C3 hardtop removal
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
C3 hardtop removal
I have a 70 C3 removable hardtop/convertible and can't figure-out if there are some side mount bolts and some in the back of the trunk panel (four total) that hold it down and where they are or if the top just fits into the same rear pins as the convertible top and thats it?
Last edited by strad; Sep 14, 2020 at 02:55 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,325
Likes: 359
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
I have a 70 C3 removable hardtop/convertible and can't figure-out if there are some side mount bolts and some in the back of the trunk panel (four total) that hold it down and where they are or if the top just fits into the same rear pins as the convertible top and thats it?
Front just uses short pins like the soft top.
Hope that helps.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 126
Likes: 50
From: Texas
And to save you a yoga inspired cussfest while trying to install the nuts on the rear posts with the soft top in the way... lay the hard top into position and lift the rear deck lid to give you the clearance to tighten the nuts on the posts. You’ll need two able bodied participants. Then you can lower it back down to screw in the side bolts and front compression levers.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 721
From: Marietta GA
Depends on the car. First, there are two long threaded shafts that go through the chrome bezels (used by the soft top) located on the rear lid. Some folks (don’t ask me how) attach nuts and run them up the threaded studs, oh yes while the soft top is in there too. Second, some cars have a hole located around the middle of the rear lid. Third, on the inside of rear lid (next to the top of the pass/driver seat) there are hard top mounted brackets with rubber covers that have bolts going into special nuts. These bolts are removed with a standard Philips head screw driver. My 73 vinyl covered hardtop has the long threaded shafts, and brackets inside of rear lid. I don't see how it’s possible to get nuts on the threaded shafts. I purchased a kit with a electric ceiling mounted winch and pole/harness to remove my top. I think it took me less than two minutes to put a couple of scratches on the rear deck from the thread shafts. After scratching the rear lid, I came up with a solution to keep future scratches from occurring. If you are going to employ a winch system, let me know and I will post pictures of my scratch preventer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,253
Likes: 768
From: Waterford WI
Depends on the car. First, there are two long threaded shafts that go through the chrome bezels (used by the soft top) located on the rear lid. Some folks (don’t ask me how) attach nuts and run them up the threaded studs, oh yes while the soft top is in there too. Second, some cars have a hole located around the middle of the rear lid. Third, on the inside of rear lid (next to the top of the pass/driver seat) there are hard top mounted brackets with rubber covers that have bolts going into special nuts. These bolts are removed with a standard Philips head screw driver. My 73 vinyl covered hardtop has the long threaded shafts, and brackets inside of rear lid. I don't see how it’s possible to get nuts on the threaded shafts. I purchased a kit with a electric ceiling mounted winch and pole/harness to remove my top. I think it took me less than two minutes to put a couple of scratches on the rear deck from the thread shafts. After scratching the rear lid, I came up with a solution to keep future scratches from occurring. If you are going to employ a winch system, let me know and I will post pictures of my scratch preventer.
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 118
Likes: 88
From: Santa Clarita, CA
I know this is an old thread but I found a partial quick install trick. I bought a set of Convertible top pins and replaced the long threaded studs with these, You will need to trim the threaded end back about .325" and then it is a trial and error fine tune adjustment so that the catch the convertible latch very tight. You want to have to push down on the roof to get them to latch but still loose enough that the latch will release when it is time to remove the top. The remaining problem is that center securing bolt which requires a nut which you can't get to with the convertible top in place. So to fill the approximate 1/32" gap from the weather striping (mine weather stripping is brand new) to the deck lid in the center I have purchased some weather striping that has a bubble to it. My plan is to add this just before the factory weather stripping to seal up the gap.