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-   -   Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car (https://classracer.com/classforum/showthread.php?t=84004)

Larry Hill 01-21-2023 09:20 AM
Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car
 
Has anybody have any experience?

Mark Yacavone 01-21-2023 12:19 PM
Re: Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Hill (Post 674521)
Has anybody have any experience?
Yes.
One of the cars I built (it's still out there, so I won't be specific) had to have the top replaced.
When I was stripping it down, I found that the top had been brazed on (!) previously.
Figuring that wasn't a good idea with a torquey stick shift car, I had to fix it.
I was given a donor body from a similar line of GM cars. I cut the roof off mine, below the brazing, and then mig welded the new top on at a point below the previous splice.
I though about taking about an inch out of the top height while I was at it, but of course that wouldn't have been legal ;-)

What's going on with you, Larry?

Alan Roehrich 01-21-2023 07:18 PM
Re: Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Hill (Post 674521)
Has anybody have any experience?

Larry,

The guy you want to talk to is Chris Avaritt, at CrossThread Customs. He's on these boards as "Crisco", he worked for Kevin Cradduck at NitroPlate. Best paint and body man you'll find.Period.

Mike Gray 01-22-2023 12:51 AM
Re: Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone (Post 674544)
Yes.

I though about taking about an inch out of the top height while I was at it, but of course that wouldn't have been legal ;-)

What's going on with you, Larry?
He’s probably trying to figure out how to add a couple of inches.😁

tavirace 01-22-2023 02:40 AM
Re: Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone (Post 674544)
Yes.
One of the cars I built (it's still out there, so I won't be specific) had to have the top replaced.
When I was stripping it down, I found that the top had been brazed on (!) previously.
Figuring that wasn't a good idea with a torquey stick shift car, I had to fix it.
I was given a donor body from a similar line of GM cars. I cut the roof off mine, below the brazing, and then mig welded the new top on at a point below the previous splice.
I though about taking about an inch out of the top height while I was at it, but of course that wouldn't have been legal ;-)

What's going on with you, Larry?
I can't speak for all cars but I worked building Toyota Corollas for a number of years. I know up till 2001 all the roofs were spot welded in place and then brazed on, I wouldn't have been suprised to see it.

Larry Hill 01-22-2023 08:15 AM
Re: Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car
 
Looking at a car with a top that’s bad and was trying to figure out what made dollars and cents.
Thanks for the information.

Crisco 01-23-2023 09:14 AM
Re: Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Hill (Post 674521)
Has anybody have any experience?
Yes it can be done. Also, it depends on if any company reproduces the roof skin for the car. What kind of car are you looking at?

Give me a call at the shop if you have any questions.

Chris Avaritt
615-431-2286

GUMP 01-23-2023 11:32 AM
Re: Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car
 
We switched a Firebird from T-tops to a hardtop. It really wasn't that bad. Finding NOS parts was probably the hardest part.

Todd Gross 01-24-2023 02:31 PM
Re: Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car
 
Larry, are you speaking of your Drag Pak? If so, I can help you with what you need to know. I replaced the Roof skin on mine.It was pretty straight forward.

Larry Hill 01-25-2023 07:43 AM
Re: Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car
 
Nostalgia SS car / chase car for NMCA. I believe we can go 13.00 through the muffler.


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