kenmo

My Corvette does not have a soft top however I do have an hard top...
As far as I know my Corvette when it left the assembly line in 1960 never had a soft top...

The problem I have is during the summer it is very difficult to find someone to give me a hand to lift off the top. I always park the car in my garage with the hard top on as I did catch a mouse or two in my garage...

I did get a list of all the parts from CC that I require.

Has anyone installed a soft top into a C1 that never had one prior? Is it something one can do in their garage or would it require the assistance of a pro?

Thanks kindly...

jimh_1962

You could have a hardtop only car. If so then you will need some more parts.. I think you need the rear long brace which goes across inside the gas tank area behind the seat area. I think, the braces attach to the back brace. I think...

My advice is to find a good used frame top to restore.

jimh_1962

You can install the frame and the brackets yourself. I would have a professional do the soft top installation thats just me.

Frankie the Fink

Crane Corvettes offers an "all inclusive" conversion kit to make a hardtop car into a two top (with soft top) car for about $3,600. I don't know what their version of 'all inclusive' is but might be worth a phone call to find out. It might be an easier road than trying to collect, refurbish, adjust and install a bunch of odds and ends:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/56-60-Corvet...a06e26&vxp=mtr

kenmo

Do you have a photo or image of that brace?

Thanks kindly for the replies....

Vet65te

Ken - My 61 used to have both tops but the previous owner sold off the soft top since he liked to race a lot and only needed the hardtop.
If your 60 has the soft top latches still sitting on the deck lid, very good chance it came with a soft top from the factory. In addition to the deck lid latches, there are a number of brackets that you'd need to attach to the bulkhead behind the seats but they can be found used and the aftermarket makes them as well, as you already found out.
Before you make a decision as to whether you're going to buy new or refurbish a used soft top setup, you might want to check out your local upholstery shops and get a price from them. Along with getting a price estimate, make sure to ask about their experience with convertible tops. Most of their day to day work is probably seat covers and carpets and door panels but they may not have a lot of experience with soft tops. Doesn't hurt to ask. Around here, the labor cost to install a soft top was over a grand and since I didn't have a soft top frame to start with I wound up going with a Coffman Top. Turned out great, it's all new and the soft top is already installed since they have a buck in their shop. Not an inexpensive proposition to be sure but when I added up all the other costs it was worth it in the end.

Mike T.

steampunk c1

Zip do a kit for about 2800 $ but you may need mounting brackets that fit behind seats I fitted mine on a 59 . Very tricky job do not ever wont to do again.

Frankie the Fink

Two other points:
1) You can always invest in that $24 Corvette Central manual hoist to get your hard top on and off (its what I have), and,
2) A hard top (or a soft top) is NOT going to keep mice out of your car. When my '61 was delivered I had a mouse nest beside the gas tank that was two double handfuls of insulation, fur and other nastiness. The little beasties can climb right up into the car through the two large round vent holes under the gas tank.

Oh, and GlassWorks makes a motorized, remote control hard top lift that is slick but expensive $800 ?? IIRC...they demo'ed at the NCRS meet down here using a forum member's car last year.

kenmo

Mine doesn't have the rear deck latches...

Thanks kindly...

jimh_1962

I do not... It is goes the length from the inside of the seats and is about 2 inches wide. It is slightly wider on the ends where the pie brackets connect.

I guess you could make one out of a thick peice of steel if you are not concerned with correctness. Just would need to measure the pie pans drill holes to make it line up. Then weld nuts to the bracket to mount the pie pans. Probably not a reproduced part.


Kind of see bracket:
[IMG][/IMG]


Pie bracket connects:
[IMG][/IMG]

jimh_1962

See if you have holes drilled where the pans connect. Then you would know for sure.

1snake

I believe they all have that brace regardless of top configuration. My hardtop only 1960 has it.

Jim

jimh_1962

Like I said I am not sure... Better to check it is there.

kenmo

I believe CC part 541125 are the support part....

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....50e~Z5Z5Z5PD1E

Cheers

wmf62

i believe, as stated, you can get a new top assembly, complete with top installed on the frame, from Coffman; have you checked with them on a price?

what is the total price of the CC top assembly?
Bill

Redbird

Back in 68/69, I just squatted on the seats and lifted straight up by myself. It only weighs about 65 lbs. Now, I have the inexpensive (cheap) lift fro CC and it works just fine. If you never drive in the rain, you are wasting your money to buy a soft top. You need to keep it up all the time when storing, to limit shrinkage. IMHO.

jimh_1962

Nope not the long brace. Those are the pie braces. Like I said I would see if your car had the inside brace by looking at the holes behind the seat where the pie pieces connect at the top part. You can put a bolt or something in there and see if there are threads. If so then you know you have the brace.

wmf62

like this...
Bill

kenmo

No.. I haven't check with Coffman's but I certainly will...

CC's total price is approx $3410.00

Cheers

1snake

The A.I.M shows that brace as #3725410 Center Partition Panel Reinf. Assy. It is riveted to the center partition and also has the weldnuts for the front row of gas tank cover screws. It was installed on all cars.

Jim