Hey guys, well I finally got around to being the top project on my 91 Trans Am last night. I always thought I was going to take it to a shop but then I just decided to save some money and do it myself. I've never done this before so I thought I'd let you know how this is going for somebody with no experience. I'm also recording videos of the steps I'm taking, and I'll post up the whole shebang on youtube when I'm done... assuming I do it properly lol.

Well I finally got this old pos off last night:





And this is where I'm at right now:



Now I need to clean off the old glue and adjust the frame, because the passenger side window wasn't sealing properly.

What kind of glue should I use? I bought some weldwood contact cement because I heard good things about it but I'd thought I'd double check with you guys.

http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=47

 

That is what I used when I did the top on my old 87 and it held up good. Make sure you leave spring clips on for an entire day to let it set completely. Clean the frame good with acetone and the part of the top getting glued avoid touching it where it is getting glued. It isn't that hard but make sure you have someone else to help stretch the top, this is the hard part is getting it all lined up. just get some cheap plastic spring clips in quanity I think we used almost 2 dozen you could use less but I had them close together so I knew it was going to stick everyplace.If your wear strips are somewhat dry rotted like mine were you will want to replace them now also It was cheap for them through topsonline around $23 I think it is one piece of fabric you will cut down, there is enough for two and you will need to get the one end sewn and then just use an electric or pneumatic stapler to staple on the new ones. We used an air driven Stapler but I think electric may work a little better. also if your side tension cables are frayed you can get those from topsonline too fairly inexpensive if I recall. Hope this helps pm me if you need any help.

 

I agree with everything jstolz had posted. That is also the same glue i used. Do not use a sponge brush. take your time, have some help available and lots and lots of spring clips. If it is still there, check southeastfbody.org. There was a tech article about installing a soft top.

 

thanks guys! Can I use just normal clothes line clips? And what are the wear strips? Are they the double sided foam tape that's used almost EVERYWHERE? I'm looking at topsonline and I can't see anything about wear strips. And yeah I'm using the sethirdgen article as a guide, here's the link for anybody else that needs it:

http://sethirdgen.org/convertibletop.htm

 

go about 2/3rds of the way down the page, they just call them top pads $35 and the side tension cables are right underneath them but if yours are still good use them by all means but the pads are normally dried out and the cables are more than likely fine.

 

also the spring clips we used were just cheap black plastic spring clips they weren't much stronger than clothes pin but were stronger.

 

I just installed my top yesterday. You will need the big and medium plastic clips. Clothes line clips won't give enough grip. I bought two bags from Sears for $10.00 i put about 2 dozen clips on spaces about 1/2" apart. I used the same glue (that stuffs is super sticky). Make sure to coat both surfaces and let set up for about 10-15 minutes. Once sticky (really sticky) it's time to lay it down.

 

1989 Iroc Convt is right super sticky stuff . If you like the way the back window is positioned now measure from the driver side corner to the bottom of of the frame and measure tht on the new top and use some purple marking powder (chalk line)and mark it on the top to make it easier to position while you are putting the glue on..

 

I haven't done anything too interesting lately because of school and work but I did end up removing the #5 bow all together because scrubbing the old glue/weatherstripping off would have been next to impossible with it still on the car. I still gotta clean the glue off of the the #1 bow and the driver side rear rail.

I also have a plan to embroider a firebird phoenix on the top where the c-pillar would be on a hardtop car. Unfortunately out of the 7 or so shops I called, only 2 even CONSIDERED doing the work and one already backed out after seeing the material. So that means I have only one left which I'll visit on Tuesday. I'm still debating if I should use dark brown stitching or dark green to match my car's paint. That's assuming this shop will even do the work.

It's hard to see in this picture, but I'd like a bird behind the door windows like on my friend's '82.

 

Oh and if the shop refuses the work, my alternative would be to get a clear permanent vinyl decal, although I'm afraid that will look tacky. What do you think?

 

I agree the vinyl decal would look tacky. If they will do it I would go in dark green stitching. another option would be to possibly get it sik screened on or air brushed on.

 

Hmm I never even thought of the airbrush... good idea! I'll have to look into the silk screening as well.

 

Hey guys I'm gonna need some help finding a part...



I need that bar thing that sits above the passenger side window when the top is up. Mine's beat to hell and it's cause binding issues when folding the top and that window seals very poorly. I wanna start fresh with a new one rather than fix this one if that's possible. Anybody know where I can get one in good shape? And I believe I sent you a PM jstoltz.

