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In the process of having the top replaced on a project. Checked the shop out prior to selecting it and looked at top replacements on some older cars they’d done (Mustang, Corvair) and they looked great. However here is where we are on the 62. In my discussion with him, he never checked the frame to see if it would latch after the old top was removed, he said he assumed it was ok. I told him before he started that the car has been sitting for years so I don’t know if it will work. Gross miscommunication on my part! I am almost done with the hardtop (lot of work) so I may have to give this a shot. I certainly don’t believe it will stretch as he said it will. I plan to take the top loose from the front header to see if I can get the frame to extend. Also doing lots of research in the service manual on the adjustments.
they do stretch...enough for your top...I dont know. But people say to let it be out in the hot sun (Texas should have plenty of that) and see how much it stretches from that and the degree of difficulty in latching it....
My 1962 is extremely tight and difficult to latch in cool weather . . . and pretty easy when it's been out in the sun for a few hours. So, yes, they do stretch quite a bit. Give it a try before you start moving too much around.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
If I don't get my top up in the late fall, I'm outta luck. It just won't stretch out after that in the cold weather. I think from the look of your top it will stretch after a day in the Texas sun for sure. I've also found that you should always latch the back first, then the front.
depending on the ambient temperature when it was installed, it is going stretch or shrink dependent on the present temp and exposure. did it latch properly when you first got it back?
Bill
Hmm, must be a common problem. I had a new top installed and I can't latch it. I just don't use the darn thing except in emergencies ,then I just latch the front. I'll put my own on next time.
I'm tempted to take a heat gun to it.
Hmm, must be a common problem. I had a new top installed and I can't latch it. I just don't use the darn thing except in emergencies ,then I just latch the front. I'll put my own on next time.
No, its not. I did installed my convertible top myself and can latch it from the inside. Its nice and tight. No pun there.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared))
2019 C1 of Year Finalist (track prepared)
Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon
If I don't get my top up in the late fall, I'm outta luck. It just won't stretch out after that in the cold weather. I think from the look of your top it will stretch after a day in the Texas sun for sure. I've also found that you should always latch the back first, then the front.
Right, latch the back first, but don't cinch down the deck lid clips immediately. Just hook the hoops on the bottom bow to them and leave them loose. Then clip and cinch down the clips that attach to the windshield. Then, assuming you've heated it in the sun, return to the deck lid and push down on the top from the outside while cinching down the clip on that side. Repeat for the other side and you're good.
The pads are slack so maybe it is a sun problem. It won’t be long now in Texas and it will heat it up. I’ll give it another shot then.
give this some thought....
if the pads are slack then the top 'closed' further to the windshield at the time the top was installed; if so, the vinyl has shrunk some and should stretch after sitting in the sun. the pads are fabric and don't stretch or shrink...
if the pads are tight now, then the top was put on wrong...
Yes, what Frankie said. My new Stayfast top pulled the frame away from the glass. I like to have never got that back in again, so now I just latch the front and hook the rear. Someday I’ll get a professional to adjust the top if it can be adjusted out.
Well, here is a thought. Why should we have to let it sit in the sun to stretch? They were intended to be used in any type of weather when you NEED to put it up regardless of the temp. Our tops should still work this way.
03-01-2018, 11:08 AM
C-1 (62) He says it will stretch!
vinyl tops do stretch. are the pads slack too?
