Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

[Jack P.]

Oh No !

Mid afternoon, I could not wait any longer. So I drove to Speeds.

What did I see............

My car done!



That is the good news !

The bad news !

No Speed.......... no one at the shop

No phone call ,,,,, Oh my God .... what if he died.........

In.........out......in..........out............................

[Jack P.]

I called Speed

Wednesday 11:am


Waiting no longer, I dial the number. Speed's helper answered the phone.

" Hello , Hello, " I said, " is Speed in ?"

helper on other end of line

" Speed are you in ? "

background voice " Yea "

I tell the helper who I am and ask him if my car is done .

helper on end of line " Speed, guy with corvette, wants to know if the car is done " " what should I tell him ? "

voice in background " Its done " " has been done for two days"

You can imagine my thoughts as I listen to this conversation......

So, the car is done, it was done, no call, I did not call and......

There is ice on the roads. Nice and sunny for the last few days ......

I asked him what time they close and told them I would be over to get the car.

If I don't crash going over to Speeds in my winter car, and If I don't crash driving the corvette home....

You will see pictures..........I hope

Jack

[Jack P.]

Frame question ?

Jack thanks for the information and the photos they have been very helpfull. I have just rebuilt the frame on my 66 and wonder if there is a good write up on getting the frame aligned prior to putting the new top on. :cheers:

Hi,

What I did was to put all the trim pieces back on before I dropped the car off.

I put the frame back on the car, and did a general setting of the pins, frame bolts and latches.

The top must go on the frame and the alignment is done as you go . That is where experience comes into play. How to set the front folds, the back straps , all must be pushed and pulled, tacks set into the tack board, (don't use the fiber board, just makes rust) use the replacement vinyl tack strip, and at the same time , working the frame bolts , front, up, down or side ways.

Also the back pins can be adjusted to go directly into the deck latch hole. The front latches also. I have a third latch in the middle that completely eliminates any leaks in the mid front bow area. All corvettes 68 and on had the third latch. I have a post on it and many who have done the latch report back , that after years and years of dripps, gone..........

GM just did not want to spend the money at the time to fix the problem.

Jack









So, I would not spend a lot of time on alignment, before the actual installation of the top.

These photos are before restoration. I will have the after photos later today, I used a latch without the hole you see, for a safety button.

[Lyndon S.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

I really like the post that you did on your top restoration. I was curious about you and your car after reading it. Did you buy your car new? Is your car a daily driver? If it is I think that is so neat. Just was wondering about how long you have had it an how you drive it.

[Jack P.]

Car comes home

Waiting no longer, I dial the number. Speed's helper answered the phone.

" Hello , Hello, " I said, " is Speed in ?"

helper on other end of line

" Speed are you in ? "

background voice " Yea "

I tell the helper who I am and ask him if my car is done .

helper on end of line " Speed, guy with corvette, wants to know if the car is done " " what should I tell him ? "

voice in background " Its done " " has been done for two days"

You can imagine my thoughts as I listen to this conversation......

So, the car is done, it was done, no call, I did not call and......

There is ice on the roads. Nice and sunny for the last few days ......

I asked him what time they close and told them I would be over to get the car.

If I don't crash going over to Speeds in my winter car, and If I don't crash driving the corvette home....

You will see pictures..........I hope

Jack[/QUOTE]


I just got to Speeds, car off the road, sirens blaring, but did that stop me.......No

Meet Speed



Car ride home



Home at last in garage









Third Latch for no leaks in rain at 100 mph



Top looks great, sounds great inside, looks great inside.

Worth the wait. Any good Staysoft top will be so much better than vinyl, if you are looking for a rich soft look as well as durability

Jack

[Jack P.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

I really like the post that you did on your top restoration. I was curious about you and your car after reading it. Did you buy your car new? Is your car a daily driver? If it is I think that is so neat. Just was wondering about how long you have had it an how you drive it.

Hi Lyndon,

I have owned my car for almost 42 years. It was a daily driver for me for about 15 years and a daily driver for the rest when it was not snowing hard.

I have put more than 250,000 miles on the car, it is a original engine drive train car, with a few rebuilds and paints jobs, and interiors.

I have kept it stock except where safety and reliablity of replacement parts makes sense.

Here is the link for my 48 state trip that I took in the summer of 2010
20,000 miles in 90 days , staying with forum members or camp grounds every night.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?t=79970

I have done quite a few how to posts, most of my learning coming from this forum, and I like to return the favor.

You can check out my other posts with a post search.

Enjoy and drive your car.. More years behind you than in front

Jack