59 soft top adjustment

[Mark Malone]

HIYA Guys,

I am trying to get my soft top correctly adjusted.

The problem I'm having is the sections at the tops of each side window are not straight when the top is up, that is the two pieces that should end up horizontal are not quite locked into place and are forming a shallow "V" instead of being straight and if you try to shut the door with the window up then the frame of the window hits the low part of the "V" instead of slipping under the frame.

I can't seem to work out how the geometry of the frame works thus I don't know how to adjust to suit.

So any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Mark.

[ROB DAME MEM# 36211]

Re: 59 soft top adjustment

Mark, According to the 53-62 ST-12 page 1-29 loosen the two nuts
on the outer most top frame brackets and raise or lower side roof rail
as necessary. Rob

[Christopher R.]

Re: 59 soft top adjustment

Check to see that these pieces are not bent. I've seen lots of C1 tops with this condition.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: 59 soft top adjustment

Hi, Mark. This is a real common C1 top problem. This is one reason I really urge everyone installing a top to get the adjustment right before they install the fabric. Hopefully there is enough slack in your top to get everything right without having to loosen the fabric or do anything radical. First loosen the outer bolts and get the rear corner of the top set top the windows. If you have a hardtop or access to one you can borrow, install it first and be sure the windows/doors are right. Then, to straighten the horizontal part, loosen the inner bolts and move the bars down a little. You may have to also loosen the outer bolts again and reposition the whole top assy. You may also have to make a small adjustment in the front bow. This is made by loosening two screws just aft of the front header. This allows you to move the header fore and aft. After you have moved the rear inner brackets down a bit, test the top. If you go too far down, the top may not latch or may not want to fold completely. I fooled with my frame for two weeks or more with the fabric off, before I got it like I wanted it. Still not perfect, but on a 40+ year old car............

[Mark Malone]

Re: 59 soft top adjustment

Thanks Guys,

I'll have a tinker on the weekend.

Mark.