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Saving Old Top

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go_inbroke

go_inbroke

Senior Member
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The plastic windows on my white top have yellowed to the point of opacity. I have tried to polish them out, but no luck. I really want to save this top. I have a new black one but the white one has many years of sentimentality. The plastic was heat sealed on and I want to know if this can be removed and replaced. Can it be done at home or do I have to take it to a boat shop for repair? Living in Illinois, boat shops are few and far between. Did I mention that I want to save this top.....

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Any auto top or upholstery shop can sew in a new window for you. Cheaper if you remove the top and take it to them.
 
I had the same situation on my TR4 (original white top, new black top) -- I cut the window out of the white top for hot weather trips. Liked it so much I seldom used the black top and eventually got a new white top with a zip-out window.

If you do get a new window sewn in you might ask if they can make it zippered, though when I looked into that no one (local) would touch it.
 
Great idea about the zipper. I also had to cut out the back plastic. Local cop (I know him) pulled me over because of the yellowed plastic. He made a very persuasive argument. I can sew. I have repaired the front seats (removed the center section as a template, ordered vinyl and sew through foam, and replaced section. I am pretty sure I can sew a zipper into the back opening. I am worried about the heated seam left by the original installation. I don't want to heat the area to remove the seam and destroy or damage the top.
 
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