Convertible top frames

Edbert

Founding Member
Jul 13, 2002
3,548
32
109
Austin TX
I had my frame out at a shop for appraisal, wanted them to replace all the bushings/bearings/springs/cables/yadda-yadda and powder-coat the metal for me. Their estimate was well over what it costs to buy a new frame outright. I was pretty surprised and disappointed.

So I found a guy in Australia who sells an entire bushing set for a little under $300, I thought I should replace both latches since they are 52-years worth of sloppy while I am at it. With a small number of extra things that puts costs for parts alone at about half of what the new assemblies run.

Other owners have said to expect 15-25 hours of time disassembling, refinishing, painting (rattle-can-quality), assembling. Sheesh! That is essentially 2-4 weeks of my time for working on the car too. Maybe their estimate wasn't so far off after all.

Questions: How good or bad are these assemblies? I'm thinking fit, finish, quality...are they as good as the originals...99%? Who has ordered an entire unit and bolted it on?
 
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