C1 convertible top question?

[Warren F.]

A fellow NCRS member purchased a hardtop only optioned '58 Corvette. Wants to install a soft top option. Does a different header molding required?

[Ed Jennings]

Re: C1 convertible top question?

No, but in addition to the convertible top assy, he will need the brackets and the reinforcements. He will also need a decklid cut out for the latches. Suggest he purchase an extra rather than cut the original. Not too many left with no cutouts.

[Roy B.]

Re: C1 convertible top question?

NO If you mean windshield

[Warren F.]

Thanks!! *NM*

[John M.]

Re: C1 convertible top question?

Warren,
The only tricky part about this addition is the bolts that hold the outer brackets to the side of the top compartment. They only installed the nutplates on cars that were getting soft tops. You cannot install the nutplates after the fact since they were installed before the outside body skin was bonded on.
on the passenger side you can just install a Rivnut or similar blind hole threaded insert and no one will ever know. On the driver's side however, there is a big hole right where the fastener should be. I have welded a nut to a piece of strap steel, then slipped the strap through the hole and positioned it correctly and pop riveted it in place. After it is riveted in place, I instll a 1/4 " bolt in the nut and then fill the hole with bonding cement. After the cement sets, I remove the bolt and sand the bonding cement smooth and no one can ever tell that the hole was ever there after painting. You can also just opt to leave the fastener out of this hole, but it does provide a great ammount of rigidity to the brackets, and it would allways be obvious to a knoledgeable person that the top was a retro fit.

Regards, John McGraw

[Warren F.]

Thank you again!! I will pass these messages on. *NM*