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beanlover
Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2018
Posts: 370
Location: PA
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 Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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| Tom K. wrote: |
| Congrats, I'm really happy to see people take this on. So many posts suggest that replacing the convertible top is one job "I would never do". That it usually costs $3,000 makes me want to try. Hell, I just completely rebuilt an engine - how hard can a top be? So, please continue to share any experiences you gain from the process. |
Well...my original estimate for replacement stuff for my top (including a reconditioned frame) was almost $5000 and that was me doing the work to put it on. I think I have that worked down to about $2000 now by rescuing existing parts and getting donor pieces from VERY generous Samba members...but, still...it's the most expensive part of the restoration (as far as concentrated $$$ in one spot).
I have watched that video series by Chris Vallone...it's excellent...lots of good videos on there...my only gripe is that MOST of his vids are for bugs much older than mine so it doesn't necessarily translate to a super beetle....still great stuff though! |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:08 am Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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| beanlover wrote: |
| Tom K. wrote: |
| Congrats, I'm really happy to see people take this on. So many posts suggest that replacing the convertible top is one job "I would never do". That it usually costs $3,000 makes me want to try. Hell, I just completely rebuilt an engine - how hard can a top be? So, please continue to share any experiences you gain from the process. |
Well...my original estimate for replacement stuff for my top (including a reconditioned frame) was almost $5000 and that was me doing the work to put it on. I think I have that worked down to about $2000 now by rescuing existing parts and getting donor pieces from VERY generous Samba members...but, still...it's the most expensive part of the restoration (as far as concentrated $$$ in one spot).
I have watched that video series by Chris Vallone...it's excellent...lots of good videos on there...my only gripe is that MOST of his vids are for bugs much older than mine so it doesn't necessarily translate to a super beetle....still great stuff though! |
Cost is always a consideration, at times insurmountable. I've marveled at the moxie of folks starting on a convertible top project without even a frame in hand. In my limited experience I've been fortunate to have been able to deconstruct an existing top on a Ghia and now a Super Beetle; it helps reduce the natural "first time" trepidation. I think Chris Vallone's videos are similarly helpful: having seen the woodworking effort he has had to put into an early SB top it made me sooooo happy to find only the one wood bow in the '79 top frame! But I'm not convinced that the converse of Tom K.'s statement would be true for me  |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Thu May 02, 2019 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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Progress! Rear pads are in: stapled, glued, wrapped, and trimmed. I'm going to try to tackle the top pad installation next. 
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guidosarduchi
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2007
Posts: 82
Location: Central Wisconsin
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| Posted: Thu May 02, 2019 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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I did the top on my 71 with the help of a friend. I notice the couple of flaws but I am happy with the way it came out.
When I was shopping for parts I was told flat out by the part supplier to not try doing it myself.
If you take your time, watch videos, and abide by measurements it isn't too bad. It was expensive.
I watched the one by marla plain and small https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ugEHo-vRE helped me a lot
_________________
71 Super Beetle Convertible (Thunderbug)
65 AMC Rambler Classic Hardtop
08 Pontiac G6 Hardtop Convertible |
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MACJELLY58
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2014
Posts: 400
Location: HONOLULU, HAWAII
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| Posted: Fri May 03, 2019 6:11 am Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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| Thank you very much for sharing this. I will someday(Hopefully soon) need to do the same and will be following closely. |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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padding wrapped, next step will be the top cover
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32584
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 2:30 pm Post subject: Re: She's not topless anymore! Ci Piace! |
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Woohoo! I got the canvas top cover attached. Maybe y'all can tell me how best to go about trying to eliminate the wrinkle in the right rear. I futzed around with the rear cable for half a day, but it's like there's just a little too much material there. I suppose I could try loosening the cable in order to pull the extra material down and then slather glue on and roll it up. I also managed to put a greasy palm print on it, well of course  it's white and I'm a guy Before tackling what will probably be the most difficult step (installing the rear window) maybe y'all can offer some suggestions... I'm thinking maybe a liberal application of silicone grease might be the ticket  But first there's the headliner that needs to be attached to the window frame, and I can already see there's going to be a tradeoff between having a taut headliner above the rear window and actually being able to lower the top. I've stood in the car while lowering and raising the top and marked how the upper edge of the rear window frame actually rides over a couple of inches of the headliner as the rear wood bow folds over it. It's entirely possible that I just don't understand this particular aspect of the German engineering that went into this contraption, so maybe it's best to plan for the worst, hope for the best, and just let the mystery be. 
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Tom K.
Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2005
Posts: 1604
Location: Central Pennsylvania
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beno696
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2015
Posts: 4
Location: PA
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| Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 3:46 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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| I dig it |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 1:47 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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I worked on getting rid of the wrinkle from the right rear area (see previous pic), but I frayed the cable in the process.  I chatted with Chuck at Chuck's Convertible Parts about it, we worked out a possible fix, and he sent me a new cable. Chuck is a standup guy in my book  In the interim I loosened the frayed cable up to a point where I could grab the bead along the bottom edge, pulled it taut, and marked a line on the top cover just below the channel in the apron. Then I took out about eight inches of the stitches holding the bead to the top, cut along the marked line, and sewed it back together. The new cable arrived today, and I just got it in and snugged up.
Look ma! No wrinkle! Man am I glad Uncle Sam's Misguided Children taught me how to use a needle and thread! Onward 
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Tue May 21, 2019 3:23 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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Progress: top cover and headliner attached to rear window frame, ready for rear window installation.
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 6:02 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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Installed the rear window. I'm hoping my greasy paw prints can be removed.
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guidosarduchi
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2007
Posts: 82
Location: Central Wisconsin
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| Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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Looks incredible. Cheers!
_________________
71 Super Beetle Convertible (Thunderbug)
65 AMC Rambler Classic Hardtop
08 Pontiac G6 Hardtop Convertible |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:41 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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If I could change the title it would say "Check out her booty!" just to see what cusser might post in response I finished installing the weatherstrip for the side windows and checked the fit of the new boot, just need to install the snaps. That about wraps it up. I'm satisfied with the way it turned out, and more importantly my wife is really happy Thanks to all you guys who shared your advice, tips, and positive comments. Thanks for looking!
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67rustavenger 
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 9756
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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It looks........ Well Super!
Nice to see a triple white vert. You did a great job on the install.
Glad to hear that your wife is happy with the results of your hard work.
Enjoy the ride.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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Jerkstore
Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2019
Posts: 19
Location: Washington, DC
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:23 pm Post subject: Re: She's topless! Ci Piace! |
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An inspiring sequence as I see the looming iceberg dead ahead of me. Well done.
_________________
'78 Super Beetle Convertible; in our family from new |
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