Setting up convertible top frame

[Mike R.]

Does anyone have a proceedure for setting up a convertible top frame? Do the door windows and all weatherstrips need to be installed first?

[John H.]

Re: Setting up convertible top frame

Does anyone have a proceedure for setting up a convertible top frame? Do the door windows and all weatherstrips need to be installed first?

Mike -

The header and basic frame must be set up first (rags in photos below simulate installed/compressed weatherstrips), then install the weatherstrips and adjust the door glass to match. When that's all done, then you can move on to the pads and the skin. Once the skin is on, it's too late to adjust the header. Photos are of a '58, but the sequence is the same.

[Mike R.]

Re: Setting up convertible top frame

Thanks John. I am trying to decide whether to paint or try to set the top. I think I will paint first.

[Randy R.]

Re: Setting up convertible top frame

If you have a two top car, set the windows to fit the hardtop first.

[Anthony P.]

Re: Setting up convertible top frame

Question on the assembly line for 61 and 62's (maybe other years as well).

For some reason I thought that the complete convertible top assembly including the skin was together, and then installed as a complete unit?

Is that correct? If so, that must have lead to other alignment challenges in alignment and how was it accomplished.

Regards,
Tony

[Donald H.]

Re: Setting up convertible top frame

Mike -

The header and basic frame must be set up first (rags in photos below simulate installed/compressed weatherstrips), then install the weatherstrips and adjust the door glass to match. When that's all done, then you can move on to the pads and the skin. Once the skin is on, it's too late to adjust the header. Photos are of a '58, but the sequence is the same.

John,

I have a 1960 restoration in progress and am a long way from setting up the top, but I do have a question. Randy's comment below suggest setting the window adjustment to the hardtop first. If I do that, is the convertible frame adjustable enough to then fit the window? Your instruction is to do the basic soft top frame set up first then adjust the window to that.

Thanks,
Don

[John H.]

Re: Setting up convertible top frame

John,

I have a 1960 restoration in progress and am a long way from setting up the top, but I do have a question. Randy's comment below suggest setting the window adjustment to the hardtop first. If I do that, is the convertible frame adjustable enough to then fit the window? Your instruction is to do the basic soft top frame set up first then adjust the window to that.

Thanks,
Don

Don -

That's correct - if you have a hardtop, set the window glass to the hardtop first, then install the top frame and adjust it to fit the glass - there's adequate adjustment to do that; that's how the plant did it.

C1 soft tops arrived at St. Louis as a completed assembly, ready to install on the car; they were built by the supplier on a buck that duplicated the Corvette body.

C2 soft tops arrived as an assembly, less the front header and weatherstrips, which were installed at St. Louis.