Removable Hardtop Questions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Pasco WA
Removable Hardtop Questions
I bought a hardtop the other day, havn't picked it up yet. (It's a 5 hour drive away) They said they did't have any of the tools necessary for installation. What do I need to take with me, and what do I need to know about installing a hardtop on a 89 convertible? It's from a 90. Thanks for any help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 0
From: Northern tip of Virginia
Re: Removable Hardtop Questions (ddsovy)
you need a torx wrench #40 I think.
It needs to fit the torx bolts that are abouve the winshield at the mounting locations.
you also need a ratcheting boxend 5/16-3/8" (an open end combo will work, although slower.
mounting instructions should be in you owners manual.... but I will post them in a minute when I find them.
It needs to fit the torx bolts that are abouve the winshield at the mounting locations.
you also need a ratcheting boxend 5/16-3/8" (an open end combo will work, although slower.
mounting instructions should be in you owners manual.... but I will post them in a minute when I find them.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,763
Likes: 1
From: Connectivette
Re: Removable Hardtop Questions (ddsovy)
You must have bought a GM top. I have a smoothline top which doesn't require any tools. You'll need the tools necessary to bolt the top down by the set belts behind the seats. Not sure what they are but "phil-the-rush" and "raysur" here on the forum have gm tops. try to send them an e-mail
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 1
From: Winter Park Fl
Re: Removable Hardtop Questions (ddsovy)
A standard length #40 torx is too short for the bolts in the header. Ecklers sells a long #40 with a cheap 1/4" drive ratchet for $20 if you can find just the loger #40 you'll won't feel so ripped off. Metric sockets, box ends or preferabaly ratchet box ends will do the trick on the other hardware.
Make sure you get the "L" bracket behind the seats, your car does not have them.
Don't forget to unhook the defogger wires befor lifting the top off.
Use two people to lift off the top (it weighs 71 pounds with hardware), and don't rest the top on the trailing edge (under the rear window). The edge chips easily.
6 mounth ago I purchased a hardtop on Ebay and I just went through all this.
If I can be of any help please feel free to epmail me.
Good luck,
Make sure you get the "L" bracket behind the seats, your car does not have them.
Don't forget to unhook the defogger wires befor lifting the top off.
Use two people to lift off the top (it weighs 71 pounds with hardware), and don't rest the top on the trailing edge (under the rear window). The edge chips easily.
6 mounth ago I purchased a hardtop on Ebay and I just went through all this.
If I can be of any help please feel free to epmail me.
Good luck,
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Re: Removable Hardtop Questions (ddsovy)
If the donor car had the hardtop as a factory option, RPO CC2, ask the seller if you can remove the defogger ground wire lead from the car. These are no longer available as a separate item and the connectors aren't available as a set. Just clip the wire close to the body attaching point. The defogger works from the heated mirror button on the A/C controller.
Also the hardtop option came with a molded protector for the rear deck tray. There are 10 bolts that are used to attach the steel brackets to the top and the car. Two of these have small washers and the other 8 have a larger washer.
Make sure you install the top properly according to the manual. Don't drive the car with just the windshield header bolts and the rear hold down latch bolts.
Also the hardtop option came with a molded protector for the rear deck tray. There are 10 bolts that are used to attach the steel brackets to the top and the car. Two of these have small washers and the other 8 have a larger washer.
Make sure you install the top properly according to the manual. Don't drive the car with just the windshield header bolts and the rear hold down latch bolts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,713
Likes: 0
CI 1 through 10 Vet
Re: Removable Hardtop Questions (ddsovy)
If the donor car was a CC2 from the factory, the car was shipped with the wrenches you need. It might be worth asking if the original owner still has them. The torx ratchet was stamped with "Corvette". The ratcheting box wrench also shipped with the car in a small cloth velcro pouch, but can be purchased anywhere. Like some of the above gentlemen have mentioned, be sure and get the b-pillar mounting brackets and all the attachment bolts which attach your top to the pivot brackets of the convertible, and also the "package tray" which slips in place inside the car on your decklid. I dont remember which year the update was made to the convertible hardware, but if your copnvertible pivot brackets dont have a protuding leg which will accept the brackets for the hardtop, you will also have to change them out.
hope this helps.
good luck
lightfoot
hope this helps.
good luck
lightfoot
