57 Hardtop fit in car.

[Bruce B.]

TITLE SHOULD BE "FIT ON CAR"

I recently picked up a decent 57 hardtop for my car.
The problem is it will not fit the car.
With the the front latches set the side alignment pins are 1/4" to 3/8 " behind the receiver holes. My car being an early car has the single hole receiver not the slotted ones.
In addition the 3 holddown brackets fall the same distance behind the hold down anchor nuts.
Any suggestions, possibly moving the windshield and or the deck lid.
Thanks.

[Bruce B.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

Has anyone else had problems with the fit of the hardtop to thier car?

[Don H.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

I bought (60) mine over 30 years ago & it has minor problems (not as bad as yours). I have to prop up one side to get one side screw started & the middle is off by about an inch (too far to use). Sorry, no help. Don H.

[Richard M.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

Bruce,

It sounds to me like the windshield frame is pulled back. This could be caused by broken tabs on the windshield post lower mount area. If the soft top on the car(assuming it has one), had shrunk over time, constant pulling of the windshield frame can cause this. Sit in the car and push the front of the w/s frame with careful force and see if it moves over the glass further.

Repairing potentially broken tabs may be in the future......

You could try bolting down the HT at the decklid with the lid raised a little, and carefully try to move the w/s frame forward to get the HT front alignment pins to line up. But be very careful. You don't want to force it too hard for fear of breaking something.

Rich

[Tom P.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

Bruce,

It sounds to me like the windshield frame is pulled back. This could be caused by broken tabs on the windshield post lower mount area. If the soft top on the car(assuming it has one), had shrunk over time, constant pulling of the windshield frame can cause this. Sit in the car and push the front of the w/s frame with careful force and see if it moves over the glass further.

Repairing potentially broken tabs may be in the future......

You could try bolting down the HT at the decklid with the lid raised a little, and carefully try to move the w/s frame forward to get the HT front alignment pins to line up. But be very careful. You don't want to force it too hard for fear of breaking something.

Rich

I'm glad to see Rich mention this, because I felt a lot of flak would ensue if I mentioned doing a similar maneuver.
In the past, there have been times when I've aligned the pins, installed the bolts, but not fully tightened them and then pushed the top of the windshield frame forward until the front pins of the hardtop dropped into the holes in the windshield and then secure the front latches and tighten the rear bolts.
Not only is it probable that the windshield is slightly leaning back, but also, the WHOLE dash is slightly sagging. If you do this maneuver to install the hardtop by pushing the top of the windshield forward, you just may discover that EVERYTHING fits better and the doors latch better.I almost never pull up my soft top any more, and when I do, I DO NOT latch the rear bow just because of the pressure that it pulls back on the windshield.

[Rob M.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

Check the shimming of the body oon the frame (and door gaps)?

[Mike M.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

tom parsons hit the nail on the head. i've seen 53-57(pre n57 vin about 4000) where the dash has sagged as much as an inch at the rear ends of the dash. the fix for such sagging is extensive and expensive for non-do it youselfers. mike

[Stuart F.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

Anyone have similar problems on a C-2???

Stu Fox

[Mike M.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

Anyone have similar problems on a C-2???

Stu Fox

no stu. the c-2's have plenty of metal reinforcements in the windshield framing and under the dash, somewhat similar to the post vin 57 to 62 c-1's. took chevy about4 1/2 years to install metal reinforcements under the dash starting abut vin 4000 in '57. mike

[Bruce B.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

Guys,
Thanks for all the responses.
I will try out the suggestions in the future.
Bruce B

[Stuart F.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

If Bruce is satisfied with his responses, I guess I won't feel too bad about interjecting in a C-1 thread.

Mike; The reason I asked is my hardtop on my 63 used to fit real well, but not so much anymore. I assume that is body sag and not windshield. The late 50's Vettes were not the only Chevies that needed more winshield strength. My 57 Chevy post 2-door would torque the dash when actuating a B&B white spring clutch. Had no trouble with 55 or 56's, but guess their styling department in a rush to match Ford really did a number on the body. My pedal brackets finally broke as two pieces were just spot welded together.

Stu Fox

[Mike M.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

If Bruce is satisfied with his responses, I guess I won't feel too bad about interjecting in a C-1 thread.

Mike; The reason I asked is my hardtop on my 63 used to fit real well, but not so much anymore. I assume that is body sag and not windshield. The late 50's Vettes were not the only Chevies that needed more winshield strength. My 57 Chevy post 2-door would torque the dash when actuating a B&B white spring clutch. Had no trouble with 55 or 56's, but guess their styling department in a rush to match Ford really did a number on the body. My pedal brackets finally broke as two pieces were just spot welded together.

Stu Fox

i'd check the frame at the rear kick-up for rust/deflection. mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 57 Hardtop fit in car.

no stu. the c-2's have plenty of metal reinforcements in the windshield framing and under the dash, somewhat similar to the post vin 57 to 62 c-1's. took chevy about4 1/2 years to install metal reinforcements under the dash starting abut vin 4000 in '57. mike

Mike-----


Yes, there was plenty of metal there to begin with on C2 and C3 Corvettes. However, the cancer of corrosion can "deplete" this metal over a long time for a car so-afflicted. Then, the top of the windshield can be "pulled back" by the pressure of latching the soft top, resulting in a "loose" soft-top and a hard-top that "won't fit".