Installing Hardtop on '69
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 561
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From: No longer in Heaven
Installing Hardtop on '69
This weekend I decided that I was not giving up despite 45 degree temps, and installed my hard top. It looks pretty cool (Monaco Orange with black vinyl hard top) and was much warmer at 85 mph!
Problem was it seems impossible to get the nuts/washers on the rear bolts without removing the soft top from the car. After many contortions, bent fingers and attempts to get the little buggers screwed on, I bit the bullet and unbolted the soft top and took it completely out, which was fairly easy, but required taking a few body parts off as well to get access to the connectors. The hard top bolts slid right in and access was a snap.
Does anyone know if there is a "trick" to getting the hard top on without taking the soft top out of the car? I thought about raising the rear deck to get access to the bolts, but it looked like a sure way to really screw something else up.
Problem was it seems impossible to get the nuts/washers on the rear bolts without removing the soft top from the car. After many contortions, bent fingers and attempts to get the little buggers screwed on, I bit the bullet and unbolted the soft top and took it completely out, which was fairly easy, but required taking a few body parts off as well to get access to the connectors. The hard top bolts slid right in and access was a snap.
Does anyone know if there is a "trick" to getting the hard top on without taking the soft top out of the car? I thought about raising the rear deck to get access to the bolts, but it looked like a sure way to really screw something else up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,400
Likes: 1,226
From: Tampa Florida
This weekend I decided that I was not giving up despite 45 degree temps, and installed my hard top. It looks pretty cool (Monaco Orange with black vinyl hard top) and was much warmer at 85 mph!
Problem was it seems impossible to get the nuts/washers on the rear bolts without removing the soft top from the car. After many contortions, bent fingers and attempts to get the little buggers screwed on, I bit the bullet and unbolted the soft top and took it completely out, which was fairly easy, but required taking a few body parts off as well to get access to the connectors. The hard top bolts slid right in and access was a snap.
Does anyone know if there is a "trick" to getting the hard top on without taking the soft top out of the car? I thought about raising the rear deck to get access to the bolts, but it looked like a sure way to really screw something else up.
Problem was it seems impossible to get the nuts/washers on the rear bolts without removing the soft top from the car. After many contortions, bent fingers and attempts to get the little buggers screwed on, I bit the bullet and unbolted the soft top and took it completely out, which was fairly easy, but required taking a few body parts off as well to get access to the connectors. The hard top bolts slid right in and access was a snap.
Does anyone know if there is a "trick" to getting the hard top on without taking the soft top out of the car? I thought about raising the rear deck to get access to the bolts, but it looked like a sure way to really screw something else up.
To remove the hardtop:
I pull down the front latches, then pull the release for the deck and push up the hardtop with my head (ouch!) just enough to remove the stud nuts/washers on the 2 ends and center stud. Then I lower the hardtop and remove the 2 side bolts. Push down on deck to lock into place, then I yell "honey come help me take the hardtop off".
To install hardtop:
Make sure the latches are down, place hardtop on car being careful to guide the studs into place. Install side bolts but don't tighten. Pull the deck release and push up on hardtop just enough to install the 3 stud nuts/washers. Lower hardtop, push down on deck to lock, push up latches and tighten side bolts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,400
Likes: 1,226
From: Tampa Florida
How do you get your fingers in there to remove or install the nuts and washers?
Yes, I removed my soft top once...not a great way to spend a Saturday putting it back in.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i had a 69 with the hard top and it was not really easy to take off the hard top but i definitely did not take off the soft top to do it....i dont recall any real tricks other then really having to work on the rear attachmnet points.....let me think about this more maybe i can remember the "tricks"
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
I've always wondered how others did it.....here's my "trick".
To remove the hardtop:
I pull down the front latches, then pull the release for the deck and push up the hardtop with my head (ouch!) just enough to remove the stud nuts/washers on the 2 ends and center stud. Then I lower the hardtop and remove the 2 side bolts. Push down on deck to lock into place, then I yell "honey come help me take the hardtop off".
To install hardtop:
Make sure the latches are down, place hardtop on car being careful to guide the studs into place. Install side bolts but don't tighten. Pull the deck release and push up on hardtop just enough to install the 3 stud nuts/washers. Lower hardtop, push down on deck to lock, push up latches and tighten side bolts.
