myself but after the seat covers and foam I couldn't bring myself to try this one.

The bad news is it was pretty expensive $550 installed. The good news is that it's tight, straight, smooth, and very nicely done. The better news is that the car was back in two days and I got to drive it this weekend instead of curse at it in the garage.

Thanks to all those who posted. I think it can be done with patience, instructions, and more patience. If you don't have the above it's nice to have done by someone who does this on a regular basis.

Cheers

Whiplash

 

[WayneLBurnham]

SOMEBODY *is* worse than me!

Let me know how it goes, I've had a new Al Knoch top in the box for a year now.

I've only had MINE in the box for ELEVEN MONTHS, you slacker!!!

I even bought the tape, watched part of it and started screaming....

I haven't asked the guys at Corvette Corner in Rowlett yet. They do most of my stuff I'm too lazy, stupid or afraid to do.

I did check in a conventional body shop - the one next to "M Body Shop" in Mesquite and they gave me an estimate of $275-350 for installation, although they preferred using their material sources.

I loathe body work.

I had the puppy down for nearly six weeks this winter just putting in the supposed drop in digital dash from Nordskog, fixing the vent system, installing a new heater core, repairing all the console/under dash wiring, converting the radio slot to DIN and installing a new one, and putting in wood dash covers.

It took a whole four day weekend to just put in new front carpet and finally bolt in the late C3 seats the last owners thought would be "trick" (with 2 bolts each....)

Yet I got the dual mount spring installed in two days, without a hitch, despite working under a car on jackstands, which I have a major phobia about.

Always there is something else besides what you went into fix. With the dash mess EVERYTHING was broken - every housing, every vent, every structure. With the carpet there were huge breaks in the fiberglass under the seats, the electric seat was broken and needed mounting rails made to actually adapt it to my model, one underseat metal reinforcement sheet was removed, the rear rib was not rivetted ANYWHERE to the glass and the front pans were so weak I went ahead and added two metal reinforcement plates and a few layers of glass to them too.

If it's not one thing, it's another....

I can't think WHAT can go wrong with the top, but I'm sure there's something... I know what scares me is those staples....all...those.... STAPLES! I still wish one was available with replaceable rear "glass", like a jeep top zipper - that's what was wrong with mine when I bought it.

Oh, the place next to "M Body Shop" says it's just an overnight job. You may try any regular body/interior shop, rather than a corvette specific one. The chains can be iffy though, so be careful. You also want one that doesn't just do dent or collision repair as much as one that does rod and custom work.

 

[Whiplash]

I've only had MINE in the box for ELEVEN MONTHS, you slacker!!!

I even bought the tape, watched part of it and started screaming....

I haven't asked the guys at Corvette Corner in Rowlett yet. They do most of my stuff I'm too lazy, stupid or afraid to do.

I did check in a conventional body shop - the one next to "M Body Shop" in Mesquite and they gave me an estimate of $275-350 for installation, although they preferred using their material sources.

I loathe body work.

I had the puppy down for nearly six weeks this winter just putting in the supposed drop in digital dash from Nordskog, fixing the vent system, installing a new heater core, repairing all the console/under dash wiring, converting the radio slot to DIN and installing a new one, and putting in wood dash covers.

It took a whole four day weekend to just put in new front carpet and finally bolt in the late C3 seats the last owners thought would be "trick" (with 2 bolts each....)

Yet I got the dual mount spring installed in two days, without a hitch, despite working under a car on jackstands, which I have a major phobia about.

Always there is something else besides what you went into fix. With the dash mess EVERYTHING was broken - every housing, every vent, every structure. With the carpet there were huge breaks in the fiberglass under the seats, the electric seat was broken and needed mounting rails made to actually adapt it to my model, one underseat metal reinforcement sheet was removed, the rear rib was not rivetted ANYWHERE to the glass and the front pans were so weak I went ahead and added two metal reinforcement plates and a few layers of glass to them too.

If it's not one thing, it's another....

I can't think WHAT can go wrong with the top, but I'm sure there's something... I know what scares me is those staples....all...those.... STAPLES! I still wish one was available with replaceable rear "glass", like a jeep top zipper - that's what was wrong with mine when I bought it.

Oh, the place next to "M Body Shop" says it's just an overnight job. You may try any regular body/interior shop, rather than a corvette specific one. The chains can be iffy though, so be careful. You also want one that doesn't just do dent or collision repair as much as one that does rod and custom work.

I understand your pain. Every little bit you do you find a little bit or a lot more to do next.

I got prices at $300 and almost went with the shop that gave it to me but once I called three of the bigger Corvette dealers/service departments around their pricing was closer to $500-800 so $550 was in the fair range for me. It works out to about how much I would have spent screwing up the top and paying for a lower price installation in the end. I'm sure it can be done at home and I wish I had the nerve to do it myself (I'll try just about any repair except paint/body work).

Good luck with the install.

Whiplash