I just bought a factory hardtop (not aftermarket) for my 96 and am not pleased by the little gap in the back when on, I have it down as tight as it goes and there is weather stripping but it is not making good contact with the body is this normal? Is there some trick on the back pegs? I adjusted them as far as they could go but then they did not make enough contact to engage so I had to loosen them a few turns. Mine has the striker bolt, then a washer then a nut then a grommet (rubber) then another washer and another nut. Any help would be great.

 

The striker bolt is not original. Somebody put that on there from a soft top.....won't work right (as you figured out). You need long metric bolts that go down from inside and thread into the captive nuts on the bottom of the latch you are trying to push the striker into. Take the top off and open up the convert rear deck....see the nuts on the bottom of the latches? The bolts are still available from GM if you want oem. Otherwise a bolt store ( tack a latch with you for the proper thread).

 

Ballonfoot is definitely right. What you have really isn't the correct way. But, if you go back and forth between the hardtop and soft top frequently, the soft top strikers are easier, but probably not better. I run the strikers because it takes less than 5 minutes to install the hardtop by myself, and I'm lazy, as opposed to the bolts and limited access. Here's what I did. Do this on level ground. Place both strikers into the locked position in the decklid with a stainless nut run all the way down the striker, and a large stainless flat washer above the nut. Now, carefully lower the hardtop over the strikers. Tighten the two bolts in the windshield frame. Adjust the nuts on the strikers so there is a little space between the top of the flat washer, and the bottom of the hard top fastening points. When you get that right and equal on both sides, add another large flat washer, and stainless nut on the top side of the attachment points. When you tighten the top nuts that little space will dissappear as you squash the bottom weather stripping against the decklid, and make a nice tight seal. Once it's adjusted correctly, you won't have to fuss with it again. I also don't use the attachment points behind the doors, as I didn't receive them with the hardtop. What I just told you isn't correct, but it works, is airtight, and doesn't budge even at triple digit speeds. If you do use all of the correct mounting brackets/hardware designed for the hardtop, it will actually stiffen the car, and make it handle that much better. Either way, you're going to love having the option of the hardtop. Good luck.

 

I forgot to ask you if you got the side brackets with it. One side, I think it is the passenger side, is easy to come by ( buy it now). The other side is REALLY hard to find. GM no longer has them and the aftermarket guys don't make them. Start looking. If you bought a top and it had the brackets....you are lucky....most tops don't have the brackets with them.

 

right on thanks you guy's, now i have a better concept of how it is supposed to be. Yes I got both of the brackets with the top but they seem a little off for alighing with the bottom holes will work on that tomorrow. Again thanks!

 

Update, got all new mounting bolts, and it sucked right down and everything lined up great! Feels a lot more stable with the brackets on. Going to be a bummer when I pull it off this spring

 

Love the look with the Hardtop. Looks like an early Z06
I found its like a different car with the hardtop installed, handles much better, less rattles and obviously quieter.
After saying all that I cant wait for the days of topless summer driving.
This has been one brutal cold snowy winter.