The first bit of badness has finally arrived on my 73.

I was putting on the top chrome trim and started from the back to the front. While trying to put the top piece on I noticed a huge problem. The screw holes were off about 2 inches. You could either get the windshield part to screw on or the t top rail thing part to screw on. I was devastated and tried every way to get this to fit. but all my efforts were pointless as it seems as if my car is bent a lot. How do I go about fixing this problem as I can't even get my t tops to fit on and lock.

 

Is your body on the frame or off? If off, is it on a body dolly? Sounds like the body has flexed.

 

Hi Z,
I'm not sure what holes are 2 inches off.
There are 6 pieces of trim. 2 pieces that are on each side (left/right) of the halo; the large piece that covers the windshield header, birdcage front to back brace, and the center of the halo; 2 pieces (left /right) that cover the corners of the windshield header; and the long thin piece that is just above the glass on the windshield header.
Which piece is giving you trouble, and did this piece come off THIS car?
Regards,
Alan

 

Are you sure you have your left and right pieces correct to each side, just checking, I can not see how they can be out 2".

 

Body is on sorry for not being very clear about all that. I was in class when I posted but, to show a clear image, there are three pieces of which are concerning. 2 of which are the smaller pieces at the upper corners of the windshield which the t tops lock down onto. Those bolt on fine. Than there is the piece that is inbetween these pieces that goes across the windshield and down the t bar. This piece does not fit on my car. I've tried two pieces maybe thinking that it was the trim itself. When I try screwing in the front of the trim first that is attached to the windshield the lower part that goes across the t bar is off and takes a huge amount of pressure to even slightly align with the t bar. I tried screwing it in anyway just concerned about getting it on the road now and fixing it later, but its bad enough where that is impossible. I took a good look at the bar and it looks as if its not straight. When everything is on it appears that every time I try to put the left t top on either the front or rear latch does not want to engage with the female end that I already screwed onto the car.

 

I'm taking a stab at solving this ... but if I'm wrong, please post some pics.

When you installed the windshield upper corner trim pieces, was the windshield glass in or out. Those pieces are supposed to be installed prior to windshield installation. If you installed them after ... they may be sticking up too much.

 

Is there a windshield in the car? I'm thinking maybe the windshield frame is tweaked. If no glass now, be sure to correct the t-top fit before you install the glass. If glass now, consider removing it if you need to twist the frame to allow the tops to fit. Get some measurements from leading edge of each side to the back ot the roof hoop and cross measurements from some of the trim screw holes; they should be the same both sides... if they're off you have some work to do.

 

The windshield is installed and cracked but has been installed since I got the car. It took a lot to get these off the donor car I have and It would make sense that I may have to get these on before the windshield installation. Since two people both have reasoning towards this having been related to the problem I will take some pictures and see what everyone says, and leave it until its running and can go get it replaced.

P.S. There is no rust on the windshield frame and I don't know if it has been in an accident how ever small things point to the idea that it has. The rear crossmember is a little tweaked and the fiber glass in the rear has a huge part missing, from what looks like a rear end collision, not too bad, and the front doesn't have the front bumper, and one of the little bars that are to hold the support up is bent slightly and the lower valence was cracked when I got the car.

 

I shoulda spent more time taking pictures but I tried to get one that would show. After hours of forcing and bending a friend and I managed to get half of the screws in, but still the other half wont go in at all and from the front it looks as if its sticking out.

This picture shows how the t bar is a little bit off, its at a slight angle to exaggerate the point.



At this point I think its either this bar is warped or the windshield frame is warped.

 

Maybe its just me and my poor eyes but looking across the roofline at the top of the windshield frame and the center support. To me, it looks like nothing is straight and uniform???

 

I should really go back and take off the trim. It would make a lot more sense I don't know why I didn't do that earlier but its raining now so I'll have to get back to that.