Though it is possible to install a convertible top yourself in your garage or home shop, we hadn't done it before so we enlisted Emo's upholstery in Lakeland, Florida, for some professional assistance. Having an upholstery shop perform the work saves time since they have all the tools and equipment needed in house, and it can save money as well because the job will be performed correctly the first time. Convertible tops aren't that expensive, but having to replace one that you messed up installing yourself definitely costs more than paying a professional to do it right initially.
Fortunately, our top frame structure was pretty sound, though faded with some surface rust. To make it look its best, we had our top frame stripped and painted satin black while our car was at J.D.'s Paint and Body Shop getting a paint job. If you don't have access to a body shop, don't worry. This step can also be performed in your driveway with sandpaper and spray paint, though the results may not be as nice.
Overall, once our top frame was repaired and painted, it took less than a day to install the new hydraulic motor, lines, and cylinders; then it took the better part of a day for Emo's Upholstery to install the top, liner, and boot cover. Once finished, the difference was dramatic. The pieces from Paddock Parts were topnotch, constructed from heavy grade material that should stay looking good and last a long time. Even better, we can drive our car in the rain now without fear of getting soaked!
The new top is stapled to...
The new top is stapled to a tack-strip at the rear bow, and our original tack-strip was in pretty bad shape. Fortunately Emo stocks this item for most popular cars and had it replaced in minutes.
While the top itself is only...
While the top itself is only attached to the front and rear bows, allowing it to fold, the pad is attached to all the bows and protects the new top on the bottom side.
With the tack-strip in place,...
With the tack-strip in place, Emo begins the top installation with the rear window panel. Since the rear bow determines the position of the window and the top, its position must be determined.
Rear bow position can be determined...
Rear bow position can be determined simply by where the old top was, if the old top is still on the car. Since ours wasn't, Emo looked up the dimension in a manual, then measured and used tape to hold our rear bow in the proper position.
At the rear, the window panel...
At the rear, the window panel and top are held in place by more tack-strips, which bolt into the car. To begin the installation, Emo finds the center of the window panel and lines it up with the center of the tack-strip, then temporarily staples it in place.
Some convertible top kits...
Some convertible top kits come with pads, and some don't. Since ours weren't included, Emo fabricated some from material he had at his shop.