Installation cost
- Thread starter Car Pit
- Start date
KGBnut
Well-known member
Boy...that's a tough one. This past summer I did both the upholstery and the roof in my '30 Coupe.
If you are even a little bit handy with tools, I would recommend you try and tackle the upholstery yourself. While time consuming, the LB kits are so well prepared they do not require tremendous skill. This was my first time ever doing upholstery.
The roof was a bit more challenging, but I'm still glad I did it myself. The real challenge there was the miserable condition of the wood. Even with a good wood kit from Bratton's, it took a lot of patience to get the fit right. I do think I put it together with more care than any professional would have done. I worried my self sick about making it water tight. Now, after a few heavy rains... I don't even think about it.
If you are even a little bit handy with tools, I would recommend you try and tackle the upholstery yourself. While time consuming, the LB kits are so well prepared they do not require tremendous skill. This was my first time ever doing upholstery.
The roof was a bit more challenging, but I'm still glad I did it myself. The real challenge there was the miserable condition of the wood. Even with a good wood kit from Bratton's, it took a lot of patience to get the fit right. I do think I put it together with more care than any professional would have done. I worried my self sick about making it water tight. Now, after a few heavy rains... I don't even think about it.
Dick Carne
Senior Member
I recently inquired of these costs on our fordor, with an upholsterer in the area who is well-known for top and interior installations on both Model A's and classics as well. I was told that he would charge roughly the cost of the interior kit if I provided one of the LB kits, or he would make and install the interior if I provided the materials, for roughly $3,000 - $3,500, exclusive of carpets. However, I have a friend who installed the headliner and interior panels in his 1930 tudor and did an outstanding job. He decided to have LB install the seat covers on his seat frames and springs, but was very satisfied with both the price and the quality of their work product. I believe that I was told by one of the ladies in LeBaron Bonney's service dept. that their hourly shop rate is $70/hour, and that it would take the better part of a week or so to install one of their kits in our fordor. Hope this helps to give you an idea. Good luck either way!
Car Pit
Member
Gosh, I thought that would be the easiest question I've asked the barn.
I'll restate the question as advised. How many hours does it take to do these tasks?
All the old upholstery was removed nearly 40 years ago and I've recently replaced nearly all the wood.
I figured I'd install the roof as soon as the weather warms up and wait a couple months to do the interior. As KJBnut noted, I'm quite nervous about water intrusion. A steel roof was screwed on the car with a generous serving of tar around the seam some time before the 60's. I hope I don't regret removing that.
I'll restate the question as advised. How many hours does it take to do these tasks?
All the old upholstery was removed nearly 40 years ago and I've recently replaced nearly all the wood.
I figured I'd install the roof as soon as the weather warms up and wait a couple months to do the interior. As KJBnut noted, I'm quite nervous about water intrusion. A steel roof was screwed on the car with a generous serving of tar around the seam some time before the 60's. I hope I don't regret removing that.
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
I haven't done much upholstery other than helping a couple guys with their kits, so I can't say how many hours it will take. I know a guy that did a Classtique interior kit in his 29 Tudor and he was done in less than a week all by himself, and it came out much nicer than I would have expected him to do it. He's often in a hurry and doesn't care so much how things look as long as they somewhat work, but he did a nice job on his interior. As KGBnut said, I'd try doing the work yourself, or even having a friend help.
Can't be installing a top here in Minnesota, since we got another foot of snow today.
But if you wait for a hot summer day, you and a couple friends can intall the roof. I think Marco has information on his site, and there have been threads here about installing the roof. Hopefully a search will turn up some help for the job. I did help do the roof on a couple pickups, and two of us spent a few hours to get the job done. I did learn the hard way that you should predrill the holes in OAK for the aluminum trim nails. I had to do that part of the job a second time after I messed up by not predrilling the holes.
Can't be installing a top here in Minnesota, since we got another foot of snow today.
But if you wait for a hot summer day, you and a couple friends can intall the roof. I think Marco has information on his site, and there have been threads here about installing the roof. Hopefully a search will turn up some help for the job. I did help do the roof on a couple pickups, and two of us spent a few hours to get the job done. I did learn the hard way that you should predrill the holes in OAK for the aluminum trim nails. I had to do that part of the job a second time after I messed up by not predrilling the holes.
Bob/Kansas City
Senior Member
If you are of a mind to try the upholstery yourself it's not a difficult job particularly with an LB kit. Their quality and fit is very good although the instructions could use a little improvement. Just take your time, read and understand the directions and ask questions. The people at LB are very helpful in working with you to explain something if you get stuck.
You will save a ton of money if you can do it yourself and then you can look back with the satisfaction of having done the job yourself.
The last car I upholstered was about 35 years ago until I did my town sedan with an LB kit last winter and it came out pretty well. I had only a few hours on the weekends to work on it and it took me about 2 months to finish. I talked my wife into helping me and found that she was pretty dam good at upholstery and enjoyed being involved with the car!
You will save a ton of money if you can do it yourself and then you can look back with the satisfaction of having done the job yourself.
The last car I upholstered was about 35 years ago until I did my town sedan with an LB kit last winter and it came out pretty well. I had only a few hours on the weekends to work on it and it took me about 2 months to finish. I talked my wife into helping me and found that she was pretty dam good at upholstery and enjoyed being involved with the car!
