1969 Convertible top

Okay,
I am new to this and did some homework. I can see that 68-72 skylark convertible top frames are all the same. I just recently purchased a second hand one from a fellow who said it was a buick skylark top. After mounting it, the quarter windows don't come up far enough to reach the weatherstip. I am shor by about 1 1/2". The front side window touches at the leading edge, but then the window line slowly opens towards the rear. I am guess that this is a cutlass? In my mind i see the cutlass tops looking much higher than the buicks over the quarter windows. Or maybe it could be a chevelle? I would have thought all four a-bodies would of had the same top frames, but maybe not? Can anyone give me an education on this? And any other information that i will need to put a new conv. top frame in? If i take the pinch weld trim off, does it make it easier to install the boomerang portion of the conv. top? I really appreciate any help i can get.

Thanx,
Dennis

 

All 68-72 A-body frames interchange, as you thought. Sounds like adjustment problems, unless it's not a 68-72 frame.....

 

I wonder if there is an id on these frames? The angle over the quarter window at sail panel area seems a little sharper than the glass.............................but it could just be the way they were made. I have a seventy conv. that i am restoring also and don't have the top bolted in place so it hard to open it and check it. But I guess that is what i will have to do. I also should try adjusting the top on the 69, it falls short of reaching the front of the windshield header as well by about an inch.

 

One of the many possible adjustments will change that angle. It's not fixed.

 

There is an incredible amount of adjustment available on these tops...and GM used the same on all the a-bodies from 68-72...if you put the top on, you must have seen the serrated plates at the mian mounting point?? That will move the whole assembly up or down as needed....you can adjust how far forward or back it goes, up or down, where the middle sections stop, etc. really, you should get a manual for it...

There was a place online (olds 442.com?) that had the a-body top manual online....so do a search and see if you can find it...

Also, you might want to check for any damaged or bent parts.

later
Tim

 

Mine had the same problem in the quarter windows. I did a new top this year and was ready to have to make all kinds of adjustments. With the old top still on I put the new weatherstrips on to be sure and get a nice fit to the windows. All of a sudden it was all set (had to make some minor adjustments to the window stops) but that was it. It turned out that replacing the weathersrtips fixed it.
Tim's right, there are tons of adjustments on these top frames, just don't over look the simple stuff.
It's amazing how much of a change the new rubber made.

 

I have a body by fisher manual and have been through it. I have made all the adjustments and here is what i have come up with. These old tops have been off the car for a while, or left down for a bit. I am thinking that the material has shrunk between the point where it is attached at the boomerang piece ( the large oliptical bar that sits just above the rain gutter in the trunk) and the first cross bow above the rear window. Even when i loosen the serrated steel adjustment area, the top it very taut and has no more room to move forward, or even to allow the hinge area over the rear quarter window to ease down. So for now, i am going to continue on with the rest of the car, and when it comes time for a new top, I can deal with it then. Thanx for all the advice, there were alot of areas i hadn't checked til i got some good feedback.

Dennis,,,,,,,,,out here in R.I.

 

Your explanation makes sense. The hard parts all interchange, but moving an assembled top from one car to another is not necessarily gonna fit just right, and, as in your case, you don't have full adjustability with the material already attached.

 

I had the same problem with my 69 droptop. The original top (replaced last year) had shrunk so much, it missed the windshield by 2inches and did not fit around the rear side windows. New top, weatherstriping and it went back together with very little adjustment. Fits perfect.

Best of luck.