Top Replacement
Short answer: Replacing a convertible top yourself is doable and saves the $400–$500 labor — work rear-to-front, pull it tight as you go, let the top stretch warm first, and have a helper. Use the Fisher Body Service Manual plus an upholstery book (e.g., “How to Restore Auto Upholstery”). That said, many find it worth paying a pro, since one mistake ruins the top.
Key tips and gotchas:
- Before removing the old top, measure and sketch the bow positions and angles; keep the old top for reference.
- Common problem: following the Fisher manual’s rear-bow dimension (13-3/16″) can leave the rear curtain about 2½” short. The fix is to locate the seam properly on the rear window and position the rear bow to the notch cut in the top, rather than going purely by the dimension.
- On many new tops the slide-in middle bow’s pocket is in the wrong spot — don’t use it to position the top.
- Spring for the better-quality top (~$400 material vs. ~$200) — the labor is the same and the cheap one fits worse.
- With the top off, do the prep that’s only possible then: strip and paint the frame, fix rust, new bushings/tack strips, new weatherstrip, and service the hydraulic pump.
Professional installation typically runs $300–$850 depending on top material (vinyl vs. canvas/Stayfast).
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Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
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