I am at the interior and contertible top stage of my 71 442 convertible tribute. Drive train complete. My concern is should I have the convertible top installed before it goes to the body shop for paint. My painter want to paint it first but me personally I want it painted last because when it goes to the interior shop for top and upholstry. I don't any ooooppps sir I scratcher your brand new paint job. "Well I can take a little of your bill" bullshit. Also it needs to go to the muffler shop and maybe to get some wiring done. WHat should I do heeeeeeeelllllllllpppp

 

well, the body shop can ruin the top and the interior shop can ruin the body. Personally I think I'd have the body done first as there shouldn't be too much done that can risk damaging the body - unless you are having the complete top frame redone. Maybe take the top frame off and have that done while the body work is being done. Then have it put back on. When the body is done and painted the new top can be put on.

 

i'd recommend tearing the car down as far as humanly possible prior to paint.

I'm fairly certain the rear convertible chrome trim gets installed at the same time as the top- which means there would have to be a masking line when they paint the car.. and you don't want that.

also, you will get sanding dust embedded in the top regarless of how well they mask...

IMO...
Much better to risk a scratch (and really there are a lot of areas way more risky of being scratched during reassembly than the top well chrome...) than to deal with paint lines, or un-necessary post bodywork cleaning... especially for a brand new top.

 

With any luck, the interior will get FILTHY from sanding and painting - do it last. Top can go in between paint and interior.
I have seen shops leave the windows down while sanding and painting.

 

They can put the top on if they bag it... I wouldnt put the interior in there though. Its almost guaranteed to get dirty. IMO

 

What I mean by interior being done is everything will be together the seat will not be in the car the carpet will be in but converded with plastic the dash will be covered with plastic and the coverable top will be layered ontop of 2 or 3 layers of plastic by the painter. The only worry I have if the painter has to unbolt the frame for a few seconds to paint where the convertible frame meets the body of the car. Oh yeah door panal will not be in either My biggest concern is again the convertible top I want it on first for whatever reason I don't know

 

well the top will then be in the down position if you want and that will protect it. My shop screwed up so often that I can tell you even if the new top gets paint on it they can clean it cause that happened to my car. I still think you are better off having the top done last just my .02