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A video? Seriously?
put T tops in the storage bags. Put first top in the back of your car in it's bag of course, paint down. Then put second top (in it's bag of course) on top of first top paint side up. Yes I know you can't see the paint side when in the storage bag. But basically headliner to headliner, And with the latches across from one another. then secure with the T strap. Let me walk out to the garage and get a picture.
There they are. Tied down. Been there for weeks.
Really shouldn't need a video!
Last edited by 4-vettes; Sep 15, 2024 at 05:14 AM.
Depending on the year of your car they can go in different ways. In the earlier C3's after you put them in the bags they sit at about 45 degrees kind of sitting on the rear wheel wells. The two straps hold them in place
Don't have a photo, but made a quick drawing to give you an idea. If you are out in the Vette and it starts raining you will get wet before you can get the tops out and installed.
And here I thought I knew at least a little bit about Corvette's of this time period. But never seen the angled top storage thing. And can't figure out how you would properly secure them.
So I did some digging. Found a few people in the past show how to store them. Just like me. Even found one well known member a few years back post a pic from his owners manual. Earlier car than mine. But same. Found one guy mention storing them on a angle as above, and claimed they could be tied down with the factory hold down strap. But, no photo.
So, I thought, where's that owners manual. Haven't looked at it in years.
Here it is. This is the original factory owners manual that came with the car. Not a reprint. This is a actual photo from said owners manual. Showing removal and storage of the tops. Or roof panels as they call them. This lower drawing is exactly what another member posted several years ago on this same topic. This I just included for fun. Near the back of the owners manual you can order factory service manuals. I love the prices!
Depending on the year of your car they can go in different ways. In the earlier C3's after you put them in the bags they sit at about 45 degrees kind of sitting on the rear wheel wells. The two straps hold them in place
Don't have a photo, but made a quick drawing to give you an idea. If you are out in the Vette and it starts raining you will get wet before you can get the tops out and installed.
I can't say I've ever seen tops stored that way, but why would the year have anything to do with how the tops were stored? All the top panels are the same size. The 78-82's have more vertical space in the rear compartment because of the big back window, but the basic dimensions of the floor area and rear storage compartment itself is the same from 68-82.
Here is how the straps went in 69. No tops in place, but you can see that there are two straps that hold the T-Tops at angles.
That makes sense now. I forgot the 68-69 cars had two straps and the footman loops on the rear compartment floor instead of the "Y" strap and a single footman loop on the front bulkhead. I have to think the "Y" strap's a better set up, cleaning up the compartment floor and making the tie down strap useful for holding things other than the tops too.
When I lived in California I put them on the work bench along with the rear window in about March and left them there until October. If it was going to rain you had about a 10 day advanced notice.
I was transferred to Florida and one day with all blue sky, left the tops and rear window at home and went for a drive. About a mile from home the sky opened up and I had to make a quick U-turn and race for home before I drowned.
Never left them at home after that.
That's all very interesting. I had never seen that twin strap setup before. Now it makes sense.
I must say however if I had a car like that I would change it over to the 70 up setup. Having those footman loops right in the middle of the floor would be a major hassle when loading luggage for a weekend away.
Still always cool to learn something.
And still no one has a video of actually putting the tops in the back and tieing them down.
There is enough slack in the straps so that they are completely out of the way. You can also can easily unhook the lower fastener and get the straps completely out of the way. The two small loops in the floor have never caused an issue putting luggage into the rear.
The hard part is getting the seats folded forward enough to get the luggage into the back. One other issue that later Vettes didn't have to consider is the fact that the rear window storage is above the luggage area. I have had my Vette 50 years and used to drive it a lot as at one time it was my only vehicle.
You would get tired of watching as video of putting or removing the tops. If it starts raining then you drive faster if you can, because if you stop to install the tops you will get very wet.
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Our '78 uses the later method of T-Top storage, just like the photo from the '77 Owners Manual. I have never thought of putting them in "inside to inside". I have covers (not the originals, but custom made in matching Oyster) and lay them on top of each other. But, I add a thin, fairly firm, piece of foam sheet between the two, which helps to protect the lower top a little.
For "travelling", I have a suitcase that fits nicely into the rear storage area and if we need to take the tops out they lay on top of the case. I have made a neat little extension for the strap that I can feed through the fixed loop at the front and attach to the strap. There is just enough clearance to slide the luggage screen over the whole lot if needs be, but I try to restrict use of that to a necessity.
