Convertible Top
Last year I finished my restoration and had a local trim shop put on a new top. When I brought the car to them, I installed the old top and it folded perfectly and the deck lid close with little effort. When I picked up the car, they told me to keep the top up until it stretched, a few weeks. Ive tried to put it down but it won't fit into the cavity so the deck lid can't be closed. I was speaking with another member and he seems to think that the straps were not installed at the right measurements and that is preventing the top from fully articulating. Does any have the spacing measurements between the ribs and bows?
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Re: Convertible Top
Pat
Can you post pictures? Call Clint at Coffman's Corvette (419-522-2246) they do convertible tops really well!
Terry -
Re: Convertible Top
Is the problem happening because the bows are not folding, or is it the outer corners of the header hitting the outer-underside corners of the decklid? Or both? Most tops are a bit tight fitting when dropped in the well, particularly new top installations.
A important step in a ST installation involves a test of lowering the frame in the well BEFORE installing the vinyl. This is done to ensure the mechanism is adjusted properly after the 2 top pads are installed between the header and the #4 bows. Often times, based on variations in the body cockpit and placement of windshield and decklid cumulative inaccuracies, often requires some final frame adjustments to ensure it fits in the well properly. I suspect that your trim shop may not have a test "drop" of the frame before they installed the vinyl rag. I always do a test drop after I set the frame to the side windows and BEFORE the rag goes on. I also do this to check the distance between the header and the decklid latch.
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Which soft top kit did they use? The Al Knoch kit includes a diagram(shown below) of the approximate bow spacing for the top pads. The pads are marked with chalk also.
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Re: Convertible Top
I agree with your assessment of trying to fold the top prior to installing the material. I believe the shop did not do this, as the previous old top went into the well fine. I took some measurements starting from the rear bow to the window = 16.5" and to the next bow 9" and to the last bow before the header is 17". Based on what I could decipher from the diagram, that seem to be the problem. I'm wondering if it's possible to rectify the situation without having to purchase another dated top. I asked for the "Kennedy Cut" from Al Knoch, which I'm told is slightly larger and fits better. No issues with the fit just the function.Comment
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Re: Convertible Top
Pat, Yes those measurements seem quite different from the spec. That sheet I pictured comes with every AK top, so the installer must have missed it. Unfortunate.
The top vinyl would have to be removed from the header and the #4 bow(above window), to remove the pads and install new pads. I would suggest you get new pads from AK and have the installer completely reinstall the top. They cannot reuse the pads as the holes will be ovious on the underside and could weaken them. It's certainly appears to be their error. It is also possible that they misadjusted the frame articulating mounts. If so, it may take some serious trickery to get the existing top to fit properly when reinstalled.
RichComment
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Re: Convertible Top
Pat what is a Kennedy cut top from Al Knoch ?Comment
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Re: Convertible Top
Bob,
I believe it refers to tops made to the specifications of the late John Kennedy of Utah. He was the NCRS National soft top advisor (not sure of the exact title - would have to refer to an old Restorer). John made his own tops and I think Al uses his sizes. Don H.Comment
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