convertible top removal

[dlrshort]

How hard is it to remove the convertible top (including frame) for storage over the winter? I would like to put on the hardtop and avoid keeping the soft top folded for such a long time.

Dave S.

 

[BarryK]

sorry, i can't answer your direct question but if it helps any, my buddy had a '65 vert until yesterday and for the last 4 years he always kept the softtop folded down and the hardtop on the car. He just preferred the look of the hardtop over the softtop so that how he kept the car year round. Every now and than he would remove the hardtop and raise the softtop just to clean it and than the hardtop went back on. he never had any problems with the softtop being folded for such extended periods. At the very least do what he did and raise it every now and than. If it was me, when it is raised I'd leave it up for a few days if possible before lowering it again and reinstalling the hardtop.

 

[Fuelie]

How hard is it to remove the convertible top (including frame) for storage over the winter? I would like to put on the hardtop and avoid keeping the soft top folded for such a long time.

Dave S.

Dave,

If the car will be left in storage all winter then it is best to just leave the conv top up and latched as normal and put the hardtop in storage.

These tops are a real pain to remove as an assembly and then get back in place correctly adjusted when you want to us it again.

If you want to drive the car some of the time during the colder seasons, then Barry's suggestion to put the top up to let it stretch back into shape periodically is the best solution.

Take care,
Brian

 

[magicv8]

Removing it is a lot easier than getting it back on in its original position. Release all 4 latches, remove the 4 mounting bolts, then have your gorilla pick it up and hang it on the wall (it isn't light, and it is cumbersome - large and flimsy).

To reinstall, search vainly for alignment instructions, and/or the marks you scribed on the mounting surfaces. Next spend days trying to get the latches to work easily and the windows to line up correctly. Then modify the top frame to get the latches to work and the windows to line up again. Then promise yourself you won't do that again.

PS: I removed the hardtop from my car when I brought it home 17 years ago. It has hung on 2 garage walls in that time, and never been back on the car. Make me an offer. If I wanted a hardtop, I'd have bought a coupe. My wife keeps asking me to use it when it gets warm outside so that the A-C will work better. I tell her it's too expensive to restore all the weatherstripping and the back window. I love convertibles. I had my 66 out Christmas shopping on December 24 in 2F weather. If it were 30F warmer, I would have put the top down.

 

[dlrshort]

Damn.....if only I knew a gorilla!! Thanks, you guys talked me out of it.


Dave:duh

 

[youwish2bme]

I don't think it's that bad to do at all. We do my dad's twice a year. Once when the hardtop goes on and once when it comes off. Just scribe around the the plate so that you can get the alignment close when you go to put it back in. As for storage you just need the space to have the top open. When you sit the top on the ground just use a large box to support the middle of the top where the second bar is from the front. Trust me it's not that big of a deal to remove and reinstall the top. If you can put a hardtop on you can do this... When I get my hard top done I plan on doing the same thing...