Question: Hardware for hardtop

[c4craig]

I recently found a hardtop for my 96 conv. I bought the brackets for the sides, the front are there, what goes in the rear where the soft top snaps in and do i need anything and where do i start to look?

 

[boomdriver]

parts...

call 20th street auto Phoenix. ask for Matt or larry ,,,,,,Lee sent you.

 

[c4craig]

thanks

parts...

call 20th street auto Phoenix. ask for Matt or larry ,,,,,,Lee sent you.

Thanks , will do

 

[Red Vette]

I recently found a hardtop for my 96 conv. I bought the brackets for the sides, the front are there, what goes in the rear where the soft top snaps in and do i need anything and where do i start to look?

The back of the hard top has two bolts, spring loaded, that slip into the rear deck holes, the bolts should have been included with the hardtop because they are not removable under normal circumstances. The bolts must be tightened down with a wrench, just slipping them in does not secure the hard top to the deck. Ecklers sells (I assume they are still available) the OEM KAYSTAR RBM Wrench for $50+. Sears sells the same wrench, part number 42171, for $6. The wrench is 7mm and 8mm closed ratchet type.

You also need a torx wrench socket to attach the bolts to the front windshield bracket and the side brackets. The side bracket bolts are available at GM dealers, but are very expensive, about $6 each. Hopefully you received the side bracket bolts and washers with the brackets. The sizes are as follows:
M8-1.25 thread pitch
M8-1.25x20 works perfectly.
5/16 fender washers.

I purchased several bolts from the dealer about 2 years ago and that time they were available. They came in black.

Not all hard tops go on with ease. I found that my 91's hard top went on without a hitch; the 94 took some doing. On the 94, after placing the hard top on the corvette, I started the front bolts until the threads caught. Then I placed a small wedge between the front of the hard top and the windshield to force the back of the hard top down. Then I tightened the rear bolts. After that, I tightened the windshield bolts and the side bracket bolts. You may have to figure out the best way to attach the hard top. It is a two person job to place the hard top on the car, or you can use the pulley arrangement if you don't have a helper. I preferred the wife helper over the pulley. You may not know this, but after the convertible was built at the BG plant, it was shipped to another nearby facility to have the hard top put on. It was not done in the assembly line, even though it was called a factory option.

Hope this helps.
Barrett

 

[c4craig]

Thanks. Where would i find these spring loaded bolts?

The back of the hard top has two bolts, spring loaded, that slip into the rear deck holes, the bolts should have been included with the hardtop because they are not removable under normal circumstances. The bolts must be tightened down with a wrench, just slipping them in does not secure the hard top to the deck. Ecklers sells (I assume they are still available) the OEM KAYSTAR RBM Wrench for $50+. Sears sells the same wrench, part number 42171, for $6. The wrench is 7mm and 8mm closed ratchet type.

You also need a torx wrench socket to attach the bolts to the front windshield bracket and the side brackets. The side bracket bolts are available at GM dealers, but are very expensive, about $6 each. Hopefully you received the side bracket bolts and washers with the brackets. The sizes are as follows:
M8-1.25 thread pitch
M8-1.25x20 works perfectly.
5/16 fender washers.

I purchased several bolts from the dealer about 2 years ago and that time they were available. They came in black.

Not all hard tops go on with ease. I found that my 91's hard top went on without a hitch; the 94 took some doing. On the 94, after placing the hard top on the corvette, I started the front bolts until the threads caught. Then I placed a small wedge between the front of the hard top and the windshield to force the back of the hard top down. Then I tightened the rear bolts. After that, I tightened the windshield bolts and the side bracket bolts. You may have to figure out the best way to attach the hard top. It is a two person job to place the hard top on the car, or you can use the pulley arrangement if you don't have a helper. I preferred the wife helper over the pulley. You may not know this, but after the convertible was built at the BG plant, it was shipped to another nearby facility to have the hard top put on. It was not done in the assembly line, even though it was called a factory option.

Hope this helps.
Barrett

Thanks. Where would i start looking for these spring loaded bolts?

 

[Red Vette]

Thanks. Where would i start looking for these spring loaded bolts?

I don't know as this subject has not been raised on any forum that I have seen. You don't need the spring loaded bolt in my opinion, you could try a standard bolt (I assume that the back brackets are still attached to the hard top you own). You might go to a chevy dealer part's department and have them look up the hard top hardware, the schematic may have the bolt size you need and you could then purchase a standard bolt. You could also try various bolt sizes in the rear deck attachment area to see if they hold and and remove correctly and fit into the brackets. Also, ask the dealer to search other dealers, there may be some bolts in stock at GM (but I doubt it). If they do have them, you might have to purchase the entire bracket assembly. You could check e-bay or corvette salvage dealers. A wrecked hard top might yield the bolts. Sorry I can't be more specific or provide anymore insight.
Barrett

 

[Ugolino]

c4craig, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how solid the car feels with the hard top installed, it has a built-in roll bar that basically boxes in the top half of the car. this was one of the things i liked best about my 1990 convertible, having the hard top added a new dimension of driving pleasure to the car.

 

[norwegianvette]

I recently found a hardtop for my 96 conv. I bought the brackets for the sides, the front are there, what goes in the rear where the soft top snaps in and do i need anything and where do i start to look?

If you look at your soft top and the pins you press in to the holes made in the deck lid. Same pins should be under the hard top. You dont normally remove them so they are most likely there. Then as you said two brackets (one each side) which bolt to the car and hard top. In front there are two different ways. Either same system as on yur soft top with two handles or one bolt each side to tighten from inside.

Steve

 

[Red Vette]

The C4 hard tops I've had did not have the pins similar to the ones on the convertible top. They had the spring loaded bolts that used the holes in the deck lid for the vert top, but they had to be wrenched in/out as the convertible top latch release would not allow them to be pulled out. The bolts went into the deck lid holes that accept the convertible top pins. The owner's manual for my two C4s instructed the owner to tighten the rear deck lid bolts with a wrench.
I am assuming that you have the OEM hard top and not an after market such as Speedline. I don't know how Speedline tops attach to the rear deck lid, but you could call them and find out. Maybe they can direct you to a person who has the bolts.
Barrett