Galaxie500XL Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 For those of you who have fairly recently replaced the top on your car... Mine is developing holes in the sail panel, so it's about time to replace the original top. Costs for the top/window are fairly easy to find out...but what did you pay for having the top installed, and did any of you have it done at a shop that is a reasonable driving distance from Knoxville, Tennessee? Local shop here quoted me $1800.00 for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94 olds vert Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 1800 seems a bit much. My top hasn't been replaced in years, but the receipt I have isn't anywhere near that much. I know you can buy tops on EBay for a decent price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke94vert Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 I need mine down as well. So i started calling around here. was told $2500 from one of the places I called. I think thats crazy. But there hasnt been too many places that will install one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White92Cutlass Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 I'm getting my top and back glass from ebay for a few hundred bucks and an auto trim shop in my town is going to install it for $400. Highest estimate for top and back window installed in my area was $1,300 for parts and labor combined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 (edited) I was quoted $2k locally for a black canvas top on my 94. Ended up installing it myself for a total of ~$800 with a top of the line canvas top with defroster rear window from topsonline.com Edited December 11, 2012 by GOT2B GM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White92Cutlass Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 I was quoted $2k locally for a black canvas top on my 94. Ended up installing it myself for a total of ~$800 with a top of the line canvas top with defroster rear window from topsonline.com How much cheaper would it be in your area to have a vinyl top installed instead of canvas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 about $300 - $400 cheaper with a defroster glass rear window Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted December 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 That looks really good! If I had a covered area, I'd be tempted to do the work myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White92Cutlass Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 That looks really good! If I had a covered area, I'd be tempted to do the work myself. I'd get a waterproof car cover and do it myself before I paid $1,800. You can buy another Cutlass convertible with a top that doesn't leak for $1,800! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted December 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 Good point...I paid $2500 for mine over 3 years ago..hadn't planned to pay that twice. I'd also be tempted to put a canvas top on the car...but since it stays outside, that's probably not a great idea--though I love the look. I'd get a waterproof car cover and do it myself before I paid $1,800. You can buy another Cutlass convertible with a top that doesn't leak for $1,800! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 Buy one of these. Then you have somewhere dry to do your top replacement, as well as somewhere to store your Cutlass afterwards..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John M Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 We paid almost $1500 last year. My suggestion is to use a shop that has done one of these cars before. S&S Auto trim in Burlington, NC is where We will go when next a top is needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John M Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 Do not get a top from Electron Top Mfg. of NY. The first top my installer put on ripped like it was dry rotted. They would not give him any credit (yes he ate the top). The replacement top is/has shrunk so that you see extra material at top of back window. I showed this to installer...he said he had used them for over 20 years but not again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 http://www.topsonline.com/model/Convertible_Tops_And_Accessories/Oldsmobile/1992_thru_1995_Oldsmobile_Cutlass_And_Cutlass_Supreme.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss427 Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 Matt did you ever do a writeup on your top install? I would love to try and do one myself. Haven't forgotten ya on the white rear bucket swap, car is in storage for the winter with no time to touch it with work.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 Awesome, I'm still quite interested in the seat swap. I'm even willing to drive halfway to meet up and do the swap. I could do a write-up, but I have a copy of the gm CS vert top replacement video that I used when I did my top, that is much more in detail than my write up would be. I'll have to rip a copy up to youtube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted December 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 That would be fantastic, thanks! Awesome, I'm still quite interested in the seat swap. I'm even willing to drive halfway to meet up and do the swap. I could do a write-up, but I have a copy of the gm CS vert top replacement video that I used when I did my top, that is much more in detail than my write up would be. I'll have to rip a copy up to youtube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss427 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 I agree that would be great, as it looks like the video explained it to you pretty well. I have the service alert video on correcting leaks if you need to copy it, plus one on the 284 and a few other W body topics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 Maybe what I'll do is copy it to DVD/R and mail them out. Steve, it would be nice to have copies of those videos as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke94vert Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 I would be interested in all those videos too!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted December 19, 2012 Report Share Posted December 19, 2012 Count me in on that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reride Posted December 22, 2012 Report Share Posted December 22, 2012 (edited) What size staples did you use for the rear sail window piece? The top on my '92 is in fairly good shape but the staples are pulling out. If I could restaple I could make the top last a while longer. I would also be interested in copies of the DVD/R's as well. Edited December 22, 2012 by Reride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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