<VV> temporarily remove convertible top?

[HallGrenn at aol.com]

Ray,
 
I would second everything JR said--especially masking off (and adding  
padding or cardboard) to protect the body when the folded top is  
removed/reinstalled.  And get someone to help you--especially if you aren't  that tall.  
I'm 6'1" and I had to really use my upper body strength to the  limit to get 
the top up high enough to clear the body's side frames where the  spring 
loaded slides are mounted.  After you unbolt the rear  fabric/window portion 
from the body, pad the window with some old towels and BE  SURE TO tie the 
fabric together so the top won't start to open  when you are pulling it up out 
of the body. I used some old Dacron rope at  each side to secure the folded 
top.
 
You will have to be prepared to shift the top when it is reinstalled to get 
 the latching and sides tight before you reattach the back to the body.  If 
 you don't to a careful job of trying to refit it to the new body you may 
end up  with sags and areas that are too tight (with resulting fabric 
failure).
 
I did it once for a daily driver, but the one after that I discarded the  
fabric, disassembled, cleaned, dipped and repainted the frame and had  a pro 
put the new fabric on.
 
Best of luck,
 
Bob
 
 
In a message dated 4/5/2013 7:13:53 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
hmlinc at sbcglobal.net writes:

Ray,

I once swapped tops between 2 '65s.  One was to be  sold - but had an
electric top - the keeper was manual, so I decided to  switch them.  The
keeper was also going to receive new fabric after a  paint job, so while the
frame was off the car and fabric off the frame I  was able to clean and
repaint the frame.

The manual one going to the  car for sale was to be installed with the 
fabric
in place.  I had no  helper in any of this and probably could have used one.
I managed to put a  couple of small tears in the fabric (out of sight) when
it got pinched  between the body and top frame along the left side.

Keep in mind that  you will likely have to re-adjust things after a
re-install.  While it  is not all that hard to do, you do run some risks and
(IMO) would be better  off masking.  Oh, if you do decide to remove - figure
out a way to  make sure the "stick" and fabric go back together the same way
that they  came out in order to keep the length of the top the same as it 
was
to  start.

Later, JR


----- Original Message ----- 
From:  "Ramon Rodriguez III" <corvairgrymm at gmail.com>
To:  <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2013 5:43  PM
Subject: <VV> temporarily remove convertible top?


>  Hello all.  I'm working on my 64 convertible (getting ready for paint)  
and
> would really feel a lot better (and make things a lot easier) if I  just
> removed the excellent convertible top and set it aside while I  prime
> repeatedly and then paint the car.
>
> It looks to  me like it would be pretty easy (I've never done a top 
before)
> to just  take the entire convertible top complete with frame (in folded
>  position) off the car and put it back on after I'm done  painting.
>
> Is this as easy as it looks?  Is there any  really good reason not to do
> it?
> I asked in the fall about  protecting the top while I paint but I'm just
> not that confident in my  masking abilities.  It is a white top on a red
>  car.
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> Ray R.
>  Certifiable Corvair Nut
>  

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