Replacing the top on damaged hardtop car

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Larry Hill

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?

[Mike Gray]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

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]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

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]

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.