T top fitment
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 392
Likes: 6
From: Churchville PA
T top fitment
I just got a used factory original Ttop for my 80 and have a question on it's fitment. It's the passenger side and I really have to lean on the back outside corner to get the pin to line up with the cross bar when latching it. The top has not been on a car for several years and it literally looks brand new... so I'm wondering if the weather stripping just has to break in? Is it ok to use like this?
After just cracking a top and having to pay big bucks for a replacement mirror glass one, I don't want to break another one!
Thanks
After just cracking a top and having to pay big bucks for a replacement mirror glass one, I don't want to break another one!
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
The assembly instruction manual (AIM) helps a little. First thing to try is to remove/add shims as needed. Second option is you have a little bit of wiggle room with receiver location on the halo panel. It can go up or down a little - not a lot.
Loosen the screws, but do not remove both at the same time. There is a tapping plate inside the halo panel for the receiver which will drop to the bottom of the car if both screws are removed at the same time.
Might be a little factory sealant behind the receiver.
Loosen the screws, but do not remove both at the same time. There is a tapping plate inside the halo panel for the receiver which will drop to the bottom of the car if both screws are removed at the same time.
Might be a little factory sealant behind the receiver.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 392
Likes: 6
From: Churchville PA
My new top didn't come with any shims but, I added a few from the old top and it's much better! It's a tight fit and takes a little bit of pressure to line up the peg and hole in the back but, the w/s on the new top is much thicker and not as compressed as the old. I'll leave it on like this for a bit and see how it fits in a few weeks.
Thanks for your help!!
Thanks for your help!!
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Marietta Ohio
Hello. First post here, although I've been a member for some time now. Did a search and didn't come up with much other than this thread.
I have an 81' with the same exact problem, in the same exact spot. Put new w/s on, (on the glass tops), didn't really change the fitment. Just seems like the top doesn't fit the opening the way it should. Shimming the receiver at the rear doesn't seem like a good solution as the gap in panels would still be horrible. Adjusted the front pin where it goes into the windshielf frame as far forward as it will go to try pushing the top back further, but still just doesn't fit right. Am beginning to wonder if the windshield frame is bent. If the frame were "tweaked" back about a half inch or so, it looks like everything would line up right. Have done a carfax on the car, and no accidents show up, so am kind of at a loss as to what to do next to remedy the situation.
Am open to suggestions, and would like to hear others experience with similar situations, if anybody's had them. Just looking for someone who knows more than me about how to fix this the right way.
Thanks for looking and HAGO!
I have an 81' with the same exact problem, in the same exact spot. Put new w/s on, (on the glass tops), didn't really change the fitment. Just seems like the top doesn't fit the opening the way it should. Shimming the receiver at the rear doesn't seem like a good solution as the gap in panels would still be horrible. Adjusted the front pin where it goes into the windshielf frame as far forward as it will go to try pushing the top back further, but still just doesn't fit right. Am beginning to wonder if the windshield frame is bent. If the frame were "tweaked" back about a half inch or so, it looks like everything would line up right. Have done a carfax on the car, and no accidents show up, so am kind of at a loss as to what to do next to remedy the situation.
Am open to suggestions, and would like to hear others experience with similar situations, if anybody's had them. Just looking for someone who knows more than me about how to fix this the right way.
Thanks for looking and HAGO!
