My convertible top is loose above the passenger side quarter panel.



I feel at least one hole that's missing a screw where the top is connected to a frame member, just above wheel well.

I can't see it and can barely get my hand down in there. Can someone tell me how to fix this?

What type of screw, what size, and what's the best way to install it.

Thanks

Roger

 

Replace the top.

When you install the top that is the area where ajustments are made. There is a Tach stripe under there and the top is stapled too. As the top shrinks due to age it increases the pressure at these adjustment points. The pressure can get so high it can effect the body gaps on the car and damage the forward chome locks. The next stage in the life of the top is the material begins to rot and becomes weak. At that point if there is a lot of pressure the top will shread around the staples and that is what you are seeing.

The first sign of a top needing replaced is shrinking. The door weather strippng is exposed and not covered like it should me, the second sign is well see above picture.

 

Is your top that old? I don't see any cracking going on. Common place is the vertical stitched edge next to the rear window, and the edge on the sides above the windows (can't see in pic).
Plus, your window looks pretty clear, something I wouldn't expect to see with a rotted out old top.

 

Gorn,

Thanks for the info. The top looks pretty old and good at the same time. The rear window and outside of the top look nice. But underneath it looks like faded blue jeans (only greenish) with tattered edges.

69Camaro,

The material down near the tack strip feels very dried out and the seams connected to the rear windows are beginnig to unravel and split.

We just bought the car a couple months ago (south side of Chicago and drove it down to Louisiana, you may have seen it at local car gatherings). According to the previous owner, he put the top on in the early 80's and the car has been kept in doors for the last 30 years.

The car is for my wife and she wants a new top. I thought we could get a little more life out of it, but you guys described the symptoms that this top has, so my wife is happy. We'll get a new top, just need to find someone in the Baton Rouge area that has experience with old Camaro's.

Thanks very much!

Roger

 

Estimated life of a top is 8-10 Years. Keeping it in a garage or out of the sun will extend the life but if your tried to use a 25 year old top like a normal car it would degrade very fast.

You really want to check out places before picking who does your top. I got my car as a unfinised project. I went to 5 places and really got a run around because no one was sure what all was missing. At the 5th place I took it to the guy just pulled out a pc of paper and wrote down everything I was missing. He said he would call me tomorrow with a price. I said please let me know when you can start it and add it to your schedule. Finding someone that knows the first gens can be tuff.

 

Well, on the bright side, the new top will probably last you a lifetime!
And thanks a lot for removing a nice 1st gen from the lovely state of IL.