abiazis

Any recommendations for a good shop near Asheville, NC, Greenville, SC or Atlanta.

My 95's blue canvas top starting to look ragged, (but with a clear plastic window).......maybe it is the small matching canvas patches and clear sailboat tape that I have respectively used in the typical wear out spots on the rear shoulders of the top and for repairing/preventing the closing pin perforation damage on the inside of the top......

What is the price range for complete replacement job if high end canvas is used, etc...?

I had a bid of $ 3500 from a restoration shop that I thought was way off base......

I was thinking under 2k.......thanks for any information.....

beagling

Abiazis,
I just did my top for $1350. Get your top from autotopsdirect.com for $529. Sonnenland fabric just like factory. No tax so just pay for shipping. I had a shop do the install for $800 (its about a 10 hour job). I also did the headliner and bought that from autotopsdirect too.

nile13

Cali has very inexpensive top installs. I've consistently heard $1000-1300 prices for parts and labor.

Here in Boston it's $1.7-2K. And nobody is really willing to install the top you bring them, they want to sell you the top.

When you have the new top installed, make sure the installer changes straps. Also make sure that recall is done, or at the very least shorter pins are put in, otherwise you'll have the same "teeth arks" on the new roof in no time.

Finally, make sure that zipper on the new headliner runs in the same direction as you wind deflector zipper (ask me how I know this one).

Mike Pezely

Gahh Automotive is highly recommended.

red95993

I have had two tops installed in the last year, both used Gahh. Both under $2000, (what a deal!) but not happy with either installation, not even close to factory. The Gahh top is nice though, just wish I had spent the $$$ to get a good installer.

Good luck!

nile13

That's what I've had installed on my previous cab. Their zippers for wind deflector run the wrong way. Their rear window was slightly distorting at the top as well.

abiazis

Thanks to all for the info....autotopsdirect.com has some good pricing....$ 529 for top - OEM and $229 for the headliner...........

Shop in Atlanta quoted $ 2700 for the entire job including headliner which was highly recommended to be replaced at the same time for the cleanest job...

nile13

Still about $1K too high.

95 NC 993

Talk to Pete Martin at Stuttgart Motorwerks in Hendersonville. He has done excellent work on my '95 cab and I would let him work on any cab issues. 828-694-3510. You can tell him that 'the guy from Franklin with the aventurine green 993 cab' recommended him.

BSL

Paid $1000 for the install on my top in Chicago-land. Top itself was around $450. I didn't replace the headliner as the present one is in quite good condition.

deadhead1960

It's just math; have whichever shop you're considering break down the material cost (top, headliner, window, zippers, etc.) and the labor costs (number of hours). If one or two are out of whack on either, you'll know it pretty quickly. Lastly find the shop that has the best reputation and negotiate with them last. If their price is higher, you'll know why. Then negotiate a bit to get them in line. OK to pay a slight premium for quality but no need to overpay.

abiazis

A dealer in Atlanta quoted me a price of $ 7,000 which was amusing.....

A shop in Asheville quoted $ 2400....

Also.....Thanks NC 993 for the lead in Hendersonville......

Another local shop quoted $ 1400 for the top and $ 1800 for installation, which was ridiculous, compared to website pricing which averages about $ 529 for the top and $ 229 for the headliner.......labor quote actually made me laugh a bit...

Determined to get this done at a fair price relative to the information you all have provided..........

nile13

dealer wants about $4K for the top itself, probably even more now. And they would never touch a job like that, it will be subcontracted.

Look for upholstery shops around town, not restoration shops. But... make sure that they've done a 993 or 964 top before and know what's what. You can also ask the service guys at a couple of dealerships who they subcontract. If you do it on the quiet they'll tel you.

briefescape

Both of my 95 cabs new top $329 each @ no reserve ebay auction . Installed by Pacific Auto Trim here in Vancouver . Cost $600/ car installation plus $80/car to change clear for tinted plastic window ( material & installation ) .


Cheers Guy

abiazis

Excellent labor pricing in Vancouver and great ebay buys on the tops ( $200 under the pricing from topsonline.com, autotopsdirect.com and Tops and Seats....for OEM canvas.......great job there....

My dealers (3 - Atlanta and Asheville) recommended various places, including the restoration shop (Asheville) but still not as good an average price as some of the above posts..........will take my time and find the right source that has experience and does the job RIGHT with the OEM materials.....