update for this thread. I will be putting together a How-to thread in the tech section. Not sure if Ill get it done tonight because theres a car show in Hatboro PA I want to try to get to. I figured that I'd post some before and afters just to show you that its done.
This is what I started with. A mess. You can see if you look close enough where patches were sown in to try to keep it a little dry in inside in case I ever got caught in the rain.
You can the inside was shredded and even the th 3rd bow was bent.
Now the after...
Is it as good as a shop would do? Nah I guess not, but it also didnt cost a ridiculous amount of money and its completely weather tight.
Nice job! For most people that's a perfect job. You should start doing that on the side for a nice, I bet you'd make a killing on people looking for a deal.
Id do the install for a fee if someone wanted to bring me their car and a top. or I could I guess pick up the same top as I got and add the install. My top was 270. Dont know what I would charge for the install. Not even sure what a shop would charge.
Yeah I just took a quick look and I was seeing 700 on the low end for labor alone.
Mine was 270 with window, really nice padding and tension cables. Seemed like a good price.
Heck Id do an install for 350 for labor then.
edit: or 250 and a case of Mike Hard Lemonades just expect a slower install.
i paid something like 800 for top, pads, rear glass, cables and install. guy did a good job and had it back the next day.
shoot, if you were closer id let ya install mine for five whole dollas.