Where can i get a decently priced soft top? I've noticed they come in plastic-like or cloth-like (the original is cloth black). I'd like to keep the sexy aspect cloth gives it but i've only found it for almost 1k dolars!

Mine started dripping 6 months ago and it kept getting worse, when i took down the inside cloth i noticed the insulation under the nice cloth exterior look is completely burnt, cracked and overall horrible shape. I started coating it using a rubbery type of paint (used for soundproofing chassis mostly). It's holding up, hope it gets me past this winter, but i'm afraid it's going to need to be replaced soon.

Please if you can give me some links/advice, anyone here changed their soft-tops on 93-97 camaro? How to do it? Need anything else except the top itself? Like the rails it hooks on to the mechanism with, do they come on the new top or i have to glue/stitch them from the old one to the new one? How do you take it off from the back side ? It's tucked INSIDE the car behind the sidepanels / trunk.

Thanks, hope you can help.

 

Try the search function
https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...onvertible+top

 

Has anyone tried out this site www.soft-tops.com ?

http://sf2000.registeredsite.com/~us...ry_Code=Camaro

They have NEW CLOTH tops for 289$ (Camaro Twillfast Cloth Top ), compared to www.tops4less.com which has it for 429$ (Camaro & Firebird Convertible Top Only - Stayfast Cloth).

Question is what's the difference between Twillfast and Stayfast?????

Do these tops come with the curtain around the window? No-one sells it separately, how do you get one new?

Help please, i need to buy one soon !

 

Stayfast®

A three ply composite made of an acrylic square weave outer fabric, a rubber inner layer, and a cotton lining.

Twillfast® II

An acoustically enhanced three-ply composite made of an acrylic twill weave outer fabric, an elastomeric inner layer and a polyester/cotton lining fabric.

Stayfast is the OEM material on the Black Camaro tops, by the way.

 

Well ok then... But still, will the cheaper top made of Twillfast still look good/be good quality or should i stick with the more expensive one

 

I dont know about Twillfast, the stuff that i got from tops4less is exactly like the origioinal. Also, when you buy a top there are 2 parts at minimum. The top cloth and rear glass. The fabric is glued to the glass so you cant keep your old window.

 

Well now i have to disagree with you, the rear glass is basically stamped/glued into a vinyl curtain, that glues to the top. THIS curtain can be removed and stuck to the new top! Mine seems ok so i don't see why i wouldn't try at least to reuse the curtain with the window instead of spending huge on a new one

 

I think you misunderstood me. The rear glass with the little bit of fabric around it is one piece, you cant separate it without damaging something. You can however re-use the back part if its still good and get new fabric for the top only. But it wont match exactly and also the rear glass and the fabric is what tends to separate over time so you might as well replace that since everything will be apart.

And to answer your original question about installation, i would recommend against doing it yourself. Its difficult to get it to look right, if its too tight then it will rip and if its too loose then you get wrinkles and the top will flap in the wind. I paid a guy thats been installing them for years and it cost me $500, its about a 2 day job if you know what youre doing.

 

How would one go about finding a proffesional soft-top install dude? Btw, i don't live in the US, i'm in europe.

The top must be replaced, one way or another. I don't know anyone or any place that does soft tops...

Aren't there any install guides anywhere? Has to be something out there!

 

Check out the phone book for upholstery shops and ask around.

 

Found a new site, seems just as well stocked on parts for tops as top4less just considerably more expensive, and they do have a do-it-yourself booklet to sell.

check out: http://www.convertibletopguys.com/cg...at.cgi?cat=268

If you add the parts they come out cheaper anyway... And they do say there you can reuse the glass window piece!

I think i'll get the cloth top + wires (they say they should go every top install) and pass on the pads (mine are a little damaged but i don't see a problem anytime soon...

 

Pads should be replaced when you do the top. Its what protects the top fabric from the metal bars that hold the top.

It seems that you really dont want a "decent" job done, just as cheap as possible. You might regret it in a year if one of the little things you mised made you take everything apart again.

 

Well that's what i got you for right? Put me straight Guess it's dumbass of me to spare 30$ on a 400$ job isn't it....

Ok then: top, cables, pads, luck

P.S. I just checked the window and it's curtain, they're perfectly fine and just share the same connection points, i don't see any problems with them. The material is intact, not stretched, no holes. I don't think you can convince me to buy this one

P.P.S. I just took a look on your cardomain, your car looks beautiful, love the beige inside, matches the top... beautiful.

 

OK ill give it a shot.
-The rear window seperating from the cloth is the most common problem with the tops, thats what happened with mine. One day it just decided to pop off when i was washing it.
-The rear curtian will be a different color then the new top, due to fading and from different dyes used on the new top.

Also, the tops tend to last around 10 years before the wear starts to show, if yours is origional you can expect the rear window to pop off soon.

 

Well, the lower part, the horizontal strip that is glued to the window itself, it did unglue itself completely already, but i just used good glue and it's holding up. When i install the new one i'll make sure it's tight in position. I'm pretty confident that i can make it work. Thanks for tryin tho

My main concern is being able to put it on myself in case i really can't find anyone competent that i can trust with this...