Roof removal tool

[BRONCO]

Hi folks. This is my first post since joining CAC last week. I recently purchased my 1996 Corvette LT4 CE. I love it. It is a dream to drive. I owned a 1978 Silver Anniv Edition from 1980 until I had to sell it in 1991. I knew I would get another Vette someday and it finally happened in August of this year. I am enjoying every minute behind the wheel of this fantastic car. I was so excited when I bought the car, I didn't notice that the tool for removing the roof was not there. I just wanted to get in the car and go.
It looks as though a special tool (maybe with a torx end) is required to remove the roof. Any help in finding this tool?
Thanks

 

[vette-dude]

Mid-America or Eckler have them for about $30 or so. You can also try a salvage yard. Look in your console first cause mine was hidden there. It has a mounting bracket in the very rear of the console and it is black plated and hard to see if you are not looking for it. It is a torx headed ratchet.

:cool

 

[Ken]

T-40 is the torx size for the roof bolts.

 

[lt4 gs]

Like to jump in here if I might.......this advice works for sure......get a t40 snap on extension...........that will fit in your cordless........and cut off the end that your are not going to use......should leave you with plenty............I did .........and use it all the time .......for a lot less than buying the whole obsolete driver........works in all three of my cordless guys and my not so cordless as well......

 

[JohnnyC]

When I first got my Corvette, I couldn't find the roof tool either, I had to email the previous owner a few days later.... of course it was right there in the back of the console "hiding". You really can miss it if not looking for it.

John

 

[Black94]

Hi guys:
On a similar note, the top rear of my console has two other little built-in brackets that look like they are supposed to hold somthing... but what??? They are two small pieces of plastic approximately 5-6" apart from one another like this... [ ]

Are they supposed to hold something that I'm missing... like a small screwdriver??? I've got the roof tool... it fits behind these little brackets.

 

[jmccloud]

The other brackets in the console

Several ads for 'Owners Manual with Pen' have appeared on eBay
Perhaps the brackets hold the 'factory' pen.
I have a straight tire gauge that fits nicely.

 

[Ken]

... the roof tool... fits behind these little brackets.

Yes.

_ken

 

[LT1Vettepilot]

Re: The other brackets in the console

Several ads for 'Owners Manual with Pen' have appeared on eBay
Perhaps the brackets hold the 'factory' pen.
I have a straight tire gauge that fits nicely.

I've not heard of a pen that belongs there, but if memory serves, that is the location for a pen style tire pressure gauge. I believe they were supposed to come with the owner's package, but I have yet to see one actually in the car.
As for the roof panel ratchet, you can pick them up all day long on Ebay for less than the cheap one in Mid America and Ecklers. The expensive one in these magazines are the OEM style which fit in the console. The cheap ones havea square handle and won't fit in the OEM location.
Its nice to have the modified torx bit adapted for power tool removal, but its also great to have the OEM rachet which allows you to take the roof off where ever you are. I've pulled over on the side of the road after the weather has turned nice, just to pop the top off. Try that with your power tool that is at home in the garage!

 

[Ken]

From the 1987 Corvette Owner's Manual

REMOVABLE ROOF PANEL

1. To remove and stow the roof panel:
   
2. First, lower both side windows and move the sunvisors out of the way to uncover the fornt bolts.
   
3. Remove the ratchet wrench from the CONSOLE COMPARTMENT RETAINING CLIP.
   
4. ...

_ken

 

[jester]

I use a torx bit with my Black and Decker battery operated screwdriver. One battery lasted through two weeks of vacation with top off and on many times. It's a lot quicker than the factory ratchet when caught in a sudden rain squall.

John

 

[oldace84]

I would recommend, just buying the proper tool from any of the vette parts suppliers....
I bought locking bolts for my top, from Mid America.....gives me a little peace of mind.....
Plenty of people out there to hurt us.....
You know what I mean....
tony

 

[Black94]

Locking roof bolts? I don't recall seeing those in Mid America's catalog. Are they fairly new? How do they work?

On an older note, the Mid America catalog did show a pencil style tire guage as OEM equipment (for the console, I presume). I bought one for my '94 to fill the void. I was disappointed to see the word 'Corvette' on it was nothing more than a clear sticker... looks cheap. I wonder if the original was really the same way.