Convertible top down for extended period?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 2
From: Toronto
Convertible top down for extended period?
I'm not yet using my '74 convertible as a daily driver. (Naively, the amount of time she needs to warm up in the morning to run smoothly came as a bit of a surprise to me, and the roar she makes while doing so, although music to MY ears, is not a welcome wake-up call for my wife and neighbours.)
So she tends to just get taken out of the garage on these warm sunny evenings we've been having lately and on the weekend.
This may seem like an odd question, but is there any reason not to just leave the top down all the time in the garage? I'm thinking, for example, that maybe the back window won't like being folded over forever. If it's no problem, I'm just going to throw a cover over the cockpit when she's in the garage to keep the dust out.
Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this.
So she tends to just get taken out of the garage on these warm sunny evenings we've been having lately and on the weekend.
This may seem like an odd question, but is there any reason not to just leave the top down all the time in the garage? I'm thinking, for example, that maybe the back window won't like being folded over forever. If it's no problem, I'm just going to throw a cover over the cockpit when she's in the garage to keep the dust out.
Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 883
Likes: 1
From: Hilton Head SC
Re: Convertible top down for extended period? (mg62)
My top has a very snug wrinkle free fit. When I leave it down for more than a 4 - 5 days, it shrinks a little and it requires some serious effort to catch the latches. The fold in the rear window disappears in a day. I believe this is pretty common, so it's really up to you if the effort is an issue. There's no problem if I leave it down for a day or two.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,127
Likes: 476
From: NM
Re: Convertible top down for extended period? (mg62)
When in storage, or not in use, the top should be up and snapped down. This will prevent wrinkles in the top and keep it smooth and sharp looking. Then put a cover over the car to protect everything.
tom...
tom...
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
Re: Convertible top down for extended period? (mg62)
- yup !Also, I think there's an 'age' factor (time from when the top was last replaced if it's not original)...
The older your top gets, the less time you want to leave it folded up. Once, I left mine down for a week (it's a very old top, 15+ years ?) and I had h*ll trying to get it to 'stretch' out again..... no wrinkles - but I ran the risk of tearing something :eek: .... this might be why my back window is now trying to separate from the top ! :(
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,415
Likes: 451
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Re: Convertible top down for extended period? (mg62)
I could'nt resist on this post, but how about 27 years!!!!! Bud,s Chevrolet has in his Corvette collection in St.Mary's,Ohio a very, very high awarded 142mile(yes, 1-4-2 miles), 1975 L-82, 4spd, Z07 Flame Orange convertible with every option in '75 with Black Vinyl Hardtop in which the soft top has never, ever been raised up out of the decklid!!!!! I wonder how it'd fit if it be "raised" up??? :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Re: Convertible top down for extended period? (mg62)
As long as the weather is warm it should not be a problem..I leave mine down for weeks at a time with no problems in the summer.....However in the winter I would not store it that way or leave it down too long cause of the shrinkage factor with the cold........My top will be down for two months at a time :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Re: Convertible top down for extended period? (mg62)
Hi
During the complete summer time, I hardly ever close the rag top. It's normally stowed and this for long time.
During winter storage, the top is closed and latched.
My top is very new, so may be still rather soft, but I don't see any shrinkage when it's stowed over longer periods.
Gunther
During the complete summer time, I hardly ever close the rag top. It's normally stowed and this for long time.
During winter storage, the top is closed and latched.
My top is very new, so may be still rather soft, but I don't see any shrinkage when it's stowed over longer periods.
Gunther
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Canton GA
Re: Convertible top down for extended period? (WESCH)
:cry Now I'm worried! I had my top down a whole lot when I had the car apart for months when painting! It will not close fully on the deck lid now. This bites because the top was practically a few years old and very good shape beforehand...still looks great, but now I fear I'ver permantly shrunk it. I just figured I needed to adjust something, but haven't got around to it yet.
Any suggestions, on what to try to stretch it back out?
:(
Any suggestions, on what to try to stretch it back out?
:(
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Re: Convertible top down for extended period? (ZORA_RULES)
Yes, sunshine. Keep it outside in the sun, this will soften it. Start closing it up. May be you can loosen the aft bow pins a bit and also the front latches to give less strees in the beginning.
Once it starts to stretch, tighten all up again.
Hope it works.
Gunther :seeya
Once it starts to stretch, tighten all up again.
Hope it works.
Gunther :seeya
