Does the attaching hardware change depending on the year of the hard top? I know that there are three different styles of targa tops, but curious on the hardtops for the convertibles. Is there two different ones? Lets say 86-90 and then 91-96?

 

They were designed to fit 1989-1996 convertibles. The hardware can be retrofit and cobbled up for them to fit 1986-1988 Corvettes but it is a lot of work and expense.
PM me if you need to retrofit to an older Vette and I can help you out.
There is a company called Smoothline that makes one to fit all C4 verts but they do not incorporate a factory roll bar like the OEM has.
My old 87:

 

I am looking at one listed locally to me. In the ad they say its for an early C4 convertible, but you are saying that hardtops were only ever made for the later years? I have a 96 and was not wanting to drive two hours in order to figure out it wouldn't fit on my car for the trip home.

Looking at the pics of the top, I see that it has the front mouting hardware in the 89-96 targa top triangle shape hardware. Does my convertible have the screws inside the header panel that will go into this top? I am used to the pull style levers the soft tops have.

 

They were a factory option from 89-96, but as Corvetteronw said can be modified to fit 86-88. Any factory top will fit a 89-96 vert with no mods. Make sure all the hardware is there, it gets expensive to piecemeal it. Your header should have the Torx screws in it already, the top should come with a Torx ratchet, wrench for the rear bolts, 2 side brackets with bolts, and the rear bolts.




Brackets and bolts.





Rear hardware, may be mounted to top.





Torx wrench.





Wrench for rear bolts, not factory, but you get the idea.

I love the hardtop on our 89, really stiffens the car up makes it a year round driver.

 

I'm sorry I have never had a factory top before so I am new to this. I am familiar with the wrench and the targa top mounting parts, but where do the brackets go? on the top? or on the car? (first pic you posted)

 

I have a smooth line that will fit fine and does not require hardware. Forsale!

 

There is a rectangular steel "roll bar" that is built into the factory top. The upper part of the "dog leg" bracket bolts to the roll bar and the lower portion of the bracket bolts to the body of the convertible.

 

I saw yours, but it is a little too $$ for me right now

Thanks so much for the pics! So here is the question, if the seller does not have the brackets for the back, how hard are they to get? Can the top be mounted and then safely transported at highway speeds without them?

 

The 86-88 convertibles do not have the B-pillar mounting points for the brackets. IIRC, there were adapter kits that were available from the aftermarket and they had to be welded in.

The GM hardtop was designed with a "halo bar" inside it (just like the coupes have) so that when it was properly installed, the convertible body was actually stiffer than the coupe body. The connecting brackets tied the B-pillars together and the convertibles has the undercar X-brace that was not on the coupe

The windshield header mounting brackets do have to match what is on the hardtop. The brackets on the rear decklid have to be able to allow the hardtop locating pins to drop in and the decklid brackets have to have the welded nut on them to allow the rear pins to screw into place.

I would advise not to install a GM hardtop on the earlier cars where the only attaching points are the windshield header and the decklid latches. Without the B-pillar brackets in place, the convertible body could flex to the point where the decklid latches could twist and break the decklid. The GM hardtop weighs about 65 lbs.

For your '96. a factory GM hardtop will work. The windshield header screws should already be there. Same with the decklid latches; they will have that nut welded in.

The hardtop also has a defogger built into it, but IIRC, you need to do some wiring to get it to work. There is a hot wire under the carpet near the passenger side shoulder belt mount tower. A ground wire will have to be made and it installs near the driver's side shoulder belt tower. The owner's manual should have instruction on the operation.

I really liked having a hardtop on my old '92 'vert. Exhaust resonance went away and the car was free of squeaks and rattles. Getting stuff in and out of the rear storage area was a PITA tho.....

 

What size ratcheting wrench will I need for the rear bolts?

 

I think it is an 8mm, but I will double check tomorrow when I get home from work.

 

 

Thanks guys!