HouTex1964Vert

The car I just bought was sold as a Hard Top only car. I am wanting to install a convertible top frame and top. Has anyone ever done this. Is it as easy as it seems to convert? If anyone has a frame for sale, let me know.

JohnZ

You'll also need the outer partition panel reinforcements ("pie plates") the top frame attaches to; hardtop-only cars didn't get them, and you need them to install the top frame.

Kopp

Did you get An answer? I am looking to do the same thing to my car and am also in Houston?

3310vette

I recommend that you look for someone that has 1958-1960 with soft top and examine the areas where the reinforcement plates are installed so you have an idea of what you would be dealing with.

Mark Nevill

Take a look in the assembly manual if you have one. It will show all the brackets you need to mount a soft top. Or maybe Corvette Centrals website. They have the diagrams sometimes with the parts. Cheers

rich5962

Kopp, May be best next time to start a new thread, but since you've reopened this old one, here are a few photos of what JohnZ mentioned.

I just did this recently on a '59 that was originally hard top only. The car was bought in 1964 with 2 tops, but the present owner was never aware it was HT only until I pointed out some clues. It was missing the "pieplates" and had a very rough cut decklid for the latches. Someone in the past installed a soft top, but didn't install all of the necessary supports.

The large "pieplates" are available in reproduction, as are all brackets and complete frame. You have to remove the seatbelt brackets on the floor, then install the pieplates, then reinstall the brackets.

You may have to open the mount holes in the fiberglass for the upper brackets. Behind them are threaded captive nuts in the horizontal reinforcement, which runs from left to right behind the seats. Note those are all 3/8 SAE fine thread. Recommend you clean the threads in them but be careful near the inners as the gas tank is close to them.

Also note the upper outer brackets have a hole for a 1/4-20 bolt to attach to the body, but since yours was Hardtop only, it will not have a bonded in Tee-nut to attach. You just leave that bolt out on each side.

Bushpilot

I just did this too, you will need to cut the holes in your deck lid for the latches. Someone on this forum gave me the template to it it.

Ken Sungela

I recently bought a '59 with a soft top. No hardtop was included, but how do I tell if the car is setup to accept a hardtop also?