Convertible Top Installation: 1969 - 1970 Cougar / Mustang

UPDATE: For a more in-depth, more professional convertible top installation, we recommend you check this video out: • Convertible Top Instal...
In this episode, we tackle the daunting task of installing a convertible top on a 1969 Mercury Cougar. Instead of stumbling through it ourselves, we watch a professional do the installation and take note of some of the details and tricks involved in the process. Javier was there to help and translate, and the end result was a great looking black convertible top.
Parts we used in the video can be found in the convertible top section of our website here: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/co...
Or, here are some of the individual parts we used / mentioned:
The convertible top itself: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/07...
Rear tack strips: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/69...
Tension cables: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/c9...
Bow Pads: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/c9...
Conv. Top Latches
LH: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/c5...
RH: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/c5...
Header seal retainer: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/69...
Weatherstrip Kit: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/d5...
There are a lot more convertible top related parts we didn't even mention, so browse around and find what you need!
If you like our videos, you can subscribe to be notified when we come out with a new one.
Also, like us on facebook! / westcoastclassiccougar

[@robertholt1494]

First off, I would like to say I am a retired auto motive upholster. It was nice to see that you didn't put the car on jack stands like so many other videos do. That just makes an easy job harder. There are a lot of things you did differently that me. What is important is the end result. Yours is pretty good. I would have pulled the rear quarters and tightened them up. The other thing that I do is on the front welt. When you are stapling it to the front bow, Lift the top piece of material and staple the underneath piece as to hide the staples. This way the staples aren't showing when the top is done

[@vettefret]

Thank you so much for giving me the confidence to tackle this job...My car is a 1969 Cutlass Convertible S...This may be the easiest car top to do because there are only 2 bolts, one at either end of the rear tack strip, 2 bolts and it pops right out...All the rest was pretty much the same as the video...Thanks again...Another happy youtuber...

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

Thanks for posting the feedback & extra info! Hopefully it will help some others who decide to tackle this job.

[@domcrowder5429]

West Coast Classic Cougar hi my name is Dominique & I have a convertible that I want to make a hardtop convertible. Is that possible?

[@gearratchet]

This is like a Gearhead's version of HOW IT'S MADE... LOVE IT!

[@Raimunelar]

Thanks so much for posting this. Helped alot!

[@carcomp101]

I had an old Lebanon GTC that needed a new top. I bought one, put it on, and it looked pretty good. I did mine in the blazing sun, alone. It was the hardest mechanical job I’ve ever done. Also, only had a hand stapler.

[@69XR7Ragtop]

4) When wrapping the top over the front header, you will get very frustrated at the number of times you have to un-stick it and re-wrap it to get the tension just right or to get wrinkles out of the sides. Patience and persistence is key here. I used a welders soap stone to mark the front edge of the top when I had it wrapped so I could tell how far I was moving it forward or backward in relation to the front edge when I needed to move it again. That worked really well for me.

[@juanrivas6048]

Muy profesional trabajo Gracias

[@davidlis6709]

Excellent video. I like the detail and step by step procedure. What do they say: a picture is worth 1,000 words and a video is worth a 1,000 pictures. Good job.

[@garywood9525]

That roof was worth over $1000.00 .

[@69XR7Ragtop]

Also, don’t forget to keep the two front sides out from under the header as they wrap around the top edges. (I actually had to un-staple one side of mine because I missed that) 5) Don’t tighten the bolts all the way down in the metal rear tack strips until you have the top in place and locked down. This will allow you to latch it easier and makes the top tighter when you tighten the bolts down.

[@javierpacheco9439]

Muy buen trabajo y explicado gracias❤😊

[@69XR7Ragtop]

The upholstery shop I talked with wanted $600 just to install the top after I did all the prep work. I personally think that’s highway robbery, but I guess that could be the going rate. Thanks to Don and his crew though, I gained just enough knowledge to think I could tackle it myself. I think it turned out great. I would have posted pics and links to my original post on classiccougarcommunity, but youtube wouldnb't let me.

[@juanrivas6649]

yo soy juan deseaba como aprender a quitar y poner capotas de convertibles y hasta que mire este video yo quiero decirle que ya hize mi primer convertible y eso gracias austed señor dan le agradesco mucho y la paciencia que han tenido usted y su amigo y su patron sino me equivoco . quiero decirles algo que tengo. amo a todas las personas que no usan la epocresia he envidia digo esto por que ustedes son un trillo de personas sin obstaculos para ayudar a otros seres humanos.gracias nuevamente y que la estrella divina los guie y los ilumine.

