C2 Hardtop Help

[Dereck S.]

Restoring my 67 vinyl covered hardtop. I've never had it on the car since I purchased it in 86. The vinyl is perfect but weatherstip, stainless, rear window, and headliner need restoration/replacement. The main reason for never installing it on the car is that sometime during its life both LH and RH verticle side brackets towards the rear were broken off. The top must have been put down on the tabs resulting in a fracture of the weld. I've purchased repro brackets that require they be welded on. I've removed everything off the top and have purchased a complete restoration kit from The Hardtop Shop. I have a skilled welder that believes he can tack weld the brackets back on without affecting the vinyl covering. My challenge is properly locating the brackets for him. I was wondering if someone could provide me some locating dimensions off a common feature(s) that would allow me to properly locate the brackets? This weekend I planned on duct taping the brackets on the top in the approximate location then carefully installing the top on the car and positioning the brackets properly once installed. I could then scribe some lines for the weld location.
thanks
Dereck

[Kirk M.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Dereck,

Did you get this taken care of? If not, I could measure my vinyl hardtop for you. Just let me know.

Kirk McHugh

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Dereck,

The photo below is the page from the AOS hardtop AIM on welding of the brackets.

It really doesn't tell you much about the positions of the brackets, as they probably used a jig or template to position the brackets for the spot welds.

However, there should be some remnants of the tack welds of the original brackets to position the new ones.

[Dereck S.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Guys,
Thanks for the replies. I ended up masking off the deck lid and temporarily installing the top on the body. I duct taped down the side brackets in my best guess location and installed the old weatherstrip to represent the height location. The rear stove bolts were in place as well as the front guide pins. This gave the approximate location. I then tweaked the bracket locations and removed the top. The duct tape was left on while I transported the top to a local welder who TIG welded the brackets in place. TIG welding generates minimal sparks that could damage the vinyl. The original vinyl was protected from weld heat with wet rags. It turned out great. The great thing about this top is that the brackets were likely broke off early in it's life. This resulted in the original vinyl covering remaining in perfect condition. I will be getting the polished stainless back from Bob Mayle in Depew, NY next week and will begin the reassembly using the kit from The Hardtop Shop (weatherstrip, dated rear window, headliner, screws, etc). The window installation will be the fun part. It's been a great winter project that I've never done before. I love the look on the car which is Marina Blue. Not a popular option back in the day but pretty cool and different today. I'll put the top on in the Spring and Fall to change the look of the car.
thanks,
Dereck

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Dereck,

Watch out when you install the new rear window and the upper stainless trim. I hope you saved any of the reusable trim clips as the new replacement clips are a problem. I had a heck of a time on my 67 hardtop with the replacement clips, and wound up using about half of my original clips to augment the new ones.

The new repro clips I got (went through 3 sets) just didn't hold the trim like the originals. They need to be slightly bent, and I think the spring steel is a lot softer than the original clips.

My advise is to do a test fit of the upper stainless with the window in place before you do any chalking of the window weatherstrip. If you have to change a clip after chalking, it becomes a real mess (how do I know). Also, the upper stainless sticks out a little along sides but is flush to the hardtop surface along the top, I found.

Take a look in the archives under my forum name and " 67 hardtop" from about a year or so ago. There are a number of threads in regard to my trials and tribulations in restoring my original 67 hardtop. But I finally got it together.

My 67 is also Marina Blue.

Have fun,

[John M.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Jerry, you so make me want to take on this effort! NOT! I have everything setup to redo my hardtop however I've been searing high and low for a really good how to step by step so I don't mess up my top. I guess I'm just going to have to jump in and give it a go. Just once I would like something to go right on getting this old girl back the way she should be.

[Dereck S.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Jerry,
I read your thread back in November prior to starting the project along with many others. As soon as the kit arrived I compared the rear window chair clips to my originals. It was clear that some of the repro clips had a noticeably different shape than my originals. As you stated in your thread this difference could negatively impact the fitment of the stainless trim on the top. My plan was to clean and inspect all my original chair clips and attempt to reuse as many as possible. Your advice to prefit the trim prior to chalking is a good one. Today I plan on preparing the inside nose of the top for painting (Bright Blue) then the reassembly can begin tomorrow. The rear window installation looks challenging, however, I watched the YouTube video from the Hardtop shop over and over to learn how to best do the installation. Although they make it look easy it likely is not. I'll take my time and not force it along the way. If I get stuck I'll stop for a while and think about it some more. I love restoring something on my car that I've not done before. This is definately challenging. I'm optimistic that it will turn out well. I'll post some pics.
thanks
Dereck

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

John,

Bite the bullet

Here's my step by step in forum threads:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/search.php?searchid=89070

You will laugh at the length of time I took on mine.

I thought about writing this into a Restorer story, but I'm having too much fun just doing things.

[John M.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Jerry the link isn't working, Dereck any lessons learned that you can pass on please do.

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Try this one:


https://www.forums.ncrs.org/search.php?searchid=89167
If it doesn't work, I'm doing something wrong. I'll have to get you a list of the individual posts.
I'm just experimenting, as usual.

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

John, Dereck,

This pdf should work better. The threads are oldest to newest, top to bottom

[John M.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Thanks Jerry these links will be very helpful. My biggest problem is I didn't get to take her apart. I bought this car it was in a million boxes and has been a puzzle from hell. I don't care what anyone says about using the AIM manual its not user friendly. Speaking to others is the only way.

[Dereck S.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Well, I decided to post a status of the project. Going back a bit when I restored my Bright Blue interior I had an experienced guy in NC mix me up the three different versions of Bright Blue paint in rattle cans. These are the widely publishized paint codes in the literature. I won't list the codes, however, the colors are Medium Bright Blue, Bright Blue, and Dark Bright Blue. With input from members of the forum and through studying original cars at the meets I matched the paint chips to the various interior parts. I used the same approach as it relates to the hardtop. I concluded that the frame was Dark Bright Blue as was used on the dash. Attached are my paint chips from the three mixed versions of Bright Blue. I've also attached pics of the painted frame, welded-on side bracket, and installed headliner. I plan on using Bright Blue for the trim. This was what I matched up the color to on an original unrestored hardtop. I would add one statement and that is that I don't claim to be an expert on Bright Blue paint. I simply wanted to share what I did. I also felt it was reasonable to assume since the factory painted the dash using Dark Bright Blue that the factory would paint the inside of the hardtop frame the same color. The Dark Bright Blue is what I matched my chip to on several unrestored hardtops. I certainly don't know that for sure. DSC02510.jpgDSC00586.jpgDSC00582.jpgTommorow night I'll begin to reassemble the stainless trim and weatherstripping.
Dereck

[Dereck S.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Attahed is one of the original hardtop pics I used to help match the paint colors. Note the nose area of the exposed frame that is painted and visable appears to be Dark Bright Blue. This was the same as my top prior to resto. The interior trim matched up to Bright Blue. Medium Bright Blue is the lightest of the blues and did not appear to be used on the hardtop. However, it was used on various interior parts based on comparison of my chips. Original Hardtop Colors.jpg

[Dereck S.]

Re: C2 Hardtop Help

Here is a close-up of the Dark Bright Blue. The various shades of blue don't photo well.DSC00591.jpg