1984 convertible
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
1984 convertible
I Need help. Last fall, i bought what i hope to be my first corvette. It is a 1984 convertible. The price was right, so I did little reseach. As i now know, Corvette did not make a 84 convertible. The original owner made a retractable top, out of the frame work of the original removable top, and removed the rear posts and rear window. He did an ok job, and when new, worked just fine. It is not new anymore, and I am having a hard time repairing the false roof. I am looking for the dimensions, and possibly some photo's of an 86' vette roof. I am considering installing that on my 84'. Has anybody run into this before?
Is there a company I am not aware of that makes custom, after-market roofs for corvettes?
Is there a company I am not aware of that makes custom, after-market roofs for corvettes?
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
The original owner, who took the roof off, was an Auto body shop owner in Minneapolis. He welded a steel frame across the the car, after he romoved the top post, located 5" off the rear deck, behind the seats. I have tried sending a photo with this reply, but am unable to.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,130
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From: Georgia
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 34
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From: Houston TX
I want to see this.
Did he cross member the frame? Did you know that it was a converted hardtop when you bought the car? What the hell did your insurance company say when you told them you had an 84 convertable corvette?
Did he cross member the frame? Did you know that it was a converted hardtop when you bought the car? What the hell did your insurance company say when you told them you had an 84 convertable corvette?
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Still have not seen any pics of an 86' convertible roof. AJC, i sent you some pictures of the car, but not the actual frame work. I will work on, and get to you. The main photo's I need are where the roof attaches to the car, behind the seats, and at the top of the windshield. I would also like a photo of the roof, fully retracted inside the car. Thanks for your help!!
I did not realize it was not the correct roof until after I paid for the car. My insurance company did not ask if it was a convertible, but they do have pictures.
I did not realize it was not the correct roof until after I paid for the car. My insurance company did not ask if it was a convertible, but they do have pictures.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,830
Likes: 20
From: Las Vegas Nevada
If you can get some pic's up of the top/frame/rear end of your car I'm happy to help figure out a way you may be able to "refresh" or repair what you have. That, or you may want to go the route of replacing your top with a proper C4 'vert top and frame. I am a body man, and do extensive restoration and fabrication work. I love this kind of project. To fit correct C4 'vert parts you will need at a minimum of the following parts from a C4 'vert: rear clip (quarter panels, both sides, all one piece on a vert), fuel door, convertible top frame, rear convertible top deck, and probably a few other misc. parts. The windshield frames are the same, but the 'vert uses latches like conventional convertible to secure the top to the frame, the coupe uses torx bolts one on each side above the driver and passenger. I am sure you could unbolt the brackets from a 'vert with the levers and replace them with the brackets from the coupe that use the torx bolts. Short story is the windshield frame should not be an issue.
Here are a few pic's of 'vert C4s:
Here are a few pic's of 'vert C4s:
Last edited by VtVette; Nov 2, 2007 at 08:29 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
From: Okeechobee FL
Looks like an '86 that I was looking at, which made no sense because they made a factory Vert that year. But the rear deck looks the same. The owner told me that he bought a new convertible top, but it wouldn't fit, so they must have used some other convertible top frame to build it. Here are a couple pics:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,830
Likes: 20
From: Las Vegas Nevada
The coupe rear (where the rear hatch glass meets the body) narrows as it goes back to the rear of the car. It's too narrow at the rear to accommodate a C4 'vert top. If you look at the pic's of the 'verts I posted in this thread you see the hatch that opens to allow the folding top to fold into the body when the top is down is wider than the opening of a coupe. You could not mount a 'vert folding top into a coupe without at least changing the rear clip from a coupe to a 'vert.
5th Gear
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: West Des Moines
I also have an 84 vert. It is exactly like the yellow car. I have pictures but I guess my status wont let me post. I also have the convertible top but it is not on the car right now.
Last edited by ripepsi; Nov 5, 2007 at 10:04 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,830
Likes: 20
From: Las Vegas Nevada
