Nova Convertible Top - Install Photos

The tack strip, replete with the well liner and rear window attached, is screwed into the upper sheetmetal below the decklid area. A good portable screwdriver/drill is a great help here.
The tack strip, replete with the well liner and rear window attached, is screwed into the
Once the tack strip was bolted down, Wanda carefully stretched out the top to the rear-most bow. Care must be taken not to scratch or otherwise damage the clear portion.
Once the tack strip was bolted down, Wanda carefully stretched out the top to the rear-mos
Stretching the plastic and vinyl backlight is easier when there is a couple of other hands available. Note the flood lamp. A little heat to "soften" the material didn't hurt, either.
Stretching the plastic and vinyl backlight is easier when there is a couple of other hands

Once in place and all wrinkles removed, Wanda used his trusty air stapler to fasten the backlight to the tack strip. Here's one of those parts where experience is the best tool.
Once in place and all wrinkles removed, Wanda used his trusty air stapler to fasten the ba
Trimming the excess material makes for a clean install when finishing out the back window portion of the job. A sharp pair of scissors is always a help.
Trimming the excess material makes for a clean install when finishing out the back window
With the backlight in place the next step was to drape the top over the frame and position it correctly over the front and sides. For this task four hands are certainly better than two.
With the backlight in place the next step was to drape the top over the frame and position

This is how the top looks when properly placed over the frame. Note how much extra material there is. Once glued and stapled down, a pair of scissors is employed to trim the excess.
This is how the top looks when properly placed over the frame. Note how much extra materia
The procedure for final fitting begins at the rear where small cutouts are made for the top material to fit around the screws that hold the corner tack strips.
The procedure for final fitting begins at the rear where small cutouts are made for the to
Here's a look at the tack trips before the well liner and top material are attached. Large self-tapping screws are used to secure the strips to the inner mounting sheetmetal. But care must be taken to use the correct length fasteners. If too long a screw is used it is possible to push out the side of the external quarter panel.
Here's a look at the tack trips before the well liner and top material are attached. Large

With the rear section of the top secured in place, the next step is to attach these special braided wire straps along the inside edge of each side of the top. Their purpose is to keep the top material tight over the edge of each side of the frame. When the top is up and in place, the straps are pulled tight and serve to keep the sides snugly over the frame. A string is used to pull the wire strap through the sewn opening along each side of the top material.

The vinyl top material is stapled to the tack strip. The side with the staples faces the sheetmetal and the screws are installed.
The vinyl top material is stapled to the tack strip. The side with the staples faces the s