Fitting midyear hardtop

[Jeff S.]

I'm in the process of fitting an OEM hardtop to my '66 convertible that has a 'soft top only' deck lid (no existing provisions for h/t). I have all the hardware, hole sizes, etc. Looking for advice on several matters.

Doing a trial fit (front latches closed with the aft bow carraige bolts removed) gives me 1/4 to 3/8" of clearance between the deck lid & hardtop wx strip along the L & R sides behind the windows. I'm assuming that I should have an assistant press down on the top to compress the side wx strips while I locate the hole centers for the side bracket fasteners. Is that correct? Maybe I have to adjust my deck lid height somewhat, as well?

How can I most accurately transfer the correct aft bow hole locations from the hardtop to the deck lid? I assume that the forward latches and side bracket fasteners be installed and tight to do this, but the location is inaccessible.

Once I've got the holes drilled and hardware installed, what's the proper sequence to install the top? The owners guide is not clear -- particularly regarding installing the nuts/washers on the aft bow carraige bolts.

Finally, what is the purpose of those small nylon 'bumpers' that go into the blind hole in the aft bow carraige bolts?

[John H.]

Re: Fitting midyear hardtop

Jeff -

The rubber bumpers that go in the ends of the hold-down bolts are to protect the stowed soft top from being damaged by the ends of the bolts.

[Jack H.]

Re: Fitting midyear hardtop

Set the HT in place but do NOT latch the front. Apply tape to the fiberglass areas where you're going to drill (keeps the paint from spider webbing) and mark the hole center using the HT rear mounts as a template.

Remove the HT, drill your holes and install the receiving hardware. Now, install the HT rear center bolts with their anti-scratch ferrules in the HT rear holes and set the HT on the car.

Install the rear/side bolts to the deck lid. Unlatch the deck lid and lift it WITH the HT gently upward (having a helper is a Godsend) and install the nuts and washer plates on the rear HT hold down bolts.

Lower the deck lid and latch it in place. Last, latch the front header to the windshield and you're ready to see how out of 'wack' your side window glass adjustment is....

With the windows rolled down, close the doors and crank them closed. If fore/aft or in/out gaps exist between the glass and the HT weatherstrip, it's time to pull the door panels and adjust the glass to match the HT. If after that's done, your glass no longer fits your soft top....

Well, then you'll have to tweak the ST to match the glass! On soft top only cars, the original factory fit was probably lost the first time a 'bubba' replaced the ST. They ususally get the ST fabric to sit nice and pretty, then JACK the side window adjustments to fit the new dimensions they've dialed into the ST...

Nope, one set of window adjustments should fit both tops!

[Jeff S.]

Re: Fitting midyear hardtop

Jack,

Thanks for the tips. Can you recommend a method to locate the hole centers for the aft bow carraige bolts on the deck lid? If I follow you correctly, it is OK to just use where the bumper-tip touches the tape with the side hardware installed & the latches unhooked. Is there any need to move them forward a tad to compensate for that couple degrees of rotation that occurs when the carraige bolts pass through?