To remove the hardtop:
I pull down the front latches, then pull the release for the deck and push up the hardtop with my head (ouch!) just enough to remove the stud nuts/washers on the 2 ends and center stud. Then I lower the hardtop and remove the 2 side bolts. Push down on deck to lock into place, then I yell "honey come help me take the hardtop off".
To install hardtop:
Make sure the latches are down, place hardtop on car being careful to guide the studs into place. Install side bolts but don't tighten. Pull the deck release and push up on hardtop just enough to install the 3 stud nuts/washers. Lower hardtop, push down on deck to lock, push up latches and tighten side bolts.
I'm going to try it this way.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 561
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From: No longer in Heaven
Please share with us, oh wise one, how did you get to the rear studs in order to screw on the washer and nut, and then tighten them adequately. It's certainly not easy and you say you never had a problem, I struggled for a couple of hours trying to figure it out. Unless you have baby hands, some unique fancy tool or a "trick", I don't believe it's possible.
I marked with a sharpie an outline exactly where the soft top brackets were, so I'm hopeful that I won't "regret" it.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 561
Likes: 1
From: No longer in Heaven
I've always wondered how others did it.....here's my "trick".
To remove the hardtop:
I pull down the front latches, then pull the release for the deck and push up the hardtop with my head (ouch!) just enough to remove the stud nuts/washers on the 2 ends and center stud. Then I lower the hardtop and remove the 2 side bolts. Push down on deck to lock into place, then I yell "honey come help me take the hardtop off".
To install hardtop:
Make sure the latches are down, place hardtop on car being careful to guide the studs into place. Install side bolts but don't tighten. Pull the deck release and push up on hardtop just enough to install the 3 stud nuts/washers. Lower hardtop, push down on deck to lock, push up latches and tighten side bolts.
To remove the hardtop:
I pull down the front latches, then pull the release for the deck and push up the hardtop with my head (ouch!) just enough to remove the stud nuts/washers on the 2 ends and center stud. Then I lower the hardtop and remove the 2 side bolts. Push down on deck to lock into place, then I yell "honey come help me take the hardtop off".
To install hardtop:
Make sure the latches are down, place hardtop on car being careful to guide the studs into place. Install side bolts but don't tighten. Pull the deck release and push up on hardtop just enough to install the 3 stud nuts/washers. Lower hardtop, push down on deck to lock, push up latches and tighten side bolts.
I think I have another problem, though. I'm pretty sure that my roadster did not come from the factory with a hard top, because there are no side bolt recepticles behind the seats (like there were on my '66 raodsters), and the owners manual mentions "8 contact points" and you mention 3 in the back. I only have 2 studs in the back and the 3 latches for the front, so 5 contact points. Because of this, there is really no way for me to apply your solution since I can't partially connect the sides in order to lift the deck up a little.
I think taking out the soft top is my only option, hey, that's OK, I've never driven it with the soft top up anyway...
Thanks for the help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,400
Likes: 1,226
From: Tampa Florida
Thanks...That installation technique was what I was afraid I'd need to do, becasue after all that time and struggling, I figured the only way to get access to the back studs was by lifting the rear deck. There just is no other way, unless there was some nifty wrench thing that would fit in the small space and hold the nut and washer in place.
I think I have another problem, though. I'm pretty sure that my roadster did not come from the factory with a hard top, because there are no side bolt recepticles behind the seats (like there were on my '66 raodsters), and the owners manual mentions "8 contact points" and you mention 3 in the back. I only have 2 studs in the back and the 3 latches for the front, so 5 contact points. Because of this, there is really no way for me to apply your solution since I can't partially connect the sides in order to lift the deck up a little.
I think taking out the soft top is my only option, hey, that's OK, I've never driven it with the soft top up anyway...
Thanks for the help.
I think I have another problem, though. I'm pretty sure that my roadster did not come from the factory with a hard top, because there are no side bolt recepticles behind the seats (like there were on my '66 raodsters), and the owners manual mentions "8 contact points" and you mention 3 in the back. I only have 2 studs in the back and the 3 latches for the front, so 5 contact points. Because of this, there is really no way for me to apply your solution since I can't partially connect the sides in order to lift the deck up a little.
