68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

[Paul L.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

Paul, heads up! I restored my hard top last winter and spent WAY too much doing it. Isn't that how all this works though?

Look closely at the weather stripping. Also, look at the glass, the window bright work, the clamps' chrome and the headliner. The weatherstripping is very expensive to replace and if the headliner has any flaws, you'll spend there too. I went way over budget, but I'm over it now and I have a perfect looking (body colored) hard top that I think gives the car a great and different look.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]42317[/ATTACH]

Don,

That car looks fabulous! So very nice. And yes many of my Corvette projects tend to creep upward as well. That's the nature of the beast.

I have made an offer for the hardtop - rejected - and now have made a counter-offer. We shall see. If things come out at the far end I may consider paint as you did. I do like the black vinyl but body colour looks pretty spiffy as well! You obviously found someone to remove the back window and various SS trim pieces. Is that a typical bodyshop job? Are we into buying new clips or whatever for the job?

[Don L.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

I contracted the paint work and yes, the painter removed the stainless trim and gave it to me to bang/smooth out a few dimples and polish it up to look as new. I took my parts back to the painter when I was finished and he re-attached it all without having to replace any clips. Maybe I was lucky?

[Paul L.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

I contracted the paint work and yes, the painter removed the stainless trim and gave it to me to bang/smooth out a few dimples and polish it up to look as new. I took my parts back to the painter when I was finished and he re-attached it all without having to replace any clips. Maybe I was lucky?

We shall see on the SS parts. But I will leave it to the body shop pros. The seller and I agreed today on a price today delivered to my house in a week or so. I am very happy. So....I have a winter project!! When it is -20* outside I will be fooling with a C3 hardtop in the heated basement (my garage is not heated). Actually sounds like fun. I look forward to it.

So the next question is whether you bolt those tops down securely with OEM studs/washers/nuts or use convertible snap-in plugs? The latter seems more convenient but even with a soft-top they can pop up although I have mine adjusted pretty well. I am leaning towards a pretty secure stud configuration. A bit of a pain to install but things don't fly backward.

If the membership thinks I am being too careful with an old C3 rubber bumper car, yes I am. I like it.

[Don L.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

I've read how others have substituted soft top pins for the hard top bolts. Maybe it's just me, but I think they used different hardware due to real need.

I use the bolts/retainers/nuts when securing mine. I do, however, get a helper and raise the deck witht he top sitting on it to gain easy access tot he retainers and nuts. I secure approx 1 turn more than finger tight then lower the deck and fasten the rest of the hardware. You must have a helper to do this or you risk having the top fall out of the deck's bezels and making one BIG MESS of the deck's paint.

[Paul L.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

I don't think that I would have the nerve to do that. I would rather peek underneath the deck when down and do the fasteners.

[Paul L.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

OK, I bought it. Here it is. Colors are all wrong but the top is in nice condition. Dye and paint will make things right.

[Paul L.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

So what is the 2 letter date code on the glass?

I can't get a pic that shows the codes. They are:
AS-2
YL
DOT 15 M72

Does that have meaning?

[Terry M.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

I can't get a pic that shows the codes. They are:
AS-2
YL
DOT 15 M72

Does that have meaning?

AS-2 = the American Standard specification rating for type and clarity for side door/vent and coupe rear glass
Y = October
L = 1974

Above is according to the 1968-1982 NCRS Corvette Specification Guide

The last line is the Department of Transportation specification. I believe you can find information on that using an on-line search engine.

[Paul L.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

AS-2 = the American Standard specification rating for type and clarity for side door/vent and coupe rear glass
Y = October
L = 1974

Above is according to the 1968-1982 NCRS Corvette Specification Guide

The last line is the Department of Transportation specification. I believe you can find information on that using an on-line search engine.

Thank you Terry. Much appreciated. So it was for a 1975 model year rather than a 1974. But I can live with that.

I still fear the glass being broken when the SS trim comes off to put on a black vinyl cover. But I hope there are some greyhairs left who have the tools and knowledge to do that!

[Paul L.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

No comments on removing that rear window SS trim?

[Paul L.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

The bright work and weatherstripping looks fine. The conversion to black vinyl is a little pricey but I'm "close" to my budget estimate so far. But heck, I have always wanted a hardtop for some bizarre reason and now I have one. With a little luck I will be cruising next May with that top on. Then for June it is back to the Haartz soft top. I have storage plans for it on the garage wall. I'll have to move the Wife's garden tools but that is OK....for me.

FWIW, it is now now dyed in satin black. That took nicely but the pic shows a little more gloss than it really is. So I am making progress. If various parts come in soon I will have a Christmas present for myself. Then I can stare at it until the Canadian spring arrives. BTW, 18*F here tonight.

(thumbnail)

[Paul L.]

Re: 68E vs 68L-75 Convertible Hardtop

The job is almost done in time for Christmas. The installer did a fine job. I will put the new rear CRC weatherstrip and headliner pieces on and wait for April to arrive.

[thumbs]