Happy Easter all. I ordered a new soft top for my '61 and had a local upholstery shop install it. The results are mixed. I was worried that they might not make the top tight enough and, of course, it's now too tight. It's VERY difficult to snap the latches once it's up and equally difficult to get the top's mechanism that spans the door openings to straighten out. The installer has promised that he can loosen it up it up a bit but says that first we need a missing a part on the forward edge of the top. I have gone through the assembly manual looking for a missing part but don't see anything. I'm hoping that by posting some pictures of the top that someone in the Forum can identify the missing part(s?) if any. Thanks as always for everyone's help.

 

I would loosen it up. Be very careful with the top being too tight you can cause damage to the windshield frame.

 

From your pictures I don't see anything missing, you have the 1 latch asm, 2 latch adjuster plate, 3 pin.
I would ask your installer what and / or where he thinks something is missing.

With the adjustment mounts behind the seats you might be able to loosen it a up?

 

The front header bow weatherstripping is on backwards. When that is repaired, the top is going to be even tighter. I’d find another installer if I were you. As mentioned previously in this thread, damage will occur to your windshield posts and frame if it’s not installed correctly. I don’t see anything missing.

 

I am by no means well versed on convertible tops,however I must agree with Mr Coletta. The top on my 61 reflects all of the parts yours does and I agree the weatherstrip is on backwards. Hope this helps, I can post some photos tomorrow if you feel that would help.

Drive em safe
Leo

 

The only way they can loosen the fit is to pull all of the staples from the header and bring the top material back and re-staple. But to do that it may mean you'll see the old staple holes. It appears to be a Sta-fast top so it may not be as obvious, but no way to know until it's done.

Hard to see, but besides the header w/strip on backwards, it appears to be missing the long steel header w/strip retainer. Why didn't they ask you for that before they did the job?

It's full width on 59-62. Zip CT-62 (note they fold it for smaller shipping container) 56-58 used a 2 piece design, one on each side of center. Zip CT-368
(60 below)



Also notice your rear window side straps, where they attach to the #4 bow on yours.(white circles) They're installed wrong, in fact they're off differently on each side. There's a recess in the #4 bow on each side where they should be stapled. Appears you're missing the lower corner w/strips too.(red circle)


Here's where they get stapled. A '59 shown but same 56-62. The recess is also where the edges of the top pads fit.


A 60 for reference.


Corner w/strips.(61-62) Zip WS-344

 

Everything that Rich said is 'SPOT ON". I missed the rear straps in your original post. It's pretty obvious that your guys don't have a clue what they are doing. I can't even imagine what the pad alignment looks like. The sagging center (over the side glass), is a top frame adjustment that is done PRIOR to the pads being installed. Get your car away from these guys. They CAN'T fix it.

 

Mike, I missed his comment about the side-glass frame sagging. Now I'm wondering if they couldn't fold the top into the well and moved the arms to get it to fold down. My bet is they've never done a C1 top before. Sad to see the owner dissatisfied with the work done here.

I'd also like to see a few external photos of the top raised and latched and the side-glass areas too.

 

Rich, that's probably right. It's hard to imagine that you could get that many things wrong, and even get the top to work. The OP disappeared. I guess we'll never know. So goes.....helping on the CF.!!

 

I can only imagine that he has gone back to the "Circus Garage" where he had this attempted! I actually feel pretty bad for him! One of the advantages of owning a Coupe!

 

Sorry all for my slow response. I feel a bit foolish having us used these guys in the first place. I had purchased Al Knoch’s video on how to install a top on a C1. I asked these guys to watch the video all the way through and then decide if they were qualified to do the installation. The next thing I knew, they were busy doingo the install. I’m sure they never watched it. I think you’re right, I just need to pull the current top off and start again with an experienced installer. I plan on speaking with Knoch and see if they know anyone in Southern California that’s qualified. If anyone knows of someone, please let me know.

