[dj63010]

The top on my car has deteriorated (thanks to my neighbors cats) to the point where it is no longer salvageable. I'm planning an extended road trip soon so I've decided to just have it removed. I'll be in the Clearwater, Tampa Florida area for about a month so I thougt perhaps I'd have a body shop remove the top and repaint the roof. Any recommendations for a shop to do this work? Any ideas on how much this will cost? Any pointers would be appreciated.

 

[jerrypepe]

I had a very similiar issue and found it was less expense it my case to replace the top with new VS removing and repairing all the holes and painting. it cost me around 1300.00 to have the top replaced and bids for painting was about 500.00 more hope this helps

 

[MoistCabbage]

Yeah, it's almost always cheaper to replace the fabric than to have a good shop properly repair the holes and repaint. Don't forget, if there are door pieces, the doors need repair paint too.

Of course tearing it off and having Macco, or some other low end shop repair and paint it would be cheap, but you get what you pay for.

 

[ehall]

The cats will be happy when you get new fabric installed for them

 

[dchavezo]

The cats will be happy when you get new fabric installed for them

Hahaha

Sorry to hear about your plight, you could probably take it off and do the body work yourself and then have someone shoot the roof with new paint

 

[MoistCabbage]

Welding up holes in thin sheet metal, and having it look good when done, is much easier said than done.

 

[dantemoravil]

Once you fix it I would invest in a sniper rifle BB gun big dog or the equivalent to keep the cats away.

 

[jkman8888]

I removed the top myself then put bondo in the holes then spray painted my roof and looks good as new

 

[MoistCabbage]

Bondo filled holes and spray paint - "As good as new" means very different things to different people.

 

[jerrypepe]

Bondo filled holes and spray paint - "As good as new" means very different things to different people.

Agree on that statement

 

[brougham]

Bondo filled holes and spray paint - "As good as new" means very different things to different people.

Much like for sale ads that say minor rust.

Welding small holes can make the metal warp and take some more body work to look good and bondo tends to pop out over time. Shouldn't be too hard to find a decent price to replace the roof in Florida. It's the biggest market for that kind of thing.

 

[jkman8888]

I personally hated the look of the soft top and I admit its not perfect, but its looks alot better then before. I live in Florida and and the bondo has held up over the past year since I removed the soft top, I didn't think it was worth the money to have a shop professionally redo the top