How does a top just crack??
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg PA
Re: How does a top just crack?? (GoodbyeGirl)
Did just the glass brake and not the frame? If so, save the top and take it to Carlisle in August if you can wait that long. I think I paid $400.00 or $450.00 last year for mine. Sure beats buying a new replacement at $1200.00. You can also check out CF to see if anyone is selling theirs or Ebay.
Mine was cracked when I bought it in the top back right corner - this was because the previous owner didn't know how to tuck the top in the back correctly.
Mine was cracked when I bought it in the top back right corner - this was because the previous owner didn't know how to tuck the top in the back correctly.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,902
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Suburbs IL
Re: How does a top just crack?? (Ron G 1992)
happened with my brothers 87 put the top in the back and slammed the hatch (happened 2 days after he bought it) and the glass cracked the top :nonod: I know to never be in a rush with my top now :yesnod:
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 29,937
Likes: 22
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Cruise-In 1-2-3-4-5 Veteran
Re: How does a top just crack?? (vettemanjoe87)
Freeze...thaw...freeze...thaw...freeze.. .crack.
Also, acrylic plastics degrade over time with exposure to UV light. Check it out. "Bulletproof" lexan in armored cars only carries a 1-year manufacturer's warranty. Six years is about average for a car that spends its time outside in a driveway through four-season weather.
Our tops are clear-coated acrylic. You shouldn't care for them like glass. Since they are clear-coated, you have to treat them like painted panels - clean them with car-safe soap, and apply regular coats of wax or polish, preferably a wax with UV absorbers.
Also, acrylic plastics degrade over time with exposure to UV light. Check it out. "Bulletproof" lexan in armored cars only carries a 1-year manufacturer's warranty. Six years is about average for a car that spends its time outside in a driveway through four-season weather.
Our tops are clear-coated acrylic. You shouldn't care for them like glass. Since they are clear-coated, you have to treat them like painted panels - clean them with car-safe soap, and apply regular coats of wax or polish, preferably a wax with UV absorbers.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
From: Astoria OR
Re: How does a top just crack?? (Matt Black)
Thinking about it I may have done it while jacking up the rear side of the car. I'm painting the rims and remember hearing somthing when I jacked up the corner. Sound possible or am I thinking too much? Maybe I should loosen it next time I jack up the car?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,089
Likes: 12
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
Re: How does a top just crack?? (Tim89)
I was told for the first time the other day, that when jacking up my car to unbolt the top. I don't know if that is right or not, but I can see where jacking the car with the top bolted might crack it.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 15,921
Likes: 0
From: College of Charleston, SC
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: How does a top just crack?? (C4Cvette)
I was told for the first time the other day, that when jacking up my car to unbolt the top. I don't know if that is right or not, but I can see where jacking the car with the top bolted might crack it.
C4s flex so much, you need to loosen the top. The muffler shop I went to for elims, and my uncle's shop, both say to loosen the top.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Kokomo IN
Re: How does a top just crack?? (Tim89)
It makes sense to me to remove/loosen the top when jacking a corner of the car.
If you drive your car without the top, notice how much the body flexes/creaks/groans. Put the top back on, and most of this goes away. That tells me that the top bears a large amount of the stresses on the chassis when it is flexed. Jacking the fiberglass body puts a huge load on the top. Eventually the weakest point will let go. :smash:
The devils advocate might wonder what the weakest point is if you remove the top. Maybe the top is the cheaper/better alternative?
Don
If you drive your car without the top, notice how much the body flexes/creaks/groans. Put the top back on, and most of this goes away. That tells me that the top bears a large amount of the stresses on the chassis when it is flexed. Jacking the fiberglass body puts a huge load on the top. Eventually the weakest point will let go. :smash:
The devils advocate might wonder what the weakest point is if you remove the top. Maybe the top is the cheaper/better alternative?
Don
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 11,259
Likes: 6
From: dfw TX
Moderatrix
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: How does a top just crack?? (dtw50)
:yesnod: My 85 has some bad cracks throughout the instrument panel carrier (the area the dash stuff sits INSIDE OF!) No more topless for me, I don't want to cause any worse damage to all the plastic pieces inside the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,714
Likes: 0
From: Jeffersonville Indiana
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: How does a top just crack?? (Tim89)
Thinking about it I may have done it while jacking up the rear side of the car. I'm painting the rims and remember hearing somthing when I jacked up the corner. Sound possible or am I thinking too much? Maybe I should loosen it next time I jack up the car?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
From: Astoria OR
Re: How does a top just crack?? (Tim89)
Well I learned my lession, now I just need to find a new one.
I have this up in the parts section too but if anyone has a black top that will fit an 89 please email me. Thanks.
espo_18@yahoo.com
I have this up in the parts section too but if anyone has a black top that will fit an 89 please email me. Thanks.
espo_18@yahoo.com