Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

[Bill T.]

I saw these guys at NCRS Kissimmee and wonder if anyone has had their top redone by Coffman. Is it the fit we're all looking for?

https://www.coffmancorvette.com

[David D.]

Re: Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

I have a Coffman top and would say that it could not look any better. However, I elected to use my original top and am a little comcerned about ultimate fit. Even though GM may have assembled the top off the car, I believe it is difficult to 'jig' the assembly and get it right on the money. I would recommend fitting the top frame assembly and installing the canvas on the car.

[Bill T.]

Re: Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

I have torqued and twisted. The top with .46 spacers installed will not line up to the windshield or the side windows. The frame sags down at the joint in the center of the side windows and that prevents the front header from sealing. Can this thing be torqued on the car to make it acceptable?
I don't expect to be dry if I get caught in a storm but this is rediculous...

[Ernie F.]

Re: Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

Edited: Probably better that I only say. . .I use Sully’s frames when I can’t find an original one!

[Bill T.]

Re: Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

This is an original frame. The problem is that it doesn't fit and I'm convinced that some of the frame members are bent out of shape. My hope is that Coffman can re-shape it so that it can be adjusted to the car...

[Jim L.]

Re: Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

This is an original frame. The problem is that it doesn't fit and I'm convinced that some of the frame members are bent out of shape. My hope is that Coffman can re-shape it so that it can be adjusted to the car...

I'll be less delicate than other have been:

Like so many other C1 frames, the soft top frame of my '60 in the area over the tops of the door windows was just wonky. I sent it to Coffman to be fixed.

When it came back, it was purdy and shiny and black. But NOTHING about the way it fit had changed at all.

So, is my car just "out of plumb", perhaps? Well, for grins I bolted on an unrestored, unmolested '61 softtop. Know what? It fit perfectly (yes, I know, except for that little whoop-de-do at the center of the rear bow).

My conclusion was that the expense of having Coffman straighten my car's soft top frame was not money well spent.

Jim

[Dave S.]

Re: Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

I'll be less delicate than other have been:

Like so many other C1 frames, the soft top frame of my '60 in the area over the tops of the door windows was just wonky. I sent it to Coffman to be fixed.

When it came back, it was purdy and shiny and black. But NOTHING about the way it fit had changed at all.

So, is my car just "out of plumb", perhaps? Well, for grins I bolted on an unrestored, unmolested '61 softtop. Know what? It fit perfectly (yes, I know, except for that little whoop-de-do at the center of the rear bow).

My conclusion was that the expense of having Coffman straighten my car's soft top frame was not money well spent.

Jim

Joe Calcagno did a restorer article years ago about how to address and fix this problem. It should show up in the archives as this topic has been discussed before on the DB. If you can't find it there then the CD or other documents can assist you in finding it.

[Bill T.]

Re: Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

Joe Calcagno did a restorer article years ago about how to address and fix this problem. It should show up in the archives as this topic has been discussed before on the DB. If you can't find it there then the CD or other documents can assist you in finding it.

Spent some time this morning searching the archives with no luck. I have binders full of restorer articles but no way to search them other than a page at a time. If anyone could help locate this article, I'd be greatly appreciative...

[Jim L.]

Re: Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

Joe Calcagno did a restorer article years ago about how to address and fix this problem. It should show up in the archives as this topic has been discussed before on the DB. If you can't find it there then the CD or other documents can assist you in finding it.

Thanks but I'm good. That '61 soft top? It fit so well, I just left it on. And NO ONE notices the whoop-de-do in the rear bow unless I point it out.

Some one else, an heir perhaps, can figure out why my car's original top frame doesn't fit.

Jim

[Wayne W.]

Re: Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

Grabbing the header bow and yanking it up out of the well bends the side rail above the window. Doing this over the years and stiff frames have made this a common problem. Actually the fix is easy. Just remove the side bracket and straighten it out, but keeping it that way takes some care in raising the top up. The design is very weak in that area.

[Bill T.]

Re: Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

I got this note today from Joe. Where can I get the article he mentions? I have three binders of Restorer articles but they only deal with 63 -67.

Dear Bill,

Sincerely,
Joe Calcagno, RARE Corvettes

[Steven B.]

Re: Anyone have a Coffman remanufactured Convertible top?

Bill:

I used Coffman to strip, paint and install the cloth weatherstripping on my original frame (I had someone else do the canvas). Obviously, Coffman didn't check whether the frame was straight because when I got it, the rear bow was 1" away from the rear deck. The frame was sent back to them and lo and behold, they told me the bow was bent which "must have happened during shipping back to me!" In any event, they fixed the bow (no charge) and it now fits beautifully.

Good job, didn't pay attention to make sure the bows were all straight and finished about 2 months later than promised, but overall, I'm finally happy with the result.