 

Wow what a mess. Unfortunately is very difficult to find people responsible and with the knowledge to repair refurbish our cars. That is why I do all the work myself with very few exceptions. That goes not only with cars but with everything else. When I bought my car it took me two years to refurbish it. I did it myself with help from of my friend. This included the fuel injection unit, which I did a complete refurbish ( J. Lockwood was my mentor on this one).

I did not have to change the soft top but I replaced all the weather strips. I had a lot of help from this forum and it came out great. DZvette (Dave Zuberer) help me on this one. His help was phenomenal. Next I tackled the hard top which with the exception of the paint I replaced everything. I even had to repair the frame. It took me three months but I did it and it came out perfect. I watched the Glassworks videos a hundred times.
My advice to you is to watch the Knoch tapes yourself and become an expert on this job. Then you can go to a shop and know if they know how to do it. also if they are good and listen you can guide them on what to do. That is what I do with anything I am going to subcontract. I become and expert and guide the people that I hire and also I am able to discern if they can do it.
You would have pick immediately on the errors the fellow members are pointing out above, the weather-strip and others.
If that happened to me I think I would give it a shot of doing it myself. You can get help in this forum and members will hold your hand on every step of the way. At the end there is an immense satisfaction that you did it yourself.

 

I'm sorry that this happened to you, but frankly, it happens to a lot of guys, especially these days. It's getting very hard to find qualified technicians to work on these old things, especially the "finer" crafts like upholstery, tops, glass, and paint. Take a deep breath, and move on to the replacement. Unless I'm missing something, I doubt that that can be fixed. You really want to make sure that the installer is versed in C1 Corvette tops. All adjustments should be made to the frame first. The top pads and straps get installed next. Then the test to make sure that the top opens/closes smoothly, that the pads are tight when the top is up, and the side rails are straight, just as soon as the header is dropped on to the windshield. Latches should be firm to latch, and there should be NO PULLBACK on the windshield header when the front latches are pulled down. AFTER all of that is done, THEN you install the top. Good luck.

 

Sadly, you're not alone. Lesson learned. Many folks here went through similar problems. I feel bad you're unhappy about this. Actually I get a bit angry thinking about it.

If you're doing it over, take a look through these pdf's so you're better prepared next time. Part 1 is the frame, Part 2 covers frame install & adjustments and material installation. Stafast material same principle except steaming wrinkles is not applicable as it is for vinyl. It covers all 56-62's.

Rich

 

Rich5962 (and everyone else on the Forum that spent time sorting out my mess)-

I've seen the light! Time to try installing the new top myself. Rich5962, your detailed attachments on installing a top are incredible! Thank you so much to going to all that trouble. I've got a good friend that is a sail maker who I hope to bring into the installation process. I had purchased my prior top from Tops Online. It's what's shown in the photos. I ordered it in StayFast 'White'. My '61 body is painted Ermine White with Silver coves. When I spoke with Al Knoch's shop on Friday regarding a new top, they said they only use StayFast in 'Tan' or 'Black'. I just checked with Robbins Auto Tops in Oxnard CA and their website also shows they only use tan and black in StayFast as well. I think tan wouldn't look bad with the white body but I'd also like to stay as close to the original color scheme as possible. Were the original tops from GM in white or tan for their white bodied cars? Robbins Auto Tops is very close to where I live so it might be good to use them as the source for my new top if problems come up. Has anyone used Robbins in the past and were they satisfied with their products?

Again, my thanks to everyone for their help!
Tom

 

tsanborn
Great to hear you are going to try. Just take your time and study all the literature and videos. When I did my hardtop I broke it into sections and did not set a time to finish. I did get frustrated several times along the way and jus walked away and continued the next day. Please help your fellow forum members and document your process and post photos.

Good Luck

Roberto

 

Good idea, will do!

 

 

 

Thanks Jim! I suspect that I will look back on this as one of those slow reluctant marches into enemy territory. I'll wear a cup to avoid excessive injuries and send updates on my progress.