Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 46
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From: Little Rock Arkansas
Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed.
I have an early 68 convertible, and bought someones hardtop off a 69. The hardtop has two long bolts that look like they will go down where the soft top pins go( should I replace the bolts with pins like the ones on my soft top?). My question is do you put a nut and washer underneath to secure the top? The soft top seems like it would be in the way to get to the bolts. Am I suppose to take the soft top out? Pictures are worth a thousand words, but at this point I will take any help I can get. Thanks a Million.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
I have wondered about the same thing. I think the AIM shows bolts that appear to have nuts on the end, but I think they would be hard to get to. (Actually, you would need studs - screw one end into the hardtop and then attach a nut to the other end from underneath.... if you can reach there!) I think pins similar to the softtop would be ideal (and easy). I just used simple bolts with (hex?) heads that I screwed into the hardtop and leave there. They function just like a pin would. The bolts go into the holes in the decklid and are somewhat held in by the spring-loaded catches. What really secures the hardtop firmly are the bolts that screw into the side of the top and into the car. No, you do not have to remove the softtop, but don't use super long bolts for the hardtop or they could go down far enough to damage the softtop underneath. I could take some pics - which will make you laugh and open me to ridicule. I used all hardwarestore hardware for my hardtop, but it works! :lol: MJ
[Modified by MNJack, 11:55 AM 7/11/2003]
[Modified by MNJack, 11:55 AM 7/11/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
Re: (MNJack)
The one time I put my top on, I made studs out of threaded rod and used nuts and big flat washers underneath. There is plenty of room to get your hands and a ratchet up there.
The side mount brackets are a lot harder to line up and get screws thru. The only easy thing was the header clamps.
Joe
The side mount brackets are a lot harder to line up and get screws thru. The only easy thing was the header clamps.
Joe
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 473
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From: Raleigh NC
Re: (joe73vette)
Mine is set up like MNJacks with the studs and the screws. It also screws in the side of the deck lid as well.
I do NOT have the center screw on the rear deck lid, so I am assuming my top was added at some point (not original to the car).
Do you guys NOT use the center screw in the rear deck lid or did you add that?
I do NOT have the center screw on the rear deck lid, so I am assuming my top was added at some point (not original to the car).
Do you guys NOT use the center screw in the rear deck lid or did you add that?
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 111
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From: Golden CO
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (rparkervette)
I had a '69 with an original factory hardtop. The rear mounting bolts do fit into the latches on the rear deck. To secure them were two 1/4"steel, cross-shaped clamps. The center of each had a whole to slide on the bolt. The outer end of each cross was bent up about one and one-half inches. This allowed the cross to fit over the latch assy where the bolt comes thru deck. To hold them in place was a nut appox. 2" long that covered the entire exposed thread area of the bolt. I hope you can get some idea from this description...
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,367
Likes: 1,061
From: Virginia USA
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (criz51)
I had a '69 with an original factory hardtop. The rear mounting bolts do fit into the latches on the rear deck. To secure them were two 1/4"steel, cross-shaped clamps. The center of each had a whole to slide on the bolt. The outer end of each cross was bent up about one and one-half inches. This allowed the cross to fit over the latch assy where the bolt comes thru deck. To hold them in place was a nut appox. 2" long that covered the entire exposed thread area of the bolt. I hope you can get some idea from this description...
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 432
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From: Manchvegas NH
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (rparkervette)
The easiest way to mount the hardtop on the rear deck is to pop the rear deck open so that the folded soft top is not in your way. Place the hardtop bolts into the 2 holes on the deck. Screw the nuts onto the bolts using 2 wide washers, then close the deck and clip the front of the hardtop onto the windshield frame just the same as you do for the soft top. Also, there are 2 screwholes on the side of the deck, near the seatbacks. Find some screws that fit in there and use them.
It takes 2 people and it's a little clumsy, but I've done it both ways (deck opened and closed), and open is MUCH easier.
