I have just about finished my 67 vert and in the process of the build I change my mind on the color. I also bought the new top (white) before I made up my mind on color. I was going with retail red or white body color but ended up painting it silver with red interior. Turned out good but now it it time to put the top on and I am wondering if the top should be black?? What to you all think?
my choice would be black....but it would also be nice to match top with interior....as it was typically done back when... I put black on my red car...it came from previous owner with "kinda white" top...white tops really tend to get dirty looking after awhile..of course I also had black interior....trying to keep the number of different colors to two.
Send me the product info. I can probably use that on my new 'vert. Thanks, Craig
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Hope this works with the pictures. Yes I know that those are Camaro wheels, Yes I know that 67 Firebird did not have a spoiler or stripes but I like them as you can see from the car in the background. EB
I agree with everyone else. A white top would not do that car justice! Gotta go with black.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
I think you can find black and or white landscape fabric for pretty cheap layover the top to simulate the color. I think the answer will be black.
1968 400 Coupe, verdoro green, black vinyl top 1968 400 Convertible, verdoro green, black top 1971 Trans Am, cameo white, auto 1970 Buick Skylark Custom Convertible 350-4(driver)
wovenweb, I sorta did that with a dark sheet and it did look better with a dark top, even though the top will be down most of the time I would bet. I have the guys number that I bought it from last year and it has never been out of the box or the plastic so I am hoping he might trade me foe a black one, even if I need to pay a little more. If not I will buy one and try to sell this one.
Thanks everyone. Trying to get this thing done! So close! EB
Wow, that's a fine assemblage of holes you had there.
1968 400 Coupe, verdoro green, black vinyl top 1968 400 Convertible, verdoro green, black top 1971 Trans Am, cameo white, auto 1970 Buick Skylark Custom Convertible 350-4(driver)
The strange thing was the rockers were solid with no rust at all and only had to replace one wheel well. All of the floor and seat mounting area was replaced. Other than replacing both quarters, full trunk and the tail panel, it was solid LOL! Did it all myself including designing and building the rotisserie. It was TOTALLY taken apart before I got it and I had to figure out where everything was and went. The idiot, I mean previous owner put everything in buckets, OUTSIDE, and marked nothing.
Holy crap EB! You brought that bird back from the grave. There's no way I could tackle a job like that.
When you get the top material you're going to need a boot. I have a nice boot on mine but I do not know the mfg I got it from. One thing to remember is the hold down clips. Get the gray ones.
Way to go Eldon! Another 'bird saved! I see a bunch of my parts lurking in there.
Excellent work! Looks good with the Rally 1 style wheels too.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Another little question. Is it better to put pitted org. door handles on or repro. shiney ones. This is not a #s matching anything car so I am trying to decide on old looking door handles or bright new shiney ones. I have 4 pitted, w/ scratches from people sanding the car for paint with out removing them that look like a 5 out of 10 when buffed. EB
if car is not 'matching' I would use new shiny handles.
Agree. I used new repop door handles, and couldn't tell them from originals when sitting side by side. (other than not being pitted and a dull overall finish)
Even on a show car, I have no clue how anyone would say they they were or were not NOS or rechromed.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
if car is not 'matching' I would use new shiny handles.
Agree. I used new repop door handles, and couldn't tell them from originals when sitting side by side. (other than not being pitted and a dull overall finish)
Even on a show car, I have no clue how anyone would say they they were or were not NOS or rechromed.
If there pitted anything is better. Can they be rechromed at a reasonable cost?
Engine Test Stand Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoxyUwptUcdqEb-o2ArqyiUaHW0G_C88 restoring my 1968 Firebird 400 HO convertible (Firedawg) 1965 Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon 389 TriPower (Catwagon) 1999 JD AWS LX Lawn tractor 17hp (my daily driver) 2006 Sequoia 2017 Murano (wife's car) 202? Electric car 203? 68 Firebird /w electric engine 2007 Bayliner 175 runabout /w 3.0L Mercuiser__________________________________________________________
You would have to define reasonable. They wanted $120 per side when I checked six years ago. I bought repops for $50 a pair.
NOS ones are $400-$500. No clue who would pay that. Probably the same guy who would buy a NOS gas tank.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Keep in mind that the $120 was about six years ago. Six years of additional regulation and new laws have likely bumped that to $250 per side these days.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Keep in mind that the $120 was about six years ago. Six years of additional regulation and new laws have likely bumped that to $250 per side these days.
I got a guy to scrape off the old sealent on the roof to wall joints on my motorhome roof. He wants $80/hr. He is $40/hr cheaper than the RV dealer. Auto repair shops are charging $150/hr and higher end places over $200.
So $120 seems a touch low if I hope to have it done local.
Engine Test Stand Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoxyUwptUcdqEb-o2ArqyiUaHW0G_C88 restoring my 1968 Firebird 400 HO convertible (Firedawg) 1965 Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon 389 TriPower (Catwagon) 1999 JD AWS LX Lawn tractor 17hp (my daily driver) 2006 Sequoia 2017 Murano (wife's car) 202? Electric car 203? 68 Firebird /w electric engine 2007 Bayliner 175 runabout /w 3.0L Mercuiser__________________________________________________________
68pls400, "Way to go Eldon! Another 'bird saved! I see a bunch of my parts lurking in there"
yes you do!
OHCMarc, Does the boot clip to the well molding? So the clips don't come with the boot?
Thanks guys EB
Yes you can see in the picture where the last clip was attached to the molding. Typically the boot mfg will send the cheapy white ones with the boot. I had to go and look for the gray ones which are much better.
Actually a couple of the "cheap" sellers do not include the clips at all. So you need to be careful when purchasing.
And I agree that the grey clips seem to be a lot better than the white ones.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Got one for my wagon too. 
He is $40/hr cheaper than the RV dealer. 
Auto repair shops are charging $150/hr and higher end places over $200.
