Care and cleaning a new soft-top (60)

[Greg L.]

I've never owned a soft-top car in my life so what's the best way to clean and take care of the top?

Is it better to store the top up or down?

Thanks

[Mark P.]

Re: Care and cleaning a new soft-top (60)

I was told to store it up or it will shrink and you won't be able to get it to close again. My top was changed 20 years ago in my 1960 and looks new but since it was stored in the down position I can't close it. I would always store it with a a rolled towel tucked into the clear window and would never leave it down more than a few weeks.

[Joe M.]

Re: Care and cleaning a new soft-top (60)

You can use a mild dishwashing soap with a soft bristled brush, then rinse it off. If you are lucky, you can put a tight top out in the sun for half an hour and it will loosen up enough to latch down. I installed my top a little loose (not intentionally) to take into account the shrinking with age.

[Gary B.]

Re: Care and cleaning a new soft-top (60)

To stretch my top I opened the rear hatch, put the top up with the rear hanging, hung some weights from the latch points, and let sit in the heat.

It stretched back to normal.

[Mark P.]

Re: Care and cleaning a new soft-top (60)

Gary - I'll give that a try. Should it be in the sun ?

Mark

[Gary B.]

Re: Care and cleaning a new soft-top (60)

Gary - I'll give that a try. Should it be in the sun ?

Mark

The sun will work. I put mine on the lift near the top of the garage where it was the warmest.

[Steven B.]

Re: Care and cleaning a new soft-top (60)

Greg, all good advice given. I installed the top on my '57 in the summer of 1965. 'Bought it from Chevy Parts. I always wash it when I wash the body with a mild car wash and brush it in circular motions. The window has yellowed some (I polish it with conv. top window polish) and the thread is weak in some areas but very good for 40+ years. If it is too tight I let it set in the sun until it is pliable and I can latch it but storing the top up eliminates the problem.
Steve

[Greg L.]

Re: Care and cleaning a new soft-top (60)

Thanks guys. The top is new so I should be able to keep it looking that way now. It has a few dirt marks on it and some cat prints from some where that I'd like to remove. Is it best to let the top dry on it's own or to towel dry it?

[Joe M.]

Re: Care and cleaning a new soft-top (60)

Drying - your choice, but I would use a chamois to avoid lint. You will still need to let it air dry at the end because you can't get it 100% dry with towel or chamois. Good Luck.

[Joe M.]

Re: Care and cleaning a new soft-top (60)

Greg, when you do store the soft top (short term or long term), be sure to put soft towels or other cloths at the corners of the soft top before you close the hatch; the weatherstrip corners will rub on the underside of the top hatch if you don't.