Is there no upgraded convertible top out there?

[Mr_Q]

I'm really tired of the poorly mounted stock style rear glass. It's designed to fail after 2-years I swear. They just lay the glass on a thin strip of plastic with glue on ONE side? THAT'S IT??

UGH.

I want to find a top where the rear window has a gasket around it, sealed nicely, and even better a CLOTH material for the top.

 

[1200gt]

I'm really tired of the poorly mounted stock style rear glass. It's designed to fail after 2-years I swear. They just lay the glass on a thin strip of plastic with glue on ONE side? THAT'S IT??

UGH.

I want to find a top where the rear window has a gasket around it, sealed nicely, and even better a CLOTH material for the top.

I'm feeling your pain on this one. I would have to say that the current offerings in the convt. top glass has got to have the Chinese glue and rubber. This stuff just doesn't last. I still have my OEM glass in my current car and it's still nice, though it has been garaged for its life, the glue is still holding after 26 years!

The cloth idea I'm interested in also. I was thinking of doing the sailcloth material that's on newer car like Mercedes. I saw a guy here in my area tears ago with this top, he said he got it done at an upholtery shop. The back glass once again seems to be a questionable area to do, but it CAN be done.


LMK what you come up with in your search... Thanks

 

[a91what]

When I had my new top done the upholstery shop in town was able to do a sailcloth top... Pricey but they look nice.

 

[aar0s]

I was thinking about doing a cloth top too but in the name of keeping it original ill probably end up with plastic.

 

[Noobz347]

Take your current top (if it's in good shape aside from the seams in the rear glass), mask it off with painter's tape and reseal it with the Permatex Black RTV that comes in the Cheezewiz can. I resealed my wife's 05 with that stuff last summer. So far, so good... went through all the seasons since with no leaks or separation of any kind.

 

[1200gt]

Take your current top (if it's in good shape aside from the seams in the rear glass), mask it off with painter's tape and reseal it with the Permatex Black RTV that comes in the Cheezewiz can. I resealed my wife's 05 with that stuff last summer. So far, so good... went through all the seasons since with no leaks or separation of any kind.

What state is your Box behind Walmart within???

I'm in deep south florida and it gets HOT! on a black top car. But that does sound like a good idea if it would stand up to the heat.

When I had my new top done the upholstery shop in town was able to do a sailcloth top... Pricey but they look nice.

Can you post some pics? And how do you like the job done? I see you are in PLant City, is that PC of Florida, cause if the job is spot on, I don't minf the drive for quality work.... LMK Thanks

 

[Noobz347]

What state is your Box behind Walmart within???

I'm in deep south florida and it gets HOT! on a black top car. But that does sound like a good idea if it would stand up to the heat.

My box is currently in Arkansas and it has no A/C in the summer.

 

[1200gt]

My box is currently in Arkansas and it has no A/C in the summer.

I'd say Arkansauce is a hotenough test-bed for that glue. I'll mix some up when I think my glass is about to slip-the-plastic.... Good tip.

 

[mikestang63]

Hey Dwayne, my stang will be needing a new top soon as well. The PO had a new back glass piece and curtain installed but not the main top. I hear good things about one guy up in WPB. The going rate I am getting quotes for the top, pads, and install are around $700.

Drove the car to and from work and out to dinner with no issues. They key IMO is the proper matching of pulleys. I would not recommend a race crank pulley and in my case with the auto the smaller alternator pulley was crucial for proper charging. The 2 3/8 pulley would not keep a charge. Now even with the fan running all the time, the alternator is charging and the temp gauge settles in right between the M and A. It may be even more skewed to being slightly hotter as the explorer manifolds tend to run a little hotter- I noticed that when I swapped the top end. So far so good. I expect when I get the new radiator temp probe it should resolve everything.

Next will be the SBF... one shop up here wanted $150 to install them.... thought that was kind of high.

 

[1200gt]

Hey Dwayne, my stang will be needing a new top soon as well. The PO had a new back glass piece and curtain installed but not the main top. I hear good things about one guy up in WPB. The going rate I am getting quotes for the top, pads, and install are around $700.

Drove the car to and from work and out to dinner with no issues. They key IMO is the proper matching of pulleys. I would not recommend a race crank pulley and in my case with the auto the smaller alternator pulley was crucial for proper charging. The 2 3/8 pulley would not keep a charge. Now even with the fan running all the time, the alternator is charging and the temp gauge settles in right between the M and A. It may be even more skewed to being slightly hotter as the explorer manifolds tend to run a little hotter- I noticed that when I swapped the top end. So far so good. I expect when I get the new radiator temp probe it should resolve everything.

Next will be the SBF... one shop up here wanted $150 to install them.... thought that was kind of high.

Darn! it is so easy to get off-topic when you see a thread is going dead.... Mike, I moved my comments about the UDP's over to your UDP thread... I see you around the cite and naturally I feel I want to talk to you about what we've been discussing in the past, which is almost everything!!! about Mustangs. I see you follow the same...

 

[1200gt]

When I had my new top done the upholstery shop in town was able to do a sailcloth top... Pricey but they look nice.

OK, I think you mean you didn't get the sailcloth top because it was too expensive....just clarifying. LMK. I would still check in to that shop to see how there work looks. If in Florida, I'd make the run on my bike. We are all over the state on these things anyway.

As to the back glass seam issue: a shop like this may be able to provide you a service to retain and repair the piece you have. They'd probably use RTV Sealant from a cheezwiz can and charge you a bunddle but who'd know; worth looking into.

I just bought a new glass window panel in anticipation that I would be getting someone to do the sailcloth job, where they would no-doubt suggest that I start with a fresh window glass to graft the sailcloth material to.... i'm just speculating here. I wouldn't trust my old glass with 26 year old glue holding up much longer - thus I find myself facing the same potential problem with modern glue to glass issue....

Let us know OP, what solution you come up with... Thanks

 

[a91what]

Yes you are correct.. they had a old bellaire in the shop they were doing sailcloth on. On mine I bought a top from lrs... It looks nice but nothing like the sailcloth.

 

[1200gt]

I'm really tired of the poorly mounted stock style rear glass. It's designed to fail after 2-years I swear. They just lay the glass on a thin strip of plastic with glue on ONE side? THAT'S IT??

UGH.

I want to find a top where the rear window has a gasket around it, sealed nicely, and even better a CLOTH material for the top.

FOUND THIS LINK THIS MORNING:

http://www.convertibletop.com/warranty/