[@juanrivas6048]

Muy profesional trabajo

[@bobbyburley342]

These guys are masters at what they do thank you for the video. Can h post a video show how to chop the top off of any car and turn it into a convertible ?

[@captainschroeder]

nice job guys....

[@OakLawnSpeedShop]

Great vid.

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

Thanks! We missed a lot of details this time around, however. We recommend also checking out this newer one which covers a lot of things we missed the first time: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ilhJiZhcqlosk

[@corvetteman67]

EXCELLENT INSTALLATION WITH THE CONVERTIBLE TOP AND GREAT INSTRUCTIONS VIDEO. Muy buen trabajo gracias. Y quien fue ese payaso que paso caminando lenta mente con anuncios de la Ford?

[@curryridge]

Great video!! I wish Don and Xavier were closer I would hire them to put a new top on my 86 Sunbird GT convertible!!!! I am confused about where the top pads go on the car?? I also have an 89 Z24 convertible and I am wondering if i need the top pads for both cars???

[@69XR7Ragtop]

It was very time consuming and I discovered a few things the video didn’t show that I wish it had: 1) Have the right stapler and staples. My electric staple gun with T-50 staples just didn’t cut the mustard and was not powerful enough to drive the staples deep enough into the tack strips. Ensure you have an air powered stapler with 3/8” long staples-I found these worked the best for me.

[@mitch1950chevy]

Basically .I wouldn't install it myself , It's worth paying them to do the job do to the experience they have. This is the most informative video on installation I have seen so far.Also do you sell a white plastic window for a 1966 Fairlane, and is the zipper the same for all replacement windows?

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

Glad you found it informative! We only sell Cougar parts, so that's a "nope" on the Fairlane top. Not sure on your zipper question either, sorry. I don't think you can mix & match windows & tops from different manufacturers, if that's what you mean.

[@quangb8448]

Is it possible to just replace just the rear curtain by unzipping the old curtain, remove the bottom tack strip and install the new curtain and zip up or will the old zipper not work with the new zipper?

[@guillermopepino1856]

Hello , I write from Argentina, I have a 62 impala convertible, I need to see how the top frame work , I not shure of have all parts. I restoratin it , but . I think are not all the necesary pieces. Habe you any help ? or video ? Thanks. Guillermo.

[@nyomanwahyudi8314]

good job Brother. btw how much for prepare this car.?

[@johnzoller7958]

What brand top did you use for this installation? Do you have a preference?

[@bryanbaskett4010]

What size staples are you using? 1/4? 5/16? 3/8?

[@juanrivas6758]

Buenos dias nunca he usado una pistola por favor me podria decir por que tira el pegamento asi como pelotiado me podria recomendar un pegamento o como adelgasarlo para pegar techos de carros por favor espero su respuesta

[@69XR7Ragtop]

3) According to the instructions-(Shown in the video, but not specifically stated)-the rear tack strip at that the bottom of the top staples to (one on each side) must be marked 1 ¼” from the rear (or window side). This is where you are supposed to start stapling the window side of the bottom of the top. If you start there, you might not be able to completely cover the tack strip at the front end.

[@leonardlucas5817]

And that my friends is why we pay for the professionals....... excellent :)

[@ghostscalper6159]

And that my friends is why we pay for the professionals.......

[@icefishing804]

Do you have any information or opinion on installing a coyote 5.0 and transmission into a 1970 cougar? Any recommendations for upgraded brakes and suspension?

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

Bronson Burch The best advice we can give you is to join either (or both) of the classic Cougar forums and ask for opinions there. Lots of very knowledgeable people there who have all kinds of experience building and modifying Cougars. One is classiccougarcommunity.com/forum/index.php and the other is www.mercurycougar.net/forums/forum.php

[@redleytvision]

Any tips for installing the pinch trim?

[@69XR7Ragtop]

6) Do not cut the excess material from either the top of the window zipper or the bow pads until you have the actual top on and the two slits line up in the center of the rear bow. I actually had to take mine back off and adjust my bow pads further back and my window zipper further down when mine did not line up correctly. (Taking out a butt load of staples is not fun!)

[@elizabethpierre5103]

Faiz i like your video

[@EdBert]

At about 9:30 you show putting screws into bow #2 and 3. Is there a metal block inside the U-shape of the bow that you are screwing into? The bottom edge of my bows do not have threaded holes in them, there are holes closer inboard from the pads for the metal strip of the actual top. So I cannot figure out how to connect the pads to the two middle bows.

