59 Hardtop fit to car problems (with pics) what's wrong??

[Joe M.]

Re: 59 Hardtop fit to car problems (with pics) what's wrong??

Bruce, I filled the underside of the stud area with Bondo; thinking more was better; not the case. The amount of filling is limited by the length of the vertical stud (on the slotted receivers). I had to take my Dremel tool and grind away the Bondo until there was room to install the nut on the bottom of the stud. You might remove the receivers on both sides and see if that is what is causing the alignment problem.

My side windows don't fit well into the new horizontal weatherstrip unless I roll the window down about 1/2". The window frame hits the rear 1/2" of the w/s.

[Gerry P.]

Re: 59 Hardtop fit to car problems (with pics) what's wrong??

Bruce - here is a picture of the bolt stock (cut from an 18" length), which I made into a stud for screwing into the deck lid. Next to it is a correct hardtop bolt. I've also attached a picture of the stud (and nut) being used to hold down the hardtop. I find it so much easier to get the bracket onto the stud rather than trying to jockey the top and get the bolt started at the same time. I usually only need to do this on one side or the other as I can usually get the back bolt and one of the side bolts in with using the stud. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Gerry
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[John H.]

Re: 59 Hardtop fit to car problems (with pics) what's wrong??

I plan on putting the hard top on first and make what ever adjustments are necessary to get proper fit. When I'm satisfied that I have the best fit possible I will remove the hardtop and fit the convertible frame to the windows. I will then install the convertible cover.

Stephen -

That's exactly how it was done in the plant; the C1 hardtops were painted and fully-assembled on a fixture by an outside supplier, and delivered ready for installation on the Trim Line. The glass was adjusted to fit the hardtop seals, and the hardtop was removed (and re-installed much later, prior to shipping). When the soft top was installed on the Final Line after Body Drop, it was adjusted to fit the glass. The car went through Water Test with the soft top, then the soft top was stowed, the hardtop re-installed, the car was water-tested again, and shipped.