Hardtop removal help
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 575
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From: Ventura California
Hardtop removal help
Well, after being n yhe car and not removed for about 16 years, I am trying to get the hardtop off my 70. No matter how hard I puul on the ;atch ahndle, it wil not open the latches in the rear. I tried to adjust the cables, but it didn't help. The latches seem to be frozen. Is there any way to get the top off? Once I get it off, I can free up the latches(I hope). But getting it off is the problem.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
I think I would take a light and crawl under rear deck and release each lock manually.I would lift the top a little at the windshield and put some rags in there to put some tension on the rear latches.Oh -you did remove the side mounts didnt you ?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
There should be a bolt on each side-inside the car.
Check this thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=hardtop
Check this thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=hardtop
Last edited by ...Roger...; Nov 20, 2006 at 09:28 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 963
Likes: 0
From: melbourne,Australia
Originally Posted by ctrain22
Well, after being n yhe car and not removed for about 16 years, I am trying to get the hardtop off my 70. No matter how hard I puul on the ;atch ahndle, it wil not open the latches in the rear. I tried to adjust the cables, but it didn't help. The latches seem to be frozen. Is there any way to get the top off? Once I get it off, I can free up the latches(I hope). But getting it off is the problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Originally Posted by ctrain22
With the soft top under there, it's hard to get to the latches. By the way, what side mounts?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 963
Likes: 0
From: melbourne,Australia
Originally Posted by moosie982
Can you unlock it at the windshield and then unlatch the deck so the whole kitnkaboodle can be opened up ,with the hardtop pointing up, this will let you get a look at what is holding the hardtop to the deck, bring help tho,,I used to do my '71 like that way back when,,,,Peace,, Moosie
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 69
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My 74 has 1 bolt with nut and washers on each side in the back and 3 clamps along the front for the hard top. I also had to remove the soft top completely to get to the hard top bolts. PITA so I leave the soft top out when the Hard top is on and when the hard top is off I put the soft top back in. I have thought about getting the soft top type of studs and put them on the hard top so it works like the soft top with the levers - not sure if that would work. Anyone done that????
LBM
LBM
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by jdunne
The latches don't work on the hardtop if it is properly installed; there will be 2 or 3 nuts on the rear deck together with one on each side on the door pillar and of course the 3 windscreen head latches....the rear deck ones are supposed to be wing nuts but they are often changed to hex nuts....hope this helps...john
Sorry ctrain had a brain fart
On my 66 I did what Moosie said.With the 2 side bolts in place I lifted the whole kitnkabootle,removed the 2 nuts under deck(in your case also the third one in the middle if it is there)then set the kabootle back down and then remove the 2 side bolts.Careful the deck studs dont scratch the deck when you pull them through the deck.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
Originally Posted by motovate
My 74 has 1 bolt with nut and washers on each side in the back and 3 clamps along the front for the hard top. I also had to remove the soft top completely to get to the hard top bolts. PITA so I leave the soft top out when the Hard top is on and when the hard top is off I put the soft top back in. I have thought about getting the soft top type of studs and put them on the hard top so it works like the soft top with the levers - not sure if that would work. Anyone done that????
LBM
LBM
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 209
Likes: 8
From: Hollywood FL
Originally Posted by motovate
My 74 has 1 bolt with nut and washers on each side in the back and 3 clamps along the front for the hard top. I also had to remove the soft top completely to get to the hard top bolts. PITA so I leave the soft top out when the Hard top is on and when the hard top is off I put the soft top back in. I have thought about getting the soft top type of studs and put them on the hard top so it works like the soft top with the levers - not sure if that would work. Anyone done that????
LBM
LBM
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 575
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From: Ventura California
Thank you all for advice and info. With so little room in there with the soft top, I didn't realize the top was held on with bolts at the latches. Boy do I feel dumb! I will go deeper in there and get them. Thank you all so much.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 69
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Don't feel Dumb. After I got mine with the Hard top on and the soft top bolted in and folded I noticed the rear of the hard top seemed loose so I kept pushing down on the corners to get it to catch. I even went back to the place I bought it from so he could show me how to do it. He did the same thing I did then swore it was hooked up and that he had driven it over 100 miles at speed with nary a problem.
I realized it wasn't bolted down when I unhooked the 3 front latches and just lifted it off. No nuts , washers or anything else holding it in the back. After spending hours contorting trying to get both sides bolted down - I just took the soft top out and bolted it down and decided to just switch them out twice a year - Hard top on for the winter - soft top on for the summer and store whichever top is not in use. The only side bolts are for the soft top on my 74 - the hard top only has 2 threaded studs in the back and 3 clamps in the front. Other years might be different.
LBM
I don't think I'll chance it by replacing the bolts with the studs. It way to spendy to replace if it learns to fly - off the back!!
LBM
I realized it wasn't bolted down when I unhooked the 3 front latches and just lifted it off. No nuts , washers or anything else holding it in the back. After spending hours contorting trying to get both sides bolted down - I just took the soft top out and bolted it down and decided to just switch them out twice a year - Hard top on for the winter - soft top on for the summer and store whichever top is not in use. The only side bolts are for the soft top on my 74 - the hard top only has 2 threaded studs in the back and 3 clamps in the front. Other years might be different.
LBM
I don't think I'll chance it by replacing the bolts with the studs. It way to spendy to replace if it learns to fly - off the back!!
LBM
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
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From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
My '69 has a stud on each side with a nut and flat washer. No problem to reach over the soft top and remove/install. But in all fairness, I work on big airplanes for a living, and there are lots of things you can see, lots of things you can touch, but lots of things you can't see and touch at the same time..
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 575
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From: Ventura California
Now to add to complications, I was going to use the advice of openeing the top cover as a unit with the hardtop still on to get access to the bolts. When I went to open the cover, the cables are broken! So I can't open her up anyway. Going to have replenish the beer fridge and figure this one out. Ned to find an access to the cover latches.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 963
Likes: 0
From: melbourne,Australia
Originally Posted by ctrain22
Now to add to complications, I was going to use the advice of openeing the top cover as a unit with the hardtop still on to get access to the bolts. When I went to open the cover, the cables are broken! So I can't open her up anyway. Going to have replenish the beer fridge and figure this one out. Ned to find an access to the cover latches.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 575
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From: Ventura California
Thanks for all the help everyone. Finally got the lid open and hardtop off. Had to remove the latches from the lid a suggested. The latches were frozen solid. Just ordered new ones. Good news was the top wasn't too bad. One small hole that I can patch for now. The top is light beige. Didn't know they made it that color, but....
