convertible top, i need a new one Options

[celicacynthia]

I'd appreciate any information about the best convertible top canvas manufacturer.

I have a green 97 with a ratty beige convertible top and I'm looking to DIY a replacement.

Looking for the best.......I only want to do this once!

Cynthia

[match220]

I just redid my top a few months ago..when I started I was thinking "I've been a mechanic for a while, and worked at a couple shops, I'm not going to pay some guy to do what I can do"...and boy was I wrong. Replacing the top is not a one man job, nor is it solely a two many job unless one of the two guys know what he is doing. I had to call a friend of a friend that used to work at an upholstry shop that his brother owned. He told me on the phone that he has never done a convertible top by himself before and most upholstry guys aren't comfortable doing them. He did say that he had helped his brother install one so he would try to help me. We got it done, but it still wasn't easy. We had to undo some staples a few times and staple it back until it was right. I don't recommend anyone doing it, regardless of how "handy" you think you are..lol. I thought for sure that I could do it by myself, because I've done nearly everything else on a car outside of rebuilding a transmission. With that said though, you can get your top from keeautotop.com, it comes with an installation manual, staples, everything that you will need to do it yourself(except for someone that knows what they are doing AND a staplegun). There are certain installation techniques that aren't mentioned in the manual. If you do it yourself then it's not that big of a concern if the top is loose, mine stretched when the sun hit it. This is all I have to say regarding this, I highly recommend that you have someone that knows what they are doing help you so you don't get stuck as I did. OR you can get a complete top with the hinges and bolt it in with the help of a second person.