Will acrylic tops shatter?

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May 25, 2005 | 07:33 AM

Railfan

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Burning Brakes

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From: Traverse City Michigan

Will acrylic tops shatter?

I was recently warned that I should remove my acrylic top on my coupe before jacking it up, do to flexing of the car. If left on, I was told that the top could crack, or even shatter. Any truth to this?

May 25, 2005 | 07:47 AM

ArmyVette

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From: Just a little outside San Antonio, Texas

This is an old wives tale. The structure of the Vette is strong enough that you do NOT have to worry about this issue.

Verts and coupes have the same chassis; no problem ever jacking up the Vert. Think about it. You've got a roll bar build into the frame on your coupe. No flexing there!

May 25, 2005 | 07:58 AM

JLA

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From: Bealeton Virginia

Mine was up/down/up/down 2 weekends in a row. Never took the top off. -0- prob's.

May 25, 2005 | 01:19 PM

Vetteman Jack

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Had my car up on a jack many, many times in the four + years I have had it and almost always with the top latched on. No problems with cracking, etc. so far.

May 25, 2005 | 01:25 PM

British

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From: Dallas TX

If your car was going to flex that bad from jacking it up, I'd think the top would be the least of your worries!

May 25, 2005 | 01:40 PM

Benpup

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From: Retired but working

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I had a 63 SW and I was told that wen jacking to open the doors and the hood as the FG was straight line bonded (top of fenders etc.)
Some I saw did crack at the joints, but the new ones are "not to worry."

May 25, 2005 | 01:43 PM

cadams

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From: Columbus OH

i doubt thats its acrylic anyway...isn't polycarbonate or something?

nonetheless, both materials flex nicely, but like all above said, there shouldn't be any torque on the top when on the lift

May 25, 2005 | 02:28 PM

HummelS

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From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmyVette

This is an old wives tale. The structure of the Vette is strong enough that you do NOT have to worry about this issue.

It's certainly true that you don't need to do this with the C5, but my C4 body-colored roof panel had a stress crack because the roof wasn't removed when it was jacked. So, it's an old wives tale with some historical precedent.