How do you take the top apart?
Thread Starter
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
How do you take the top apart?
Finally found a new hardtop for my targa coupe. Problem is, it's silver and my Corvette is black. Gotta get it painted.
I can get a great deal on painting it IF I take it apart where the painter has nothing to do but shoot the color.
Anyone got a tech assembly manual or can point me toward the instructions to take the thing apart the right way?
I can get a great deal on painting it IF I take it apart where the painter has nothing to do but shoot the color.
Anyone got a tech assembly manual or can point me toward the instructions to take the thing apart the right way?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,665
Likes: 56
Don't take it apart, it'd be a nightmare, if you could do it. The simple solution is to tape it up yourself, then take it to him. Even if you leave a margin of error on your taping, you'll never notice as he's painting black and trim is black.
best of luck,
josh
best of luck,
josh
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by PaceThis
Don't take it apart, it'd be a nightmare, if you could do it. The simple solution is to tape it up yourself, then take it to him. Even if you leave a margin of error on your taping, you'll never notice as he's painting black and trim is black.
best of luck,
josh
best of luck,
josh
You actually cant take it apart, the frame is bonded to the skin. The best you could do is maybe remove the headliner but my question is why? Tape that puppy up yourself and bring it to the painter. He will be happy and so will you. In fact 3m Just came out with a knife edge mask that is gauranteed not to bleed, seep or wick. 
Good Luck 
Thread Starter
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
Thanks, but that's not really an option. The headliner is coming unglued and I've got to glue it back anyway, so that means taking the frame off whether I paint it or not.
Still looking for info on how to disassemble.
Still looking for info on how to disassemble.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 607
Likes: 9
From: Sandy Eggo, California
Like these other members have explained, it doesn’t come apart. The top is glued to the frame. The best you can do is to remove the side weather stripping, metal clips, and the metal weather stripping track on both sides, which I don’t recommend at all. The weather stripping is also glued to the frame on the front and rear end, and you’ll destroy the rubber stripping completely if you try peeling it off. It'll come off in pieces. New weather stripping at the dealer is $68.00 per side. That's a $138.00 mistake!
Otherwise, the only parts you can remove are the front two latches with a Phillips screwdriver, but there is no real point in doing that.
Don't bother to tape it off yourself, because the painter is going to have to completely sand off the clear coat and repair any dings or scratches in the finish before he/she primes and paints the top. Any taping that you've done is going to get sanded off anyway. Just take it to the painter as is, and let them do their thing.
Otherwise, the only parts you can remove are the front two latches with a Phillips screwdriver, but there is no real point in doing that.
Don't bother to tape it off yourself, because the painter is going to have to completely sand off the clear coat and repair any dings or scratches in the finish before he/she primes and paints the top. Any taping that you've done is going to get sanded off anyway. Just take it to the painter as is, and let them do their thing.
