From the 1970's until now, is there any chance that someone would have made a installation video pertaining to out 71-76 convertible tops? From all of these years was there at least one person smart enough to make a video. I've searched all over the web and see functioning videos of our top frames but no installation videos. Over 30 years and not one. Well....I hope that me being 34 yrs old that some of the guys before me have a know where to go see one info for me. It don't seem that hard to do but i just wouldn't mind a tutor for the first go around or 2. As we get older there's not a lot of people wanting to do it or leaving here and if i have a son i will pass the car to him and teach him how to do it at a young age until it's his. Thanks to all who responds. My final attempt will be pay someone to do it and ask them if they will use my HD camcorder to show me for my archives.
the scissor top canvas install is not really that hard. where it usually goes wrong on a scissortop car is not making sure the frame works correctly. sloppy bushings and second bow ball joints, poorly sync'd drive actuators, correct torsion bar adjustment, broken or missing third bow glide strip, frayed and/or broken side tension cables... following the GM manual and heeding various tips from those who have actually installed a scissor top will help you get great results. and when operating the top, it works waaaaay better if the car is running. the extra voltage gives much better power to the motor. the only trimming of material you do is on the front bow and the rear trimstick below the body line. everything else is made to "fit" as long as the frame is within the specs outlined in the GM manual. there might be newer/better info in a 1975 manual than the 71-74 manuals. i have never compared them. my manual is for 1974.
here is a tip i discovered for putting a scissor top up if you can pull it off. now my old top could be motored up from my alarm/start fob so i could easily do this by myself, but this tip works just as good if you have someone else around when you put the top up. you could probably make some sort of strap to help pull it off alone. with the car running, while putting the top up, place your hand on the area in the red circle around the end of the third bow and lift the third bow just enough to keep the top motor from having to "pull" the third bow. dont get ahead of the process, just add a little relief making the motor not work so hard. once the third bow has reached its highest point, stop helping and let the motor finish its job alone. you will find this makes the top go up faster and it will help all those cables, plastic gears, torsion bars etc. live a longer less stressful life.
Last year there was an exellent long video about an early 70's Delta (B-body) convertible top replacement on YouTube. I came across it when I was searching for a video about replacing the top on my 1997 Chrysler Stratus (Chrysler Sebring in North America). I can't find that video anymore, but I will keep looking for you :TU: Last month I ordered a new top and to my surprise it came with an instruction video. (now I have to find someone with an American conversion van with a North American video player to watch it... or go to France where they also use the NTSC system) ou:
Wow! Great info. A man can sure appreciate the way this community dives in to help! No one talks down or insert doubt. Gotta love it. ---------- Post added at 02:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:00 PM ---------- Bad Boattail if you happen to find that video, you will become the scissor top Messiah LOL:laugh: (fingers crossed) ---------- Post added at 02:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:03 PM ---------- I found a company that makes videos for convertible tops and sent an email to the guy and this is what he said..... Hello i have searched dearly to find a video for the installation of these tops and then i ran across your site. Can you make one or do you have one? Thank you. [TABLE="class: cf gJ"] <tbody>[TR="class: acZ"] [TD="class: gF gK"][TABLE="class: cf ix, width: 593"] <tbody>[TR] [TD]AOK Sales[/TD] [/TR] </tbody>[/TABLE] [/TD] [TD="class: gH, align: right"]7:54 AM (6 hours ago)[/TD] [TD="class: gH, align: right"][/TD] [TD="class: gH acX, align: right"] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="class: acZ xD"] [TD="colspan: 3"][TABLE="class: cf adz, width: 758"] <tbody>[TR] [TD="class: ady"]to me [/TD] [/TR] </tbody>[/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] </tbody>[/TABLE] Hello, I have not made that video because it is not a top for a DIYer. I strongly recommend that you use a professional installer for your top. Regards, Karl NOW how can you just assume that people are not capable of doing it. A human has being doing it for all of these years, a human can still do it so.......:blast:Smdh. This is why knowledge dies.
what i tell people alot of the time who get intimidated by some repairs is "half the guys that put your old GM car together were probably half drunk on the job when your car was assembled" LOL
Lol! Yeah it was pretty common back in the days. People were comfortable on their jobs back then and they took a lot of pride in it. Nowadays if a person did that...well...you know lol!
Yes you are right. This guy got arrested right before Christmas because he came to work under the influence. For me to be sitting in the car to see and hear how everything happened, i felt bad for the guy. I know you shouldn't drink and drive but he was a young man who didn't have a lot of money as it is and the Judge will make sure that he spends all of what he has left. Once again i know you shouldn't drink and drive. I have a Class a CDL and can't spell alcahal LOL!
Every little bit counts. While searching for more info on the installation for DIY enthusiasts i came across some more info and wanted to post it. You never know who may be in the middle of this task and needed this bit of information. http://www.aro2000.com/261-rear window-assembly.htm amd also http://www.aro2000.com/generic_installation.htm a lot of it is general knowledge about the process but it's about the same genereally. I hope it helps someone in the present and future.
