Hall1836

Recently purchased a 1962 and removed the hard top, looking to put it back on. Is there a preferred order for bolting it down?

mcb55-210

The method I use is to have one person on each side (I'm only 5'9", and don't have enough courage to try this alone), set it in place, finger-tight the four bolts, fasten the front clamps, then snug the four bolts.

I'm not sure if there is a correct way, but the method I use works for me.

Mike

chevahaulic

I always put the bolts in the holes, flipped the windshield clamps, and drove away. If you have a question about the ignition key, ... it only goes in one way.

fyreline

Just mounted mine on the '62 on Friday. One guy on each side, carefully lower it on, rear first. Get the deck lid bolts in place finger-tight, then the side bolts. Finesse the windshield header pins into their slots and secure both front latches. Now tighten the four bolts with your gen-you-wine GM-issue Corvette Hardtop Bolt Wrench (you DO have one of these, don't you?) and you're good to go. Took me a total of 12 minutes. Enjoy!

FFBillysCor

I find the best way to do it is to first lay a blanket on the car, and arrange it so it does not interfere with the rear bolts pointing down from the hardtop. Even with a helper it is easy to scratch your paint, and the blanket can be slid out after the top is in place. Slightly snug up the rear nut-bolts first and then connect the front latches last. Hope this helps...Best...

Frankie the Fink

Most folks never look but the windshield header receiver bracket for the top pins (hard or soft top) are a hole on the DS and a SLOT on the PS. Look down from the top and you'll see this - so, always latch the DS first and the PS pin will index automatically to a proper position. Finally, you only need to tighten those rear bolts enough for the weather strip to seal...there is no need to crank down on them to the point you crush the rubber to death.

desertpilgrim

No.

65GGvert

The correct order is to put the top on the car first, then bolt it down. If you put the bolts in first, it's harder to get on the car.

(Sorry, just my weird sense of humor)

kenba

Now that there's funny

tuxnharley

On my '67 - after getting it carefully and properly positioned with 2 people - I find it best to leave everything else loose until I can get the side bolts inserted and started. It's a b*tch to get them to line up if other things are tightened first.

Then I do the front latches and last the rear bolts. I agree with the previous comment about tightening them just enough to close the gap between the weather stripping and the rear deck.

Lastly you might want to consider getting one of the clear plastic protectors for the rear deck, especially if this is your first install after a new paint job!