68-75 hardtop thoughts

[Robert M.]

Out of shear boredom tonight, I found myself navigating another board, where the knowledge base is not a good as here. Oh, alright, the knowledge base over there is very shallow. There is currently a discussion going on about securing a hardtop to a 68-75, and many bad "absolute truths". If you have a 1968 AIM, and can scan it, that may help.

I gave up, as those guys are way too smart for me.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1565891588

[Joe L.]

Re: 68-75 hardtop thoughts

Out of shear boredom tonight, I found myself navigating another board, where the knowledge base is not a good as here. Oh, alright, the knowledge base over there is very shallow. There is currently a discussion going on about securing a hardtop to a 68-75, and many bad "absolute truths". If you have a 1968 AIM, and can scan it, that may help.

I gave up, as those guys are way too smart for me.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1565891588

Bob-----

1969-75 Corvette hardtops were secured to the car as follows:

1) 3 header locks similar to those used on soft tops;

2) horizontal bolts securing hardtop mounted brackets located just rear of the side window opening on each side. The bolts thread into inserts on either side of the forward portion of the deck lid;

3) studs with special washers and nuts. The studs thread into receivers on the rear bow of the hardtop and pass vertically through the soft top locks on either side of the deck lid. The studs are secured by special washers and hex nuts installed on the underside of the deck lid.

Supposedly, beginning sometime in 1969 an additional attaching point was added in the center of the rear bow. This involved a hard-top-mounted bracket, a bolt that passed through it and secured with a nut from below. However, my original owner, September, 1969 built car did not have this center attaching point. So, if this attachment was added during 1969, it happened between the time my car was built and December 31, 1969 when 1969 production ended. I have seen this center attachment point on 1970-75 models, though.

1968 was the same as 1969-75 except:

1) For earlier cars, I believe that bolts were used instead of the 2 rear studs. The bolts passed UP through convertible lock bodies and threaded into the receivers on the rear bow of the hard top. Later 68's used the studs just like 1969-75;

2) No center rear attachment point was used for any 1968.

[Robert M.]

Re: 68-75 hardtop thoughts

Joe,
I agree with your statement, having a correct 70 hardtop, and having had a 68 hardtop at one time. I tried to make the similiar argument over there, even posting the AIM drawings, and I still failed to convince some.

I shall refrain from playing at that place, as my head is sore from banging it against the wall.

[John C.]

Re: 68-75 hardtop thoughts

Bob and Joe

For early 68's the hard top hold down at the rear was different. My April built car uses the same studs as the soft top to hold down the hard top at the rear. This is required because the early 68 latches are different. They have a single pivot pin on the lock mechanism that passes completely across the bottom of the latch. This prevents a bolt or stud to pass through the latch. Latter cars have a split pivot pin on the latch to allow the stud to pass through and be held down by the washer and nut from below.

I don't know when the switch to the second style latch was made but my copy of the 68 AIM does show a part number change for the latch sometime during the model year.

John

[Jack H.]

Re: 68-75 hardtop thoughts

Zora always struggle trying to find way(s) to make the hardtop install the same as the soft top using common attaching hardware. In '68-69E, he 'thought' the problem was licked, but apparently owners complained of 'thumping' noise when the HT was installed and the car was driven over rough roads.

Soooo, the rear bow was re-designed to add a center point hold down to prevent the HT from flexing relative to the deck lid... This returned us to the earlier days where there were 'extra' hole(s) in the rear deck lid to accommodate HT equipped cars.