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Dumb Question - Power Top??

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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 09:42 PM
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Default Dumb Question - Power Top??

My wife has a '98 vert but at 5'3" and being fairly small, she hasn't quite mastered the details of successfully getting the top up and down on her own yet. Anybody ever seen a power conversion for the C5 tops?

I just got an '06 vert and I feel bad that about having a power top when she doesn't. She loves her Vette but I think she's missing out on what a vert is all about.
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 09:47 PM
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This is not a dumb question b/ its come up before twice before that I can remember so your not the only one. Without doing a search I am 99% sure the answer is no
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 10:20 PM
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Have not seen any conversion kit to do this on the C5. Sorry.
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 10:35 PM
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This seems like a really dumb answer, so forgive me. Has she ever tried the top with a small foot stool?

Dave
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Old Mar 12, 2008 | 02:46 AM
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There is one but I dont have the link. maybe a google search will bring it up

The catch is it adds weight and takes up all the trunk space. Oh and it costs a lot of $$$$$$$

I'd say a bit more on the job training is needed
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Old Mar 12, 2008 | 04:49 AM
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i havent seen one, and personally think power top is not necessary, since manually take the top down takes me only 20-30 seconds, + manual top will give you more trunk space, i guess?
patrick
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Old Mar 12, 2008 | 07:43 AM
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It's not a dumb question, but not a good mod.
The top, even at 5'3" is just so easy.
You live in FLA? Teach her how to do it right and enjoy the ride.
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Old Mar 12, 2008 | 07:44 AM
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Practice, practice, practice- that's gotta help her regardless of how small she is! Good luck to her, hope it works out! Ron
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Old Mar 12, 2008 | 10:07 AM
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Originally Posted by RSchleder
Practice, practice, practice- that's gotta help her regardless of how small she is! Good luck to her, hope it works out! Ron
I have to agree. It takes practice.
My wife is 5'0". She can put the top down by herself,
with ease I might add. Just takes practice.
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Old Mar 12, 2008 | 04:30 PM
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Get her a C6 w/ a power top and your problems are solved.
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Old Mar 12, 2008 | 04:58 PM
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WOW
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 07:15 AM
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Originally Posted by AlisonC5
WOW
Very useful...

Anyway, the previous owner replaced the top and it definitely has some issues. Maybe that's why the top is such a bear. We'll have to work with it some more and see if we can't get it to go up and down easier. Pretty much right now if you don't grab the top in the middle when trying to get it back up it will catch on one side or the other and not go up. If you could just pull it up from the side it wouldn't be a problem but having to reach completely into the car from the side and start pulling up from the middle is what does not work so well for her.

Thanks to those that submitted constructive replies.
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 07:36 AM
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Lower the car more so she can get to it.
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 08:33 AM
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There is only 1 answer really.
Buy her a C6...
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by ShinodaVette
Very useful...

Anyway, the previous owner replaced the top and it definitely has some issues. Maybe that's why the top is such a bear. We'll have to work with it some more and see if we can't get it to go up and down easier. Pretty much right now if you don't grab the top in the middle when trying to get it back up it will catch on one side or the other and not go up. If you could just pull it up from the side it wouldn't be a problem but having to reach completely into the car from the side and start pulling up from the middle is what does not work so well for her.

Thanks to those that submitted constructive replies.
My bad, you did not mention there was a problem with the top!!! My 9 year old daughter can put ours up and down, that's why you got the "WOW".

Now stop being selfish and put her in that C6!!!

Andy (nothing personal, its the nicotine withdrawls!)
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 12:46 PM
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I don't think the power mechanism on the C6 is really taking up that much room in the trunk. The trunk is generally much smaller on a C6 than on a C5 - with or without the power top. It's smaller because the car is about four inches shorter - and most of that difference is in the area behind the seats, and the fact that there is a permanent partition between the trunk area and the seats.

That said - I'm not familiar with a power top conversion on a C5, Chevrolet didn't bother with it because they felt weight was an issue and left the top manual.

I agree - give your vertically challenged spouse the C6 with the power top and keep the C5 for your self.
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 04:45 PM
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Let her have the C6.

Here is a video of just how hard it is to put the top up. I am the cameraman. Uh, the fat dude is my neighbor, yeah, that's the ticket, the fat guy is my neighbor from across the street, I let him drive my car and put the top up.

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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 05:23 PM
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Wow that's the easiest thing I've ever seen in my life....cool vid
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 05:32 PM
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Both my C5,s are converticoupes. Electric over hydraulic push button operated provide effortless operation without issues.







Last edited by AA2PR; Mar 13, 2008 at 05:35 PM.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by AlisonC5
My bad, you did not mention there was a problem with the top!!! My 9 year old daughter can put ours up and down, that's why you got the "WOW".

Now stop being selfish and put her in that C6!!!

Andy (nothing personal, its the nicotine withdrawls!)
I understand now. Especially after seeing the video that was posted. Holy Cow there as to be a real problem with our C5 top. I guess I'll go down the path of figuring out what the heck is wrong with the top.
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