Hardtop alignment advice
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From: Foxboro Ma
Hardtop alignment advice
I am trying to help a friend and found that when we installed his hardtop the female locations on the panel are not lined up correctly. Is this a common issue ?
This may sound silly but they are off about 1/2 inch to one side and this causes the top not to seat properly. Would it be easy to plug the holes and move all 3 ot just let it go ?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, John
This may sound silly but they are off about 1/2 inch to one side and this causes the top not to seat properly. Would it be easy to plug the holes and move all 3 ot just let it go ?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, John
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What year? Different years have different configurations.
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St. Jude Donor '09
Few years ago I read in the Service Manual (don't recall the section) that the hardtop is to be placed on the car from which the locations for the rear panel side attachements are then determined. Maybe the rear panel top locations where done in the same way (don't have the manual so can't check).
Is this top original to the car?
John
Is this top original to the car?
John
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From: Foxboro Ma
It is a 1957 hardtop on a 1958 car. The top can be put on and attached but when latches are connected and the 3 bolts are put in there is a small gap on the drivers side due to the slight offset. I measured the distance from each side on the cover and there is a little over a 1 inch difference meaning that if both were moved 1/2 inch over then the gap would not be an issue because the rubber seal would sit correctly.
Is this something that should be corrected by plugging the holes and relocating the female sections on the cover?
Thanks for your advice.
John
Is this something that should be corrected by plugging the holes and relocating the female sections on the cover?
Thanks for your advice.
John
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From: Foxboro Ma
John,
I think it is the original top but not 100% sure. When the top is on it looks okay from outside but I am being very picky and want to have it fit correctly if possible. I am sure you understand how it is when you work on one of these cars, you want it to be perfect if possible or why bother doing it...
Thanks, John
I think it is the original top but not 100% sure. When the top is on it looks okay from outside but I am being very picky and want to have it fit correctly if possible. I am sure you understand how it is when you work on one of these cars, you want it to be perfect if possible or why bother doing it...
Thanks, John
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First of all, can you post pictures of this gap difference that you are talking about?
Second, regarding the female latches, are you talking about the 3 threaded fittings on the soft top cover? If so, is that cover with the 3 fittings original to that car?
Next, the 56-60 hard tops have a guide pin on each side right next to the weatherstrip for the door window. This pins fit into a short piece of chrome trim on the body. Does the hardtop have the pins and are these little pieces of chrome trim on the car? ALLLLLLLLLLL 56-60 hardtops have the same attachment configuration. Only the headliner design and some minor exterior stainless trim are slightly different. Thus, THEORETICALLY, 56-60 hardtops are 100% interchangeable as far as attachment to the car is concerned.
The little chrome pieces on the body for the hardtop pins had just a hole in them for 56-early 57. Later in 57 production, the holes were changed to slots to allow for some variation in the fit of the hardtop. These slots continued through 60.
Hope this helps.
Second, regarding the female latches, are you talking about the 3 threaded fittings on the soft top cover? If so, is that cover with the 3 fittings original to that car?
Next, the 56-60 hard tops have a guide pin on each side right next to the weatherstrip for the door window. This pins fit into a short piece of chrome trim on the body. Does the hardtop have the pins and are these little pieces of chrome trim on the car? ALLLLLLLLLLL 56-60 hardtops have the same attachment configuration. Only the headliner design and some minor exterior stainless trim are slightly different. Thus, THEORETICALLY, 56-60 hardtops are 100% interchangeable as far as attachment to the car is concerned.
The little chrome pieces on the body for the hardtop pins had just a hole in them for 56-early 57. Later in 57 production, the holes were changed to slots to allow for some variation in the fit of the hardtop. These slots continued through 60.
Hope this helps.
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St. Jude Donor '07
John
OK.... you say you can install all 3 hold-down bolts (61/62 only has 2 bolts). but, for what it's worth, if you are talking about there being a gap between the rubber seal at the bottom edge of the side windows/rear window 'glass' to the deck lid, from the outermost hold-down bolts around to the door opening; then my 62 hardtop has a gap there also.
otherwise i'm having a hard time picturing what you're describing.
Bill
OK.... you say you can install all 3 hold-down bolts (61/62 only has 2 bolts). but, for what it's worth, if you are talking about there being a gap between the rubber seal at the bottom edge of the side windows/rear window 'glass' to the deck lid, from the outermost hold-down bolts around to the door opening; then my 62 hardtop has a gap there also.
otherwise i'm having a hard time picturing what you're describing.
Bill
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From: Foxboro Ma
Thank you all for the responses it has been helpful. I am sorry I did not take pictures to show and help me explain. I think I have a better understanding now and can help.
Best regards, John
Best regards, John
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From: Foxboro Ma
Is there a place where I can possibly find a template of where the 3 holes for the hardtop should be located on the cover ?
I would guess that the factory most have had something they followed ?
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Thanks, John
I would guess that the factory most have had something they followed ?
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Thanks, John
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If I correctly understand the gap that you are describing, it sounds typical. My 56 has this gap also (assuming we're talking about the same thing).
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From: Foxboro Ma
DZAUTO,
We probably are talking about the same thing. Like I mentioned, the gap is not awful but it is a small gap that if the holes were located another 1/2 to 3/4 inch to the passenger side of the car the gap may not be present. You can see light under the drivers side where it bolts down and the gap is about 1/4 to 3/8...
Thanks, John
We probably are talking about the same thing. Like I mentioned, the gap is not awful but it is a small gap that if the holes were located another 1/2 to 3/4 inch to the passenger side of the car the gap may not be present. You can see light under the drivers side where it bolts down and the gap is about 1/4 to 3/8...
Thanks, John
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Melting Slicks
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From: Portlandia Oregon
Originally Posted by DZAUTO
If I correctly understand the gap that you are describing, it sounds typical.
My last 1957 was the same. It was a factory hardtop only car and the top fit was less than perfect. post some photos so we get a better idea.
oWEN