Newly installed top will not close all the way!

NickGart · Sep 12, 2008

Hi everyone, sorry to make my first post a detailed tech question, but I have nowhere else to turn right now...

I have a 1973 mustang convertible that just finished having the top replaced. it looks fantastic except for one small problem...it won't close all the way!

This isn't a problem with the hydraulic lift arms, at least I don't think it is, as the top closes all the way to a point where you can lock it into place with the hooks.

The problem is that the two frontmost arms of the top's skeleton do not straighten out. No matter how hard the electric top pushes, it remains bowed so that I wouldn't be able to close the window.

There isn't much to adjust on the top and skeleton itself, and the guy who installed the top thinks there isn't anything HE can do to fix it, so what can I possibly adjust to get it to close all the way?

Or is this just a case of the installer doing a poor job?

I'm trying my best to explain this without pictures, as my camera is a good 50 miles away, but if it still doesn't make sense to you reading it, please say something and I'll try and get some pictures up. I was just hoping this is maybe a common problem there is a (relatively) simple solution to.

TIA,

Nick

rbohm · Sep 12, 2008

it sounds to me like the top is a bit too small for the frame, or was stretched too tightly.

other_shoe · Sep 12, 2008

First, the "do as I say not as I do" portion of my response. It sure sounds like the installer is being a bit of a weasel, and you need to hold him to making the both the top and its carriage fit properly. That's part of the job and if more parts were needed or there were additional repairs required, he should have brought that up before cutting, gluing, and stapling the top.

That said, I'm guessing there is an eccentric bolt somewhere around the joint between the middle and rear rails that can be adjusted to straighten out the rails. I could tell you how to do it on a 64-68, but the carriage is very different on your car.

There are a lot of adjustments on these tops and they can fit well, especially with the right prep work on the carriage before cutting, gluing, and stapling. Even after the top is attached you should have some adjustment, but it can be a PITA.

BarnStang · Sep 12, 2008

THis seems to be coming up more often. We have had two cars come back like that. They are telling us there isn't enough material on the back side. I still find this hard to believe. We are going to try someone else for the next top we send out. Are things so bad that top manufaturers are trimming the material as short as possible to say a nickle on every top they make? Seems unlikely to me. The other problem you may have already run into is that you can't adjust the door glass to fit the top frame cause it's so tight when you clamp it. It pulls the frame down too far. We had a heck of a compromise on a 71 on the passenger side to get the glass even close to the weatherstrip. And that's after I adjusted the center pivot in both directions trying to get some clearence. You're just going to have to try the adjustments till you get the best fit you can. Also, the top will streach eventually. THey are put on tight. But the two we had done seemed way too tight to me.

Newly installed top will not close all the way!

NickGart

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rbohm

other_shoe

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BarnStang

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Newly installed top will not close all the way!

NickGart

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rbohm

other_shoe

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BarnStang

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