ok to leave top down for the summer????

Discussion in 'The ragtop shop' started by 70skylark350, Apr 24, 2016.

  1. 70skylark350

    70skylark350 Jesus loves you unconditionally

    Do you guys have any info about leaving the top down for the summer? does it cause any permanent damage to the fabric? I park it in the garage and maybe take it out every other weekend in the summer, I put the top up all winter but have been wondering about the summer months.

    I used to put it up every time I put it away, then put it down every time I pull it out. doesn't seem to make much sense. I hear two different opinions. 1-you put un-needed wear on the pump and motor, better to just leave it down. 2-the fabric will get permanent creases by leaving it down.

    any words of advise from experience here? Thanks....
     
  2. mrolds69

    mrolds69 "The Cure"

    It's not a good idea to leave it down for the summer. It will put creases or stretch marks in the top that will never come out. Pumps are a LOT cheaper than tops! I guess it depends on if you want your car to look sharp when the top's up, or you really like cruising with the top down. 9 out of 10 'vert tops you see even on 100K + cars have creases in the top.
     
    Demoman likes this.
  3. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    The top on our '65 Skylark is the original. We leave it down most of the summer. We put it up on real hot days so we don't bake, and if we get an unexpected rain, of course. Sometimes, if it hasn't been up for awhile, I'll put it up on a warm day to get the wrinkles out. We are thinking about getting a new top installed just because it's getting too faded and there is a bit of staining.
     
  4. mrolds69

    mrolds69 "The Cure"

    There is a huge difference between an original top and any top you buy today. The vinyl was a heavier weight, and they also had an extra butyl rubber layer that prevented the top from wrinkling + shrinking like today's tops.
     
  5. my69buford

    my69buford Silver Level contributor

    I prefer to not let my top down for extended periods of time. I may sometimes let it down overnite if i plan on driving it the next day.

    The tops do tend to get creases if left down but they will usually come out after being in the sun for awhile.

    I also do not like to clean the inside after sitting with the top down in the garage. Dust, pollen and maybe even the occasional cat footprints (if I forget to close the garage door :Dou:) can collect and I much prefer to wash the outside rather than clean the inside. But I guess you could just drive down the road and blow the dirt out if you prefer. :)
     
  6. carmantx

    carmantx Never Surrender

    I leave mine down most of the time, year round. Probably put it up about 3 times a year just to make sure it all still works.
     
  7. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    I throw the cover over it when parked in the shop with the top down.
     
  8. GSJim

    GSJim Founders Club Member

    I drop mine down in the Spring and put it back up in the Fall. That top boot isn't easy to put on. Sure, I have some wrinkles, but they stretch back out when the top stays up for awhile. I don't like putting that much strain on the pump and lines. I also don't mind the wrinkles.

    Jim (Ponch)
     
  9. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    Me either. That way the car and I match.
     
  10. gsjo

    gsjo Platinum Level Contributor

    The short answer is you will have permanent fold marks on your top, if you leave it down.
     
  11. GSJim

    GSJim Founders Club Member

    It sounds like Smoke and I have permanent fold marks. Oh Well. They're character lines. My top has a few of them as well.
    If it's raining I don't take my car out. After 14 Years I don't even know if the windshield wipers work.
    Jim (Ponch)
     

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  12. iowacat

    iowacat Well-Known Member

    I have 2 convertibles plus my dad's Wildcat. The 2 I own have plastic rear windows and with one of them the previous owner left the top down the vast majority of the time, up only 3 times in the past 10 years he owned it. Now has permanent creases in the rear window and stress tears in the corners of the ridge above the rear window and the roof of the car meet. A glass rear window I wouldn't be too concerned if the top was left down for a week or 2 at a time. Make sure the top is COMPLETELY DRY before you put it down for an extended time or you will have mold stains.
     
    J. Jaeger likes this.
  13. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    :gp: I'd have to agree with the above...both of my convertibles get parked with the top up, when I left it down it took forever to work out the creases, that was only after a couple of weeks. A buddy leaves his down for the season, and the top is wrinkled and stressed, and his plastic backlight is more or less shot.
     
  14. gs66

    gs66 Silver Level contributor

    I have left mine down for over a week at a time on the past but don't do it anymore. It does take a while to get rid of the creases.
     
  15. DeeVeeEight

    DeeVeeEight Well-Known Member

    When I had my top replaced the shop told me to put the top up every time I put the car away.
     

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