Who's down for a meet this Friday? 7pm?
Who's down for a meet this Friday? 7pm?
I will be in Virginia attending a funeral. You know most times I would be down.
I'm busy as well, sorry.
There's too much rain in the forecast. I put the hard top on because the soft top likes to leak. I am always so pleased with how the car looks with the hard top on. My only issue with it is that it is and not nice shape. Anyone want to help find this thing down and get it ready for some paint
Reputable shop should do it for 300-500. A good shop will match the paint and get the metallic in the silver to lay right, match the car.
Any shop can match the paint by the code.
You could always sell the soft top to help fund the painting of your hardtop.
Not doing that again. Love the look, love to down more
Dudes, seriously need help with my stupid hard top. I "repaired" the latches, so that they stay locked, but I can not get it to seal nicely. I have a loud passenger-side rattle (it's not the latch) and insane wind noise over 50mph. I removed my strikers, to see if I could adjust them, and there is literally no way to move them, unless I hog out the holes that the mounting bolts go through. To me, it looks like the latch hook is too far forward, so that when it closes, it's not really snugging the top down. The top is not bowed out from the windshield header, imho.
I'm ordering a fresh set of latch nipples, as one has broken off. Maybe if it will stop raining, you could take a look.
Also, all of my "foot hardware" looks like it's been underwater for it's whole life. Maybe I should re-build that?
Is there any light coming through at the bottom of rear window? I put that rubber seal to help close the gap I had and then tightened everything down. As far as the front, you need a couple of people to help with that one like we did on mine.
Hah, no light at all. In fact, I have to push down to get the frankengrabbers to go in place. I read that adding a washer or 2 between the striker and the windshield frame could possibly help.
Did you use NA or NB latches? Mixing them is no bueno. I usually have one or two people push down on the center of the leading edge of the hardtop, while they stand on the sills, and I snug the latches down.
Side plates draw the sides of the top in for better side sealing.
For the rattle, I would bet it is coming from the rear feet. There is a white nylon bushing that the Frankenstein bolts hook to. Those bushing smoosh and wear over time and the rear feet rattle on the mounts. There are two bolts that secure the bushing. Try removing it, flipping it over and/or add washers to take up the slop. Another option is to remove the Frankenstein bolts and use new bolts to secure the rear feet tighter.
Caveat on the Frankenstein bolts; the factory uses locktite on them, so it has sometimes happened that the weld nuts they screw into break off. Same can happen when using new bolts instead. So, if the Frankenstein bolts don't come out smoothly, stop, heat them with a soldering iron or use chemicals to soften the locktite. Don't hulk-smash tighten the new bolts if you try that method either. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips. The hard top latches are early NA, the top strikers, I would assume, are the NB ones. The latch turnbuckles are fully tightened on all 4 latches. The rattle is delimiting coming from the header area. I can push up on the hard to itself, and maker them stop.I have to push down on the rear get to get them to properly set in place.I did flip the frankengrabbers yesterday with no real change. Maybe I'll look for NA strilers. And see if that helps
kung fu jesus (10-04-2015)
I don't remember if your NB has a roll bar, but I have side latches if you need them. I don't have the striker plates.
Thanks for the offer. Iii have a roll bar that allows for the side latches, so I'm using mine.
Anyone want to help with a partial car part-out on Saturday? I'd like to knock out the interior, roll-bar, soft top, trunk, and maybe the body panels. They do not want the car sitting half-stripped for very long, so this is why I'm wanting to break up the work. I still need to research the logistics of the power plant removal. The car is in the grass/dirt, which will make things a little more difficult. I have access to the tools we need, though if you have a tool box, or electric ratchets, or whatever would make the job easier, please bring it. I'll have some form of food/water available for ya as well. A set (or 2) of tall jacks would be appreciated if you have them to lend.
I'm looking to get started around 9:30 am on Saturday 10/17
The car is located in Garner, at my parents house. PM me for directions if you plan on showing up.
Thanks in advance!
Last edited by Demon I Am; 10-14-2015 at 12:51 PM.
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Originally Posted by tsingson
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