88 vert - hard top install?
- 1986 Original Owner -
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: North Yorkshire, England
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Here ya go John,
Of course the CC2 option wasn't available until the '89 MY so the bracket that the convertible top is attached to in your car won't accept the Lock Pillar Bracket. You'll need the retrofit kit to attach a GM hardtop to your '88.
Of course the CC2 option wasn't available until the '89 MY so the bracket that the convertible top is attached to in your car won't accept the Lock Pillar Bracket. You'll need the retrofit kit to attach a GM hardtop to your '88.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 7
From: Kanata ON.
Thanks, I've been trying to get a hard top for auto Xcrossing events for a few years. I have all the instructions and some of the parts but I'm finding out the hard way that there is more to this then meets the eye. The brackets by the B-pillar are different and I need a pair to pick up a hard top in Fredricksburg VA. when I go to Carlisle in August. 
Anyone with answers!
John
Anyone with answers!
John
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Everyone needs something to believe in, I believe I'll have another beer. Wisconsin
- 1986 Original Owner -
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 139
From: North Yorkshire, England
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Cruise-In III Veteran
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Cruise-In VII Veteran
John,
It's more than just the B-Pillar brackets. The steel mounts at the windshield header also are replaced. These have the holes for bolting up the front of the hardtop as well as the holes for the convertible. The kit also came with a new trim piece for the windshield that has the matching hole to get to the bolt, but you could easily drill out the original trim to accommodate. The rear mounts at the stowage compartment lid are different as well. They are threaded to accept the hardtop bolts. These may be the parts you have, if so, all you need is the B-Pillar bracket that the convertible top frame also bolts to. Good luck in your search. If you have all the other parts, you may be able to get by with just the front and rear mounts, doing the B-Pillar when you get those brackets. You wouldn't have the structural rigidity, but at least it would stay on during your trip. I actually bought and installed the retro-fit kit back in 1990, but understand that it is very hard to find now.
It's more than just the B-Pillar brackets. The steel mounts at the windshield header also are replaced. These have the holes for bolting up the front of the hardtop as well as the holes for the convertible. The kit also came with a new trim piece for the windshield that has the matching hole to get to the bolt, but you could easily drill out the original trim to accommodate. The rear mounts at the stowage compartment lid are different as well. They are threaded to accept the hardtop bolts. These may be the parts you have, if so, all you need is the B-Pillar bracket that the convertible top frame also bolts to. Good luck in your search. If you have all the other parts, you may be able to get by with just the front and rear mounts, doing the B-Pillar when you get those brackets. You wouldn't have the structural rigidity, but at least it would stay on during your trip. I actually bought and installed the retro-fit kit back in 1990, but understand that it is very hard to find now.
Last edited by Ray Quayle; Jul 22, 2007 at 04:30 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 7
From: Kanata ON.
I have everything BUT the b-pillar brackets, but I'm a little apprehensive driving the car for 12 hours without them! I don't really want to damage the rear deck.
I actually spoke to a corvette shop in MO. on Saturday morning that will be making some but not untill September.
John
I actually spoke to a corvette shop in MO. on Saturday morning that will be making some but not untill September.
John
Last edited by JohnyH; Jul 22, 2007 at 07:34 AM. Reason: the english language!