BTW: Driving the convertible with the hardtop mounted makes the car feel a lot different. You obviously feel a lot more enclosed, and the car feels tighter.
It takes 2 people and it's a little clumsy, but I've done it both ways (deck opened and closed), and open is MUCH easier.
BTW: Driving the convertible with the hardtop mounted makes the car feel a lot different. You obviously feel a lot more enclosed, and the car feels tighter.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Austin TX
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (rparkervette)
I've tried both ways - with bullet bolts sim to the softtop and with threaded rod, washers and wing nuts. If your catches are in good shape and if your bullet bolts have sharp shoulders, they work just fine.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (criz51)
Thanks for the tips on the rear mounting bolts. For the first time I sat the top on the car, lines up the front latches and rear bolts and everything went in just great- until, I went to see what I needed to attach the side brackets to. There must be something missing on my car itself because there isn't a receiving bracket anywhere! I'm assuming that it would be attached high up where the soft top bolts to. I can't find a diagram in the assembly manual or any parts catalogs. I guess I'm going to have to fabricate something to work. can anyone take a couple pic's if I beg? My car is an EARLY 68 which has some goffy ideas that were later changed. thanks again
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (rparkervette)
I was thinking the side bolts are only there on factory hardtop cars, same as the center locating pin. Correct.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (Eddie 70)
Hi
Yes, that's tue.
There should be some nuts enbedded into the deck lid very forward upper inner sides, just aft of the doors, where a bolt can be screwed in.
Here is a pic of a car, not mine.
By the way, also my car is a very early 68, build in Oct 67 .
Remember, 68 Vettes had no deck lid center post hole for the hardtop.
Gunther :seeya
[Modified by WESCH, 4:28 PM 7/13/2003]
[Modified by WESCH, 4:30 PM 7/13/2003]
Yes, that's tue.
There should be some nuts enbedded into the deck lid very forward upper inner sides, just aft of the doors, where a bolt can be screwed in.
Here is a pic of a car, not mine.
By the way, also my car is a very early 68, build in Oct 67 .
Remember, 68 Vettes had no deck lid center post hole for the hardtop.
Gunther :seeya
[Modified by WESCH, 4:28 PM 7/13/2003]
[Modified by WESCH, 4:30 PM 7/13/2003]
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (WESCH)
Thanks for the picture. My deck lid doesn't have the area for a bolt. I would have to ad to the lid with a little fiberglass and a bolt. I'm thinking of constructing a bracket that will bolt onto the frame where the soft top bolts to. Thanks for the great help.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
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From: Huntersville NC
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (rparkervette)
If you don't have the side holes then I would be more inclined to recommend that you hold down the back with studs and nuts, rather than pins that rely on the decklid springloaded latches. The pins could pop out...... the latches up front can come unlatched, and you could conceivably lose your top at speed... which would be a real bummer! :( The side bolts are extra security to keep the top well held down. MJ
Racer
Joined: May 2003
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From: Manchvegas NH
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (MNJack)
My car has the same side mounts as the above photo.
I also recommend going with the nuts and bolts. It's a PITA to mount, but it's solid, and something that you most likely won't take off for awhile anyway.
I also recommend going with the nuts and bolts. It's a PITA to mount, but it's solid, and something that you most likely won't take off for awhile anyway.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (pra4sun)
My car is a factory hardtop also. BTW, it too has the side bolts and center locating pin. And I was also under the impression that factory used some sort of wing nut to hold the top to the car. Doesn't the soft top pins in the hard top make it harder to get off of the car?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: Auxillary Hardtop Mounting Help Needed. (Eddie 70)
Well for now I wen't with what seemed easiest. Using the existing long bolts with the hard top on the car, I lifted the deck lid up (with help holding the top)and attached a large washer and nut. This actually turned out nice. It snugged down the top to make sure of a tight weatherstrip seal. I will still fabricate the needed brackets in the soon future. Thanks for everyones help. Its going to make my trip a little quieter and hold the a/c in the car a little longer and possible be able to hear my radio.