Are you mocking me? Are you thinking on here, or for other book ideas?

I do not have to help any one at all. I choose to help as much as I can without any reservation or motive. I write books to help an industry that desperately needs it. When a question comes up on this forum that is vague and does not have specifics or details, it would help if the posting party would think through the question and supply some support so anyone can answer the question with clarity.

It might be in the best interest of this forum if I just refrain from responding at all. I do not get paid or compensated for the amount of time and research I do to help, and when members call me I should just not waste any more of my valuable time. God knows that I have called and directly spoken to dozens on here and I might have to re-think doing that as well.

So, I there are any more derogatory comments that are not helpful, I suggest they are kept to yourself.
Thank you.

Closed cell foam was used on higher end luxury cars. I would not recommend it for this model. Contact Vic at TopsOnLine - 1-888-803-8505 and see if a top is available.

Making the top yourself is possible. You can sew the seams, but the best solution is to have a sealed top made from Haartz Levant Vinyl. Definitely use Weldwood Landau Top & Trim High Heat Resistant Contact Cement. Call me if you need any other assistance.

I would need to know what specific car this is to answer the question properly.

There is a lot more to it than what you think. First of all- strip the old top off and repair the rust.
Next, order a pre-made top that will fit the car. Preferably from ACME Headlining Co.

Glue, edge trim, centering, covering the car from over spray . . . It will be a great experience. Unfortunately the newest book I'm working on isn't published yet. There is a chapter on installing vinyl tops that covers every aspect of the installation.

Al Knoch Interiors makes the best fitting Corvette tops. Give them a call at 1-800-880-8080.

Thank you @Cody Lunning and @Nadeem Muaddi for the mention.

Yes, I have done many work shops that were a pay to learn experience as well as the free meet and greet demos for car clubs. If there is an interest in this, I can be help answer questions on how to set up and arrange them.

These workshops are a great way to introduce yourself and the services you provide to car clubs too. I have done many of them over the years and they are quite rewarding.

Convertible top installations are by far the most difficult upholstery tasks that a trimmer can take on. If you do your home work and evaluate the project for potential problems before you accept it as a project, you can save yourself a lot of grief.

In my opinion from the many of tops that I have installed over my lifetime career, I can say that Volkswagen Beetle tops are the most difficult. I wish they were explained in the convertible top book.

This Mercury 4-Door convertible was completed several years ago. The top was tailor made to fit the car.

That procedure is described in the book.

The trim tag should be located on the drivers door or door jam. The photo looks correct but you should double check it yourself to be sure. @Cody Lunning If you have any issues , you can call me

What you are asking for is called a flexolator.

Problems can only be overcome with communication. Ask for a sit down meeting with the owner or contact person that places the orders with you.

Do not act confrontational with them but try to get an understanding that you need to be paid for the work that you do. Let them know who much you appreciate doing business with them and that you understand that cash flow can be spotty at times. (The whole reason your in this situation)

Ask if there is a way that you both can agree upon some kind of resolution to getting paid. If you are willing to extend them some time to get current that could help them get you paid on a schedule.

If you are loosing money, it may be best to cut ties with them. The money is no good if you do not get paid. Taking on more work will not help them or your business if you do not square your accounts. This is your business and you are worth every cent that you ask for.

@Natalie Pankonin It was my pleasure to help. I will send the support materials you need.

@Jim Nishida-Adams

"There are ten ways to do something, but only one of them is right."

You forgot to finish my quote- "And it doesn't have to be the way I do it."
Thank you

@Steve Ingram I understand what the factory did and why they did it that way, That doesn't mean that a headliner cannot be "correctly" or "properly" installed without removing the glass.

This topic gets debated all the time and I guess what I need to learn is why does the glass need to come out? I have done over a hundred Mustangs, and close to a thousand headliners in my career and I have never needed to have the glass removed. The headliner stays exactly where I glue it and I have never had a customer ask why the glass was not removed. Am I missing something?

There is absolutely no reason to pull the glass out of a car to install a suspended headliner. Removing the glass can only lead to more expense. If you need assistance on this project, call me.

@Cody Lunning Fantastic!

@Cody Lunning I am sure you will nail it this time. You do good work and taking the time to make a project better is golden!

@Cody Lunning I am sure you will nail it this time. You do good work and taking the time to make a project better is golden!

@Cody Lunning If you install the lower cover first and then dry fit the back rest, make reference marks on the foam or cotton layer. They will help you align the back rest cover along the lower edge to mate with the bottom cover design.

Working from absolute center outward will also help with pattern alignment issues.

Also remember that the upper cushion comes over the bottom about two inches and the dimension of your pattern will be different from the outer edge. Call me if you need more help.

Contact @Mal Maher at NC Carpet Binding & Equipment. He can advise you the right machine for the work you want to do with it.

Repairing a damaged one piece top requires removing the top from the top frame and then sewing in a new rear curtain without scratching the plastic. After the curtain has been replaced you have the task of refitting the top.

Here is the rub- The old top has been exposed to the elements for a period of time and most likely will not fit exactly as it did originally due to shrinkage. The repair to the curtain will look like a repair and it will be very noticeable to everyone. The cost to the customer will be near the cost of fitting a new top.

Our industry needs to step up and become more professional in our approach to the service we do for our customers. It will benefit the customer in the long run to have a new top installed- clean look, leak free and it adds value to the car and carries a new top warranty. As an auto trimmer with the resources to obtain a new top, repairs to an old one piece convertible top is not a money maker, but rather busy work.

@Cody LunningI saw it at the MSRA Back to the 50's.
I also saw about 30 other cars that I had worked on over the past few years.

It sounds like a feed dog issue. The material is slipping some and this will cause an uneven stitch length. Replacing the feed dogs is a simple procedure that you can do yourself. If the machine has other issues it may be best have it professionally serviced.