tahoe healey said:
I am considering a new Robins Everflex or Sun-fast top for may BJ8. The shop that did the painting (famous restorer of classics and hot rods, they know their stuff)will do it complete for $950. High? Low? or just right?
Thanks
TH
Comparison shopping at the convertible top installer shops in my area, were quoting prices around $1,200. Robins Everflex, installed.
Mine ended up costing around $2,000 when all was said and done.
That included sending the metal frame out to be blasted then power coated the correct color grey.
They also fabricated a stainless steel wire with a spring for tension, into the area over the windows. It helps keep that area from stretching/rising over the years. (Modern convertible top have them).
After getting back from them, I put in a lot of hours in adjusting the roll up windows to meet the top perfectly. You can adjust the windows to the top, but not the top to the windows. The window to top adjustment goes hand in hand with the rubber seal too. The seal gets attached to the aluminum holding rail. That can be moved and adjusted too.
When having a shop install the top, questions need to be asked about how much tweaking are they going to do, to the finished product.
Will the frame need to be tweaked to get the new top to fit better? (Mine did). Will they be adjusting the windows or seals too? Will it be water tight everywhere? Will there be wind noise?
I monitored the top install and I'm glad I paid a professional to do it.
The better the installer, the better the end product.
You do get what you pay for.
I asked all the shops I talked to about their experience with Healeys. A lot of them said it did not matter. They learn about the Healey from taking the current top off. Then it's a matter of tweaking the frame and top together to get a proper fit. I looked at their work and how professional they sounded. I did not go with the cheapest bidder. And I told the shop that I ended up using that. I told them I chose them for the quality that they promised me. I made that clear up front.