Hey everyone, I’m looking to switch from a power to a manual operating convertible top system. My car was painted a couple of years ago before I bought it, and when I picked it up it had no hydraulic parts. Just a bare frame that has been painted. I have attached a pic of the car when I bought it. The top looks exactly the same still. It operates up and down with a little struggle and I want to make it fully manual with the springs. I’m hoping someone on here may have some parts to help a fellow Buick guy get this Skylark back together and on the road. Anything helps, and is much appreciated! I am happy to pay for parts and for the shipping of course. Thank you, Eric
Not 100% sure but won’t you need a complete manual top frame to make the conversion? Or is the hydraulic/ spring setup bolt on?
There was a member that posted on his power to manual conversion, and if I’m not mistaken the frame is the same, and the difference is hydraulics vs spring tension. It looked as if he replaced the hydraulic cylinders with springs and clips, and it functions as factory.
I was the author of the mentioned previous post, and am happy for share what I found. Convertible frames are the same for 64-67 hydraulic and manual tops, not sure about 68-72 but can't imagine why they would retool for both operations. It is a simple as swapping out the two hydraulic cylinders for the manual spring units. There are two plastic parts for the manual set up, neither are reproduced that I could find. There is a unique plastic bushing at one end of the each manual spring unit, I was lucky and mine were usable. The other end uses the same pins as hydraulic units. There are also two hold down plastic clips, mine were ugly and broken, so I used a reproduction set for a 65 Mustang. Beneath these hold down clips are flat springs. I made new ones out of stainless steel to adjust for the difference height using the new mustang clips. I did create CAD files to 3-D print the original GM plastic clips and bushings as shown below. I never printed them because I liked the mustang clip's design better, and made them work. When you find some used manual parts and if the clips or bushings are no good, We can have them 3-D printed somewhere, we just have to be sure to use a good quality FDM printer. Most home 3-D printers will be too brittle. From what I found I think all the GM clips were white in color. 3-D printing would allow you to pick your color. The interior metal cover is the same for both the hydraulic and manual operations and has the bump cutout for the manual clip as shown below. I’m surprised to find little interest or availability for the manual convertible units. They really work great, and is actually much faster than the hydraulic unit if your willing to get out of the car. I hope to start working on my Buick stuff again soon, now that winter is here. -Kurt
This is exactly what I was looking for with the info! Great work Kurt! Where did you source the manual springs and arms/steel inside the springs? Maybe I can source them from other GM cars? I have had no luck finding anything for manual parts so far:
Any of the 64-67 GM A-bodies will work, Chevelle, Cutlass, Tempest.. etc. for sure. maybe other years and models, but i don't know. Typically the convertible manual springs were on the lesser value models. Try reposting with a more direct listing "Wanted 64-67 Convertible Top Manual Springs" be sure to ask for the clips as well. Loren, who is a member on this sight, sold me a set years ago for 75 or 100 bucks or so. Otherwise, you could look around the internet and junkyards. I'm sure there are still some around as most people like the power top better. Good luck!
Thank you very much Kurt! I’ve called a few junkyards in different states with no luck. I’ll take your advice, and post a wanted ad for the specific parts I need. Again, thank you!