I think taking out the soft top is my only option, hey, that's OK, I've never driven it with the soft top up anyway...
Thanks for the help.
Have you considered installing the side nut and bolts?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
maybe my hard top was not a factory one......i think it had the three front latches and then i think it had only two bolts of some sort on each side just behind the seat, i am thinking it was a "J" hook....when i look at the picture from when i got the car i think the hardtop outline is outside of the two soft top holes on the deck lid...
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i wonder if those studs you had in the back were for location purposes only and not designed to have nuts put on them......and what you need is the "J" hooks to fasten to the sides of the hardtop by the doors......
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 561
Likes: 1
From: No longer in Heaven
maybe my hard top was not a factory one......i think it had the three front latches and then i think it had only two bolts of some sort on each side just behind the seat, i am thinking it was a "J" hook....when i look at the picture from when i got the car i think the hardtop outline is outside of the two soft top holes on the deck lid...
Irrespective of that, you still must have had a trick to get to the studs with the soft top in there. There's simply no place for a hand to fit in there to put the nuts on let alone tighten them (or remove them).
Following the previous post's solution appears to be the only way. Perhaps with 2 or 3 people, and the rear deck lid unlatched, you can get those washers and nuts on and tight, then lower the roof and lid to the windshield to lock the latches. It looked like a great way to really scratch up my deck lid, and perhaps bend the studs too.
I did not want to do that!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,400
Likes: 1,226
From: Tampa Florida
I'm not sure, we've had hardtop mounting discussions on this forum in the past. Some had studs/washers/nuts and some had the snap in type like the soft top uses.
My threaded studs:
Addition forum information:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...lp-needed.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...p-removal.html
My car is a '71, but my hardtop is a '68 or '69...the date is inside on the headliner.
Last edited by 71 Green 454; Oct 13, 2009 at 04:56 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 561
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From: No longer in Heaven
[QUOTE=71 Green 454;1571807310]When I had my soft top out, it sure did increase the storage space behind the seat...gave us more luggage space for our trip to Savannah back in 1976.
Have you considered installing the side nut and bolts?
Good thought. My top actually has the clips where these would bolt on, but I have the back 2 studs tightened down very tight and the 3 front latches seem very tight. Really don't want to go drilling into the fiberglass. These would also connect just to the rear deck as well, but at the front of it, so I don't think it would provide any measurable stability (as opposed to bolting in to something that doesn't have a hinge).
I suppose I'd feel differently if my top airlifted off at 85 mph...
It seems very tight and quite secure.
Have you considered installing the side nut and bolts?
Good thought. My top actually has the clips where these would bolt on, but I have the back 2 studs tightened down very tight and the 3 front latches seem very tight. Really don't want to go drilling into the fiberglass. These would also connect just to the rear deck as well, but at the front of it, so I don't think it would provide any measurable stability (as opposed to bolting in to something that doesn't have a hinge).
I suppose I'd feel differently if my top airlifted off at 85 mph...
It seems very tight and quite secure.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,400
Likes: 1,226
From: Tampa Florida
I agree, I don't think the top is going anywhere with the 2 studs attached with nuts and the front latches closed.
Check out the other 2 forum threads in my above post #16 for some additional comments.
Check out the other 2 forum threads in my above post #16 for some additional comments.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 561
Likes: 1
From: No longer in Heaven
I'm not sure, we've had hardtop mounting discussions on this forum in the past. Some had studs/washers/nuts and some had the snap in type like the soft top uses.
My threaded studs:
Addition forum information:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...lp-needed.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...p-removal.html
My car is a '71, but my hardtop is a '68 or '69...the date is inside on the headliner.
My threaded studs:
Addition forum information:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...lp-needed.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...p-removal.html
My car is a '71, but my hardtop is a '68 or '69...the date is inside on the headliner.
This has gotten interesting. Thanks for the links. I have a very early '69 (#1505) and based on the links you sent, it looks like this may be the original attachment system-just the two bolts in back and the 3 latches in front. It looks like that's all the '68s had.
I'll look in my NCRS guide tonight to see when the other points of contact were put on.
Still doesn't help me with getting the darn thing on while the soft top is in the car though!
