Ive got a 64 Dart convertible and had a branch fall through my top. Ive found a few places that have tops for around $225 but how hard it is to install myself? theres a shop in the area that does them but they said its 500 for top and install... is this about normal?

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64 Convertible Dart GT

That's about half the going rate here in Dallas (at least among the places I checked with). I'm thinking about learning to do it myself as well.

VM

As SSDan has said so many times in the past, get a FSM for your year vehicle. I've got the FSM for my 65 Coronet/Dart and it goes through it step-by-step. Other than taking somewhat longer than I expected due to some metal repair on the front header bow, I did the top on my 65 Coronet 440 convertible. It wasn't that difficult IMHO. Also make sure you use waterproof adhesive where the FSM calls for using adhesive.

installing a top can be tricky. my brother does them for a living and i helped him do both of my convertibles. electron makes pretty good tops but on my dart we had to do a little sewing to make it fit right. also make sure the metal strip that holds the windshield header seal in place isn't rotted. you'll need to find one before doing the top if it is as this is what secures top to the front of the frame. you may also want to get new top padding when you order the top since the old stuff is probably trash.
i think my brother gets about a grand installed and it's done right. you can tell a crappy job by the wrinkles in the rear section around the windows and the sharp edges of the top frame showing thru (at least until the material is cut open by the hinges.) sometimes a top won't fit right but will get installed anyway just to get it done. a proper job should look smooth and everything centered evenly on the car. i guess you should approach it like you would a paintjob. look around for old convertibles with nice looking tops and ask the owners where the went to get it installed.

-james

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Also Crown makes a pretty nice top. Didn't have to do any mods, resewing etc. on the Coronet. We shall see when the time comes to do the tops on the Valiant and Dart