Greatsteaks

This is my first c3 vert, 1971 that came with an new white soft top and a vinyl hard top. I can get the soft top clipped but the deck lid is about 3/8 of an inch too high at the rear of the lid. The hard top won't line up with the mounting bolts even with moderate weight applied and without the front windshield clamps, clamped. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Ret.Horsecop13

Maybe post a picture of whats going on. By not lining up do you mean they won't go in all the way? Or that they are missing the holes completely? If they aren't going in all the way you can screw the bolts out more. Like I said a picture tells a lot. Good luck

Greatsteaks

It's the bolts on the sides that go in horizontally, they don't line up because the deck is about 3/8 of an inch higher then the where it lines up with the body at the rear of the lid. I'll try to get some pics today.

Easy Mike

Decklids could be shimmed, but none should be 3/8" higher than the surrounding panel.

mark6669

There used to be some real bad deck lid weatherseals that would hold the rear edge of the lid up and bend the hinges. Also old shrunk up tops will do the same thing. You may have to bend the hinges to get the rear edge down I have done it before. Best to fit it with no seal in place.hope this helps.
Mark

Paul L

I think he is speaking of the horizontal sidemount bolts on the hardtop, and not the soft-top.

Greatsteaks

yes, the hard top holes do not line up.

aussiejohn

G'day,

Thanks for the thread, I have similar issues with my '74 that has both tops. My main worry though, is water ingress after washing or rain. The rubber seal around the deck lid lets it through at the corners where the mostly round seal is pulled flat when it bends 90 degrees.

I'll be watching with interest.

Regards from Down Under.

aussiejohn

Red 71

I have the same problem on mine with the back of the lid being too high. If it was too tight you could shim the lid to raise it but to lower it I think you have to remove the spring mount setups and make new thinner spacers that go below them. I have looked at mine and it appears that there are a couple bolts that will be a real (blank blank) to get to. This will be one of my projects when I get back north for the summer.

ps: I will look at what mark6669 referred to before digging too deep. Sure would be a lot easier fix. Even though these cars had a lot of flaws when new, it seems that it would never of left the factory with something that obvious. Mine has had some weatherstripping replaced so that may be a clue.

wombvette

To lower the rear edge, place shims at the forward bolt position of the hinge.

To lower the front to fit the sides, lower the catches.

Greatsteaks

Here is a pic
IMG_1812.JPG by akozub, on Flickr


DSC_2732.JPG by akozub, on Flickr

mark6669

How's the lid fit with no top I have never seen one fit that bad
Mark

Greatsteaks

With no top it is better but not perfect, i cant get the hardtop to line up at all.

Red 71

Okay, I misunderstood what you meant. My problem is that the back end in front of the vent is sitting up about 1/4". I think mark6669 and wombvette's suggestions might help me but I don't understand how you could fix the distortion on your lid.

Ret.Horsecop13

Wow, how is it to open and close the lid? Do you really have to slam it shut?

0Willcox Corvette

Just looking at it says to me the forward edge needs to come down. Will this be enough to close the gap... Nope.. but it will help it some.

Is the rear edge of the deck lid lining up with the back edge of rear upper panel? If it is high then you may want to remove some shim's as mentioned above. and food for thought, it is possible you have a pair of hinges wearing out.

Another thing that just hit me... for us, when we do a soft top installation and the customer has a hardtop, we always fit the door glass to the hardtop and then adjust the soft top to meet the glass. With what you are telling us, this would be near impossible since the rear leading bolts won't tighten down.




Here is what is shown in the AIM.

Greatsteaks

Thanks everyone and thanks for that diagram Willcox Corvette! Ill mess around with the hinges and shims and let you all know how it all works out. I love the internet and this forum! When I had my 75 and 77 there was no such thing, just a big book and Bubba.

Ret.Horsecop13

Willcox to the rescue once again! Class act!

wombvette

Adjust #6 to set the level at the front of the deck lid. No need to screw with the shims on the hinge assembly, just put shims as required on the front bolt of the lid to lower the rear edge.

wilbranka

Hey Mark, when you mentioned about the bad deck lid weather seals, are you suggesting that they were made of a material too tough? In 1986 ,I last restored my 68 vette, and I fitted the deck lid without the seal during the bodywork phase. I purchased a deck lid seal from Ecklers, and once I installed the seal, the lid rose almost 1/4 inch in the rear. As of today 6/30/16, I still have a 1/4" gap with the seal removed. Any suggestions? There are no shims in the mounts. And how do you bend the hinges correctly?

I appreciate any assistance possible,

Bill