74 Convertible Top wont lock
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 52
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74 Convertible Top wont lock
Hey everyone. So im pretty new to C3’s I just bought a convertible 74 and have been fixing minor things here and there so far, but I cant figure out this darn top. If I get it to lock in the rear it falls about an inch short of locking up front. But if i lock it in place up front I cant get the locking bolts to go in back they come up short. Any ideas??
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 52
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 628
Likes: 34
From: Evergreen Park Illinois
Did the car come with a hard top ? Was the hard top on the car and the soft top folded for a very long time ? If so, the soft top has shrunk. Putting the soft top up with the rear latched and some weight on the front may stretch the top out. Letting the car sit in the sun like this helps. it will take a long time to stretch out. Go slow, you do not want to damage the top.
I latch my top using the same method as Easy Mike.
I latch my top using the same method as Easy Mike.
Last edited by Red Vert 02; Apr 12, 2018 at 07:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 52
Likes: 2
Did the car come with a hard top ? Was the hard top on the car and the soft top folded for a very long time ? If so, the soft top has shrunk. Putting the soft top up with the rear latched and some weight on the front may stretch the top out. Letting the car sit in the sun like this helps. it will take a long time to stretch out. Go slow, you do not want to damage the top.
I latch my top using the same method as Easy Mike.
I latch my top using the same method as Easy Mike.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 628
Likes: 34
From: Evergreen Park Illinois
It's not uncommon for this to happen on convertibles. Do some searches on car forums, not only Corvette ones . There may be other methods or solutions to stretching tops that have shrunk.