C-1 (62) He says it will stretch!
#1
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C-1 (62) He says it will stretch!
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.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
#2
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St. Jude Donor '15
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....
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jcchevy (03-01-2018)
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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.
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jcchevy (03-01-2018)
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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.
#6
Team Owner
Be very careful of forcing the latch. A member of our club tried to latch it without stretching first and broke the top of the windshield.
#7
Team Owner
I'm not a top expert, but something looks wrong about the center bows. Compare to this pix. Maybe someone who IS an expert can help.
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jcchevy (03-01-2018)
#9
Team Owner
You can break those windshield pillar tabs if they are original trying to latch a too small top. Or pull the header stainless off the glass.
As many of my ex-girlfriends will attest, don’t believe somebody that tells you something will stretch some more.
As many of my ex-girlfriends will attest, don’t believe somebody that tells you something will stretch some more.
#11
Melting Slicks
I have two tops installed and both times I told the installer to leave it loose enough to clamp it down easily.
I think that both of them were deaf!
I am afraid of breaking the windshield on both cars.
Impossible to clamp them down at about 50 degrees .
Question;
Should I loosen the fabric or shoot the installer?
I think that both of them were deaf!
I am afraid of breaking the windshield on both cars.
Impossible to clamp them down at about 50 degrees .
Question;
Should I loosen the fabric or shoot the installer?
#12
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St. Jude Donor '07
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
Bill
#13
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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.
I'm tempted to take a heat gun to it.
Last edited by Pop Chevy; 03-01-2018 at 03:14 PM.
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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.
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#18
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St. Jude Donor '07
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...
my .02
Bill
Last edited by wmf62; 03-01-2018 at 07:59 PM.
#19
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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.
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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.