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My hardtop is installed but I cannot place the washer/nut on the threaded bolt that is located in the rear center of the top. The soft top is stored under the rear lid and I cannot find any room to reach between it and the lid. This is the first time that the hardtop has been on the Vette since it was restored to original condition in 2005-07. Time to drive and enjoy her starting this year …… only done shows since 08. Any suggestions/help will be greatly appreciated. It is a factory convertible bought new with the hardtop option.
Last edited by armstrrw; May 19, 2020 at 04:24 PM.
Reason: spelling
The way I do it on my '71 is to install the side bolts, release the lid and raise the hardtop, install the washers/nuts, then lower the hardtop and snap the lid shut.
Last edited by 71 Green 454; May 19, 2020 at 05:59 PM.
Agree with the posts above.
Set the hardtop on the car/rear deck lid
Install the two side bolts
Unlatch the deck lid and carefully raise the top/lid as an assembly (be careful you don't hit anything above if you do this in a garage)
You can prop up the entire assembly with a 2x4 (@30" long) between the underside of the lid and the rear storage area (or have a helper hold it up)
Once raised it's very easy to install the 3 hardtop washers and bolts.
Once the bolts are installed, carefully lower the top until the front pins seat
Usually the rear lid requires a gentle push down to seat it into the rear attachment locks
Finally latch the front pins.
Last edited by Hammerhead Fred; May 19, 2020 at 09:47 PM.
There ain’t no way my trunk lid would hold the top at that angle. I use the side special chrome bolts that run through the Vertical brackets that extend down on each side of the hard top. I am afraid that in many cases the brackets were removed or lost by our friend Bubba. I was lucky to have Ernie Willcox locate a set of brackets with the rubber dress covers for me. None of the suppliers sell the brackets, only the chrome bolts/receivers.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Oh the trunk lid itself wont hold it up, you need to use a 2x4 or a second person. I was surprised when I first lifted my top like that. I've got a 68 and it uses the pins in the back corners to hold it on the lid (not the 2 bolts) and they worked. I had to get under there to adjust something. My year doesn't use that center bolt so its not a thing I need to do often, but it works.
Then once its locked down you can install the 2 chrome bolts. On the normal years, theres 5 bolts that hold the top on, 3 across the back and the 2 chrome sside ones
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; May 20, 2020 at 06:03 AM.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
68 did it that way, I believe they went to bolting it down in 69, but the pins hold it fine, the side bolts keep it from rattling. Just pins and it makes noise
I just obtained the sidemounting hardware from Ecklers.
Can somebody tell me where the rubber grommet/gasket goes?
On the inboard side, or outboard side, of side-decklid hole, or with attaching bolt?
Could not find in the AIM either???
Last edited by carriljc; Aug 11, 2020 at 12:49 AM.
I just obtained the sidemounting hardware from Ecklers.
Can somebody tell me where the rubber grommet/gasket goes?
On the inboard side, or outboard side, of side-decklid hole, or with attaching bolt?
Could not find in the AIM either???
Not called out in the 71 AIM
On the 63-67 hardtop the washers are shown installed on the shoulder of the side mount retainer prior to installing it into the deck lid.
Thanks for the feedback and the idea to look at the C2 mounting.
I found a website showing images of the C2 sidemount showing the rubber washers.
Looks like the the rubber washer goes on the inboard side of the decklid, between the decklid fiberglass and the "hardtop side retainer" that will be accepting the hardtop side retainer bolts:
Here are snips.
Originally Posted by Hammerhead Fred
Not called out in the 71 AIM
On the 63-67 hardtop the washers are shown installed on the shoulder of the side mount retainer prior to installing it into the deck lid.
Last edited by carriljc; Aug 11, 2020 at 11:28 AM.
Thanks for the feedback. As far as ".....the shoulder of the side mount retainer" ??? Does this mean on the "inside" or the "outside" of the fiberglass?
Meanwhile I'm going to go look for a 63-67 AIM page just for pointers. Many thanks.
Thanks. Appreciate the pointers. I'm going to drill holes since mine doesn't have holes. My top has the latching pins and by bolting down with this should make it feel more secure. I'll set it down, latch it, then drill the holes.
Before you drill your holes, check for any gap between the hardtop weatherstrip and the deck lid. There should be none. The weatherstrip should be uniformly compressed on the decklid.
If there is a gap you feel is unaccceptable, release the deck lid while the hard top is attached at the windshielld header and to the decklid via the rear studs. Adjust the gap as necessary by tightening or loosening the 2 nuts on the hardtop rear studs and the 3rd nut on the center stud while simultaneously moving the front of the deck lid up and down. Once you are happy, mark the holes to be drilled.
When installing the hardtop in the future, you may need to follow the following procedure:
set the hardtop in place
attach the nuts/washers to the 3 rear studs
close the 3 front windshield header latches
release the deck lid
thread your new hard top side retainer bolts into your new side retainer nuts
latch the rear deck lid by pressing down on it by the deck lid front corners
Put the hard top on the car with the front clamps secured (all three). Then use a marker to locate the center of each bracket hole. MAKE Sure the brackets mounted to the Hard Top are attached correctly correctly or the new holes will not be correct. After marking remove the hard top and go extremely slow with a NEW Small drill bit. I like to put masking tape over the fiberglass to hopefully avoid any chips. I used a very slow speed Dremel grinding stone to enlarge the hole (my 73 doesn’t have the greatest paint job?
There ain’t a lot of meat around the hole placement, so be extra careful. If you look closely, this side started to brake off, I hit it with fiberglass resin, and then some paint
Wow! Thanks for all the pointers. I was wondering if I should "coat" the hole with some resin after drilling it.
I will ensure to check the weatherstrip seating before drilling any holes..... I installed latching "pins" instead of the bolts and that is one reason I want to add the sidemount bolts.
Thanks again....
Last edited by carriljc; Aug 11, 2020 at 12:27 PM.
The other member is correct about checking the rear bottom seal on the hard top. Mine was not the newest, and it left marks on the rear deck. The suppliers sell clear vinyl pIcees that protect the paint, but since I scratched the hell out of my rear deck (long threaded shafts), it seemed like closing the barn door after the horses got out. The resin on the inside of the hole could not hurt, would probably be better on the underside of the hole. I was scared to remove the rear deck because I don’t have a helper. The flanges that you are drilling through are not that substantial. I don’t know if the factory treated/designed decks for cars with hard tops any different. If the flanges on your car look ok, then everything should turn out fine.
Removable Hardtop - 1971 ls5 Convertible
