<VV> was November 11 - now manual to power top conversion

[jimster1]

I converted a manual top to power on my '66 Turbovert.  The worst part of
the job was to get the two gearboxes back in shape.  They were full of hard,
crusty, non-lubing grease.  There is a little thrust bearing that carries
the end load of the big gear.  Its tiny balls were in bad shape.  I was
unable to find a replacement as the ball are made of unobtainium.  However
my local bearing shop had individual balls, minimum quantity 100.  I bought
a box and proceeded to replace the balls with great success.  After
rebuilding the gearboxes, it's pretty much a matter of removing the big
spring assemblies and installing the gearboxes, drive cables and motor.
BTW, a power drill works great as a temporary drive, but one side at a time.
Be sure to get both sides synchronized before connecting the cables etc.
Wire 'er up and bingo, power top operation.
Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of J R Read_HML
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 11:48 AM
To: Mike Jacobi; virtual Vairs
Subject: <VV> was November 11 - now manual to power top conversion

I've done it on a LM, but it was so long ago I'm not sure I can help much. 
Seems as if the hardest part was running the wiring from the top motor back 
to the engine compartment.  It took me about a day to do it with no helper. 
I had a car with a power top that I was selling and swapped the manual VS 
power parts between that one and one I was restoring at the time.  The donor

car was a 66 and the recipient car (of the power stuff) was a 65.  The 65 
had just been painted (had to be cautious), but only had the top frame 
(freshly painted and no fabric) at the time.

Later, JR
CCE CORSA CORVANANTICS SCG member
'61 Rampside Standard 4/110
'65 Monza Convertible 4/140
"Keep the Love Alive"

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Jacobi" <mvjacobi at comcast.net>
To: "virtual Vairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:54 AM
Subject: <VV> Corvair on November 11


>
> -- 
  Has anyone ever retro fitted a power
> mechanism to a non power from the factory, vert top?  Like to hear from
> someone who has tried it whether its a hard job?  (I'm fameous for jumping
> on where angels fear to tread, on jobs that really weren't worth the
> trouble)
>
>
> Mike in Michigan, air cooled Air Force Vet
>

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