I have '99 Sunfire GT 'vert and it's about time for the top to be replaced. The back is pulling away from the bottom of the back window and it's getting small cracks in a few places. The weatherstripping is pretty much worthless, I had to mold a strip of rubber into it to keep rain from dripping into the car where the window/top/windshield meet. So basically I'm wondering what's a good place to get a new top and full weatherstriping from, whether the dealer would be worth it to get installed, and a good estimate of how much everything will cost. I've heard from John317(Gary the old guy) that he got his top online and the weatherstrips were about $400 but I'm hoping to find something cheaper. I believe he also installed his top himself and I don't have the experience for that. Any help would be appretiated.


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* Student of the University of Oklahoma. Go Sooners!
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yes you can find it alot cheaper. also depends on what kinda back window you get with it as well as material. the weather stripping alone is over 100 bucks from the dealer and they want clear over 300 to put it on. most shops want close or around 800 to replace the top. either way your looking at about 1000 to replace everything. unless your good with a HIGH power staple gun and do it yourself.

I've never been able to find that weatherstripping anywhere BUT the dealer

Gary is a great guy! He talked me through my replacement. I suggest replacing the staple strip where the top meets the trunk area as well. It will most likely fall apart when you take it off anyway. That alone is going to be around 100 shipped from gm parts direct. You can go on ebay and find tops for cheap like said before. If you get a plastic rear window without getting replacement cords and straps you can get it for under 300.

Gary paid almost 500 for his cause he special ordered his to be fabric, not vynal. I personally think its worth it and if I knew any better I would have done the same.

If you use ebay, I would suggest only buying from topsonline. They have an ebay store as well as their website.

Put it on yourself, save yourself tons of money. I can walk you thru it, so can gary. Its really not hard, just time consuming. It took me 9 hours total but I had to do it twice and if I were to do it again I would still have done it differently.

Two major things:
1. Make sure all ur staples are flush, even if you have to hammer them in a bit.

2. Test fit everything, throw a couple staples in, and see if you like the fitment. The wood supports you make are a guide, not a rule, they screwed me the first time I tried putting it on. I had to go back and do it again.

If you do decide to do it yourself, definitely contact me, I will help you out a great deal.

Contact me before you start it and after you have read over the instructions at least once. They are kinda confusing but I can walk you through them.



Scott

When I boost, you boost, we boost
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You have been banned from NEJBODY.
You've displayed wayyy too many acts of pushing people to their limits.
It's never cool to tear people down for what they want to do.
NEJBODY is a team. We're not the same as JBO where everyone bashes on eachother.
I'm surprised you show up to our meets after half of the things you say on here.

Can anyone scan in the "how to" GM manual on top replacement?

I had a copy from Ebay... but I loaned it to someone, can't remember who... and I suspect I'll never see it again

Thanks guys

...j

Anyone?

You goin to the bash john? I think I am dig up my copy before I leave and get it to you

The GM manual being referred to here is the 1997 J-Body convertible supplement. I have it, and yes, there is a whole chapter (section 3 I believe) on replacing the top. There is also a video I have that has appeared from time-to-time on ebay where a guy tries to walk you through the process.

Looking at both of these, while parts of the removal-install are straightforward, others are not, and some go in the direction of being quite involved and (if one trusts the GM instructions in particular) requiring special "tools" (as example, custom-cut blocks that act as fitting templates).

The net impression one gets after digesting all this is that there is definitely a learning curve involved in doing this right, i.e. that even in the hands of a capable layperson replacing a top for the first time is not going to be a seamless, straightforward experience (the end product of the ebay video walk through has some wrinkles, symptom "A' of what happens when non-upholstery people try to do upholstery). So yes, while you can "save a ton" doing it yourself, to me this clearly falls into the realm of what we often hear on jody.org about paint work - unless you have the experience and tools, have a pro do it.

what are the part numbers for the weather stipping along the windshield and doors?