Hardtop Brackets
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Hardtop Brackets
Purchased a hardtop this winter for my '94 coupe. Was told by the seller that it was off of a 94. I was going to put it on last weekend and found that the front attachment brackets are wrong. They don't match up with the attachment bolt. It appears that this top was off of an earlier C-4. Are there a some type of adapter brackets available so that I will be able to use this top? If so, where can I find them? Thanks for your help.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The convertible hardtop (RPO CC2) was available beginning with the 1989 modle year. There were no differences in the front attaching brackets from 89 thru 96. The encapsulated bolt in the windshield header is the same forr those years and is in the same location.
The attaching brackets do have some adjustment to them. Loosen the bolts on the brackets so they can just barely move. Put the top on and raise the encapsulated bolt in the windshield header.
Screw in the bolt for the first couple of threads and then carefully back the bolt out. Raise the top and carefully tighten the bolts on the attaching brackets.
There was retrofit kits at one point so that the hardtp could be installed on 86-88 'verts. It could be that the top came off an early car and had the retrofit brackets installed.
The attaching brackets do have some adjustment to them. Loosen the bolts on the brackets so they can just barely move. Put the top on and raise the encapsulated bolt in the windshield header.
Screw in the bolt for the first couple of threads and then carefully back the bolt out. Raise the top and carefully tighten the bolts on the attaching brackets.
There was retrofit kits at one point so that the hardtp could be installed on 86-88 'verts. It could be that the top came off an early car and had the retrofit brackets installed.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
I did lossen the brackets on the top and they do move maybe a quarter inch each way, however the bolt in the windshield header is at least a half inch or more from the threaded opening in the bracket.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 881
Likes: 24
From: Coquitlam BC
I did the same thing - bought a good used hardtop for my 92 and found that it didn't bolt down in the front. I did some reading and, if I'm not mistaken, in '92 Chev revamped the weatherstripping to get a better seal. This apparently caused them to change the locations of the front locator bolts. So now I have a beautiful Torch Red hardtop with a Black headliner sitting in the back of my car where it looks perfect! Too bad I can't mount it! Anyone wanna swap?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 881
Likes: 24
From: Coquitlam BC
I stand corrected! There were 3 different types of brackets used on C4's. '84 - '86 (early) used one version, '86 (late) - '88 used another, and the '89's used the third type which were triangular in shape. I'm now trying to figure out if you can simply remove the brackets and swap over to another type, but I haven't got enough information to say for sure yet. Anyone done this before? I apparently have an '86 (late) - 88 top and want to use it on my '92. Help!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 123
From: Birmingham AL
By reading this post, it seems that both of you have tops to fit the 86L-88 cars. I seem to remember that there was a kit to fit a later top on an earlier car, but not the other way around. Maybe someone will swap with you if you can find the opposite situation.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
Purchased a hardtop this winter for my '94 coupe. Was told by the seller that it was off of a 94. I was going to put it on last weekend and found that the front attachment brackets are wrong. They don't match up with the attachment bolt. It appears that this top was off of an earlier C-4. Are there a some type of adapter brackets available so that I will be able to use this top? If so, where can I find them? Thanks for your help.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The hardtop was introduced in 1989. TYo install the hardtop on the earlier cars, you need a retrofit kit to install that enables the OEM hardtop brackets to be used.
These kits aren't available new anymore, but you might be able to find them at one of the Corvette salvage yards. IIRC, the retrofit kit is welded in place.
These kits aren't available new anymore, but you might be able to find them at one of the Corvette salvage yards. IIRC, the retrofit kit is welded in place.
