Should I Buy a New Conv Top Motor or Rebuild it?

I just had my mechanic check the top motor on my 67 Sky conv and he says that it is shot. I was already into him for half an hour so I said thanks and came home to research a new top motor. My mechanic called his parts guy and said I could pick one up from him for $260. I looked on eBay and found new for $220, $236, and $239. plus $10-18 shipping. The lowest was $220 plus $10 out of Florida with good feedback.

He also has cylinders for $135 each and hoses for another $100. As far as I can tell the hoses and cylinders are ok.

Anyone have experience with rebuit versus new OEM? Should I just buy new and move on? If new, is the old one worth anything (i.e. eBay)?

Thanks, Rob in Sacramento
1967 Buick Skylark Convertible, 105700 original on unrebuilt 300cid w/auto. 3rd owner of eight years.
Gets about 17mpg, Built in Fairfield, Ca.
No rust but the plastic chrome is pitted from spending its first 30 years in the salty air of the Bay Area.

 

fluid or electric ? i can do the electric top motor,$85.00 :TU:

 

I'm not sure if I know the difference. It is electric and pumps ATF trans fluid.

Here is the item number to what I believe is the same pump with several close-up pics on ebay. Copy and past this number into 'search' on eBay to see.

260046101477

Thanks, Rob

 

Rob
I think he 's questioning whether you know if the elec motor or pump assy is bad.

 

Late model Mustangs and small GM 'verts use the same pump, Might find one in a boneyard or Ebay....

 

The motor isn't working; wire at the unit quickly gets hot and the motor does not make any noise when the switch is activated.

 

I just took apart my motor (67). It was seized from not being used. After I disassembled and lubed it works great. Taking it apart, freeing things up and lubing were no problem.
Assembling it was a different story. It took a while to figure out how to keep the brushes back during assembly. In fact I tried so many things I forget what worked.
Now that the pump works the top cylinders leak.
Ray

 

Almost every single convertible top pump/motor ever used since the 60's is interchangable. (Ford, Mopar, GM)
The biggest difference between them is whether they have 3 mounting feet or 4 mounting feet..... and the electrical plug might be different.

If you're car isn't a show car and you're not worried about the pump looking EXACTLY like the original, you should be able to pick up a pump & motor for $20-$50 on ebay.
I picked up a spare out of a 90's Chrysler Sebring ($20!!) and it's virtually the same thing as my original 67 pump except it has 4 mounting feet instead of 3.

Good luck!