Thanks guys!

 

I checked earlier and unfortunately I can't help on this one just because of how noticable it is from the inside I have a set of the earlier style pivots which are cast it would look odd to rear seat passengers but if you want it I would do $50 plus shipping let me dig them out this weekend and I can take some pics so you can see what I mean. Did you check on yours to make sure it isn't just the shoulder bolt broken on yours?

 

No the thing cracked clean off sometime last summer where the top bolt hole is for the weatherstripping. You can see I had it welded a while ago but it's still crooked and it's cracking again because of the stress put on it. I think your part should work considering it's an ASC convertible, and my car has a headliner so it's covered anyway.

 

keep us updated on the top, i want to see how it comes out, i might need to changed mine soon,

 

Yeah no problem! When I'm done with it I'll post up a "how-to" video on youtube if it comes out alright.

 

alright I FINALLY finished the top! Personally I'm very pleased with how it came out.





lol.


But seriously, I finally got all (95%) of the old glue off so I might be putting the new top on for good tomorrow. I can't really wait much longer for that new bracket because the car has been sitting in the garage for close to 3 weeks now and my parents aren't too happy about that lol. I'll just swap it out sometime after I finish the top since nothing gets glued to it or anything.

 

I would wait to do it until the piece is swapped out or get that rewelded. Nothing gets glued but the top gets screwed in between the broken piece and a metal weatherstrip retainer piece if it is the same as mine was and I am not sure the top will stretch right without being attached but it is your car so it is also your call but if it was me I would wait. I may have already sold the set I had I will check around but as most of you guys know parts aren't the easiest to come by. I will check around to find something quickly If it is starting to crack again I would just get it welded again and note where the stress is and get an aluminum bar welded there to reinforce it.

 

cool thanks,

 

Making progress


Anybody know how long I ought to wait before removing those clamps and moving towards the front? I let the cement sit for about 20 mins before I clamped it together and it seems to be holding nicely so far but I'd rather be safe that sorry.

 

id sya let it sit for 24 hours then remove them so it can have time to fully set up and dry,

 

say*

 

Looking good!

 

Thanks!

And 24 hours to dry? Seems like a little much... after some more research the website says it dries after 15-20 minutes so I'm thinking its OK if I move onto the front now since it's been sitting for at least 3 hours. I'll let the car sit with the top up for another day or two after I'm done before I drive it though.
http://www.dap.com/product_details.a...=46&SubcatID=8

 

check this out just bought it for 200$

 

Good buy, is it a 350? Looks good except I'm not a fan of the green on the TPI lol.

Anyway, I'm pretty much done with the top for now. I still have to reinstall the headliner and front plastic bow trim but I'll wait for now because the front of the top isn't as smooth as I'd like. I'm afraid I'll have to peel it off and try gluing it down again to smooth it out but for now I'll wait and see if some exposure to the weather will tighten it up. Here's a pic!
Obviously not perfect but I think it's alright for somebody with 0 upholstery experience.

 

no its a 305, im just looking for something to build up alittle for my fiances 80 grand prix

 

top looks good, i think if you wet it and let it sit in the sun it will shink that rinkle out, but i could be wrong

 

Well I wasn't happy with the wrinkles and I knew they weren't going anyway so my dad and I fixed it before a crease formed in the wrong spot. I think it looks 10 times better now.





I think it's about time to put this project to bed... I just gotta reinstall the plastic front bow trim and headliner. As promised, I'll upload the video soon hopefully.

 

I think that looks great. You should be proud. A your father deserves a lot of credit also.

 

Thanks! He's helped me a lot with this car; I don't know what I would do without him. He's been doing carpentry and whatnot for years so he's got that experienced touch with building/fixing stuff.

And slightly off topic... I got a new windshield put in today! The TA looks great with the new glass and top.

 

Happy Easter everybody, here's part 1 of the video I promised:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeeX4ZltVSE
More to come soon

 

Fantastic video on the replacement. I am looking forward to the next part also. This should have been done long ago. Thanks for helping us.

 

Looks great! Good job!

 

We got him!!

Anyway, I finally got the second and final part up... let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai5IJ...el_video_title

 

Thanks for the video. I am going to attempt mine as soon as I have time to