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

Our memory is foggy on this, but we're pretty sure there's no extra metal blocks or anything like that, there should be threaded holes for the pads built in to the bows. Can't remember if those are machine or sheet metal screws.

[@abdulrahmankhalidAS]

all links in description

[@69XR7Ragtop]

7) Just like the video shows, the rear bow welting starts 7” from the seam and ends 7” from the seam on the other side of the car. Ensure you staple parallel with, and closer to the small bead side as you go across, or when you fold the welting over your staples will show! (Yet another butt load of staples had to be removed…)

[@joemarshall712]

How does the front tack strip attach to the front frame? Is it riveted?

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

Joe Marshall There should be a channel that it slides into. That's one thing we didn't cover in this video. We have replacements here: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/store/p/14469-Convertible-Front-Bow-Tack-Strip-5-FEET-Repro-1969-1973-Mercury-Cougar-1969-1973-Ford-Mustang.html

[@69XR7Ragtop]

8) I have yet to figure out where the two smaller pads that came with the top go. They didn’t get installed and are now extra. I did not see them being put on in the video either and when I talked with Javier, he didn’t know where they went either. The video was is an absolute quality product and you can’t beat the price (Free). I just found a few things not covered by the video that you will likely run into as well. Would I do it again? You bet!

[@jahh8186]

The small pads with the curved ends are for the rear qrt or sail panel. They actually go on after the back window and before the rear of the top itself. Once they are installed, they will be in between the back window and the sail panel a re ea of the top itself. Which is backwards from most convertibles. Usually the pads are installed first. Great tips in this video regardless. *Subscribed*

[@samuum6118]

hi! it can be installed on new cars or not???

[@69XR7Ragtop]

You must start at the front end and ensure it is covered or the top will be too far back and not cover the main roof support . (You guessed it, I had to un-staple one side because I did not get it far enough forward)

[@reneetienne9488]

where can i buy the windlace??

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

It's included when you buy a new convertible top.

[@filibertoavlos8448]

laki vídeo

[@cmscms123456]

9:05 18 inches from the front to the first bow, then another 18 inches to the second bow... how far from the second bow to the third bow?

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

As we've learned years later, the most important measurement is the one from the center of the rear bow, to the center top edge of the car's trim piece (forward of the trunk). That rear bow can move around, so it needs to be in the correct spot, and each top manufacturer has their own specification for this. The other bows are more or less fixed where they are, even though they can move a little. Just make sure they are even. We highly suggest watching the newer video we did on a '71 convertible top installation. The process is about the same, but the installer was more experienced and very detail-oriented. Check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ilhJiZhcqlosk

[@cmscms123456]

@@WestCoastClassicCougar Thanks for the quick reply, I will look in on your other video. These are a great help and service. The one part on these tops that is not available is the narrow rods, that fit in the pocket in the top, then is screwed to the two center cross ribs. I looked all over and need up having to make my own. Im thinking about selling spares on E-bay now.

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

@@cmscms123456 Not a bad idea! Think those are called "listings" in some circles, but not sure. Not sure if there are any new ones out there, but should be fairly simple to make.

[@johnytorres8770]

That top is very easy comper to other cars .

[@69XR7Ragtop]

To read my post correctly, start at the bottom of the comments and work your way up.

[@69XR7Ragtop]

2) The measurements given in the video might not be right for your top. There are two different models of EZ on top (228 and 2281). They both have different measurements for the rear bow height. To get the measurements for between the bows, flip your new top skin over and measure between the listing rod flaps and between the last listing rod flap and slits in the rear of the top.

[@notgivennotgiven7776]

I don't know what the big deal is. It only took a little over 20 minutes to do.

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

Good one! Check out our other, more detailed convertible top video. The video is about an hour, but it took 3 days to do. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3ilhJiZhcqlosk

[@juanrivas6649]

yo soy juan deseaba como aprender a quitar y poner capotas de convertibles y hasta que mire este video yo quiero decirle que ya hize mi primer convertible y eso gracias austed señor dan le agradesco mucho y la paciencia que han tenido usted y su amigo y su patron sino me equivoco . quiero decirles algo que tengo. amo a todas las personas que no usan la epocresia he envidia digo esto por que ustedes son un trillo de personas sin obstaculos para ayudar a otros seres humanos.gracias nuevamente y que la estrella divina los guie y los ilumine.