Convertible top costs.

[Corsa bill]

Well, I need a new convertible top. My budget was around $1,500. I’ve checked the costs at a few places and they want $2,500 to $3,000 and that’s just for the top. New rubber weather stripping would add almost another $500 to the top and who knows what other charges There would be. My choices now are do it myself or don’t do it, at least for now.

[terribleted]

Weather strip sets run around 600ish as I recall...look them up in Clark's catalog. Here in GA a good top installed from my guy is around $1,800- $2,000 this would include the top well and all the top materials.

[wbabst]

You should be able to find the tops on line much cheaper than the $2,500 to $3,000 range you are getting. I had a 62 Buick Special Convertible for over 30 yrs I bought and installed the tops from on line. You didn't say what year your Corvair is, but here area couple of links just to ones site for EM and LM tops.
https://www.topsonline.com/model/Conver ... Monza.html

https://www.topsonline.com/model/Conver ... Corsa.html

The pads are an additional cost, relatively cheap and I would change them out also. It is not overly difficult to swap the top, just takes patience and time. I usually touch up the paint on the top bows when I am doing it also. The site I bought my last top from (not the one above) included the Cable for sides, along with the ends, Stainless Staples, Bow Tack Strip Material, and material for the Header Seal. You had to buy the rubber in it separately.
Not doing it on a regular basis, it would take me a good weekend to get it done, barring any unexpected issues. GM had a manual for the installation of the tops also, I have one for one of their 62 Models I believe, I would have to look. If you are interested, I could scan and email to you. Message me as a reminder and I will look, if you are interested.

[terribleted]

You should be able to find the tops on line much cheaper than the $2,500 to $3,000 range you are getting. I had a 62 Buick Special Convertible for over 30 yrs I bought and installed the tops from on line. You didn't say what year your Corvair is, but here area couple of links just to ones site for EM and LM tops.
https://www.topsonline.com/model/Conver ... Monza.html

https://www.topsonline.com/model/Conver ... Corsa.html

The pads are an additional cost, relatively cheap and I would change them out also. It is not overly difficult to swap the top, just takes patience and time. I usually touch up the paint on the top bows when I am doing it also. The site I bought my last top from (not the one above) included the Cable for sides, along with the ends, Stainless Staples, Bow Tack Strip Material, and material for the Header Seal. You had to buy the rubber in it separately.
Not doing it on a regular basis, it would take me a good weekend to get it done, barring any unexpected issues. GM had a manual for the installation of the tops also, I have one for one of their 62 Models I believe, I would have to look. If you are interested, I could scan and email to you. Message me as a reminder and I will look, if you are interested.

Tops from Clark's are a lot cheaper than $2000. Most of the cost is in the labor and their expertise. Cost for a Clark's top, pads and well is around $500 shipped. This is a good time to replace the old top weatherstrips as well, they will add $300+ to the cost of the project as well. I have installed a couple tops myself. They fit OK and took a lot of time and cussing. My top shop does a top for me and it is awesome, not just OK. And I did not have to spend days chasing things to replace bad nail strips and fiddling around with trying to make the top fit just OK etc. To me it is well worth the extra $1,200 or so dollars above cost of top, well, glues, staples, etc. to let a pro do this job. You must find a good pro however. You want and old school place that does tops on older cars ideally.

[63900CV]

I am also looking for a new top for our EM, I checked out Triple C Upholstery in Rancho Cordova, He said about 950 plus parts.
I also took it to Jims in Folsom and am waiting for his price but seemed to really know what to do.

[Joust]

63900Cv Where in Rancho is TripleC ? Have heard any feedback on their work?