Can anyone tell me if there is supposed to be a third center pin on the removable hard top for a 1970 convertible? Does anyone have a picture of the bottom of the removable hard top showing such a pin? Our hard top looks like there was something riveted to the center rear section below the window.
Thank you.

 

Yes - 69 through 75 hardtops included a center pin. This pin was added after 68 to reduce hardtop flexing. The decklid of the car will include a center hole to receive this pin. It is attached with a washer and nut. If a convertible does not have this center hole in the decklid, then it did not come from the factory with a hardtop.

The pin in my hardtop is held in my the trim below the window. I'm not sure if a PO changed this or not, but the pin can be removed by simply removing the trim below the window, and lifting the pin out.

 

This is what Mashman posted when I asked for help taking off my top(it may never go back on)

There are 7 attachment points.

Front - three latches that connect the top to the hearder.


Middle - on each side there is a bolt that connects the top to the decklid. The bolts are hidden under a cover that is attached to the hardtop. If the covers do not slide of when you pull on them, then use something to gently pry them off.

Back - there are three attachments in the back. The middle one is held on by a nut. The two side attachment points may be either pins (just like the softtop pins), or bolts with nuts.

The lever that you mention is the decklid release, and pin release mechanism. Pulling on one side will release the decklid, and pulling on the other will release pins. If you hardtop has the pin type connector, that will release the pins, otherwise you need to remove the nuts.

Removing the nuts in the back can be difficult to reach. What I do that makes it easier is to remove things in this order.

1) Release the front latches
2) Pull the lever to release the decklid
3) Lift the hardtop with the middle, and rear attachments connected
4) Have someone hold the hardtop/decklid up, while I remove rear nuts
5) Remove side attachment bolts
6) Lift and remove hardtop - while the hardtop is not very heavy, you need to lift from both sides at the same time, so it is at least a 2 person job (unless you have a hoist).

If you have bolts/nuts on the two rear outside attachment points, you can replace them with the softtop pins to make things easier in the future.

I found a nut that I had to undo where your asking about.

 

My 1969 convertible, per the build sheet, equipped with C06AA/vinyl covered hardtop, does not have a rear center pin.

The unmolested rear deck lid has no provisions for a center pin.

The original hardtop with the "TV" dated glass (August 1969) which lines up nicely with the build date of the car, October 1969, has no provisions for a center pin either.

Both original rear pins are held in place by nuts and washers. Two special bolts hold the top to the inside of the car, just behind both seats and three handles release the top from the windshield header.

Dan

 

I should clarify that my car is a 1973, but was lead to believe that they were the same tops.

 

Hi Dan,

I just looked at my copy of the Corvette Restoration Guide, and you are correct. It says - Just curious, does your hardtop have the steel tips or not?

 

Hi Mashman,

If your referring to the triangular trim pieces at the rear corners, they are polished stainless and are held in place with small phillips head screws.

Dan

How did the frame turn out???

 

I just went outside in this terrible heat to take some pics. I hope they help. I do not know how to upload them to the site so you will have to to my flicker link.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7569327...7629955327374/
Feel free to teach me how to post pics directly, I would love to be able to do that.
I first pic in the set shows the nut that I think may be giving him trouble.

 

Yes, that's the piece I was talking about. I always thought that both the center bolt, and the corner trim pieces were added at the same time, with the 69 model year. I guess that assumption is was wrong, and the trim pieces were added first. Thanks for the info.

The crossmember came out great. I had my front suspension off to replace the control arm bushings, so it was very easy to use the tool. I've passed it along to the next guy. Thanks again for getting that started, hopefully it will continue to be passed around - who knows, some shop in the future may screw it up, and I may need to use it again!

 

Thank you for the photos, its pretty hot here too, but the pictures are a great help.

 

Thank you everyone for the help. We now understand what we are dealing with.

 

Happy I could help. I can't count the times that I received help from this forum.

 

I found this today, It has a lot of pics of the top.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120908241686...84.m1423.l2649
Glad I already have one, their pricey.

 

This helped me figure it out.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...tep-guide.html

 

Thanks, I did my first photo test. It worked! I usually take a C3 or my hotrod to the parade but being this is a new to me corvette I took it. It was nice having cold AC on my feet with the top down. It was a hot day. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...post1580942862