optonal hardtop
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Pa
optonal hardtop
I just purchased a used 94 hardtop for my 93 vert. What is needed to mount this hardtop to my car. I haven't tried to fit it yet, but there are 2 posts where the reqular top would mount in the rear, 2 boxed sides with 2 mounting locations also in the rear (behind doors) and 2 tork screws up front, maybe T-45, I haven't checked. Hope I can get some help with this one before it gets painted. Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The factory hardtop comes with 2 steel brackets to mount the top to the B-pillars. These brackets use 5 bolts per side; the bolts have washers on them. The vert windshield pillar has encapsulated bolts at each corner to attach to the hardtop mounting plate. These bolts, and the bracket bolts are a Torx T-40. Didn't you get the brackets and bolts with the hardtop?? They are hard to miss; about 10" long by 4" wide and weigh about 3 pounds each.
The locating pins at the rear of the hardtop also have encapsulated bolts that screw into a nut that is welded on the bottom of the decklid retaining clamps. Open the decklid and you can see them. This bolt is 8mm (5/16") Use a small ratcheting wrench to tighten the bolt.
Do not attach the hardtop and drive the car unless the side brackets are in place. The body will flex enough so that you risk damaging the decklid or the clamping pieces.
The locating pins at the rear of the hardtop also have encapsulated bolts that screw into a nut that is welded on the bottom of the decklid retaining clamps. Open the decklid and you can see them. This bolt is 8mm (5/16") Use a small ratcheting wrench to tighten the bolt.
Do not attach the hardtop and drive the car unless the side brackets are in place. The body will flex enough so that you risk damaging the decklid or the clamping pieces.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Pa
The only thing I received was the very 2 rear bolts where the top goes down to the decklid. Does anyone sell all of the brackets and bolts as a kit? If I have to I suppose I could fabricate everything. Any info would be appreciated....thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
You should be able to get the brackets and bolts from GM. You do have the factory top, right?? The brackets and bolts should have been part of the deal!! Can you contact the person you got the top from and ask about the stuff?
There is an also aftermarket top made by Speed Line that does not use the B-pillar brackets. It's much lighter than the OEM top (which weighs about 70lbs) and has no "halo" in it. The OEM top has a heavy bar similar to the coupe roll bar and that is what makes the hardtop stiffen the vert up so much.
There is an also aftermarket top made by Speed Line that does not use the B-pillar brackets. It's much lighter than the OEM top (which weighs about 70lbs) and has no "halo" in it. The OEM top has a heavy bar similar to the coupe roll bar and that is what makes the hardtop stiffen the vert up so much.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Pa
thanks so MUCH! It is a factory hardtop. I bought it from a gentleman tht bought a lot of Corvette items on a pallet. The only reason I bought it was because the rear defrost window was mint and all of the weatherstripping was a 98% and headliner was a 100%. But I searched all of the boxes on the pallot and couldn't come up with anything but the bolts for the rear deck lid. I assume that nuts with washers attatch to hold down the rear?
Any idea if anyone sell these other items aftermarket, I already did a nationwide search on the parts and checked Al Knoch
Any idea if anyone sell these other items aftermarket, I already did a nationwide search on the parts and checked Al Knoch
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Enon OH
I don't think there's anyone who makes an aftermarket bracket, but you could probably have your local metal shop fabricate you a pair - they're not complicated in the least. Each side is just an L bracket with 5 holes drilled in it at the correct locations.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
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
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,187
Likes: 309
From: SIMSBURY CT
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '25
I bought my top without the brackets and "accidently" found an individual that sold me the brackets and bolts for $100.
I would call all the Corvette used/salvage part places you can find and someone will probably have them. I think Stoudts (I'm not sure of that spelling) in PA. had them last year.
If you want the installation instructions send me an e-mail and I'll send them to you. (Original GM instruction book).
I would call all the Corvette used/salvage part places you can find and someone will probably have them. I think Stoudts (I'm not sure of that spelling) in PA. had them last year.
If you want the installation instructions send me an e-mail and I'll send them to you. (Original GM instruction book).
Last edited by CTYANK2; Sep 27, 2004 at 09:58 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by Chris9
Send this guy a email
vette2vette.com <corvettesalvage@mchsi.com>
He has help me to get the parts to retrofit my 1987 Vert to accept a 1990's hardtop.
vette2vette.com <corvettesalvage@mchsi.com>
He has help me to get the parts to retrofit my 1987 Vert to accept a 1990's hardtop.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by 93convtLT1
thanks so MUCH! It is a factory hardtop. I bought it from a gentleman tht bought a lot of Corvette items on a pallet. The only reason I bought it was because the rear defrost window was mint and all of the weatherstripping was a 98% and headliner was a 100%. But I searched all of the boxes on the pallot and couldn't come up with anything but the bolts for the rear deck lid. I assume that nuts with washers attatch to hold down the rear?
Any idea if anyone sell these other items aftermarket, I already did a nationwide search on the parts and checked Al Knoch
Any idea if anyone sell these other items aftermarket, I already did a nationwide search on the parts and checked Al Knoch
These bolts screw into a nut welded on the bottom of the decklid latch
Go to your Chevy dealer and see if the brackets in ruby9246's pic above (print the pic and take with you ) still shows up as a valid part number.
