<VV> temporarily remove convertible top?

[J R Read]

Ray,

I once swapped tops between 2 '65s.  One was to be sold - but had an
electric top - the keeper was manual, so I decided to switch them.  The
keeper was also going to receive new fabric after a paint job, so while the
frame was off the car and fabric off the frame I was able to clean and
repaint the frame.

The manual one going to the car for sale was to be installed with the fabric
in place.  I had no helper in any of this and probably could have used one.
I managed to put a couple of small tears in the fabric (out of sight) when
it got pinched between the body and top frame along the left side.

Keep in mind that you will likely have to re-adjust things after a
re-install.  While it is not all that hard to do, you do run some risks and
(IMO) would be better off masking.  Oh, if you do decide to remove - figure
out a way to make sure the "stick" and fabric go back together the same way
that they came out in order to keep the length of the top the same as it was
to start.

Later, JR


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ramon Rodriguez III" <corvairgrymm at gmail.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2013 5:43 PM
Subject: <VV> temporarily remove convertible top?


> Hello all.  I'm working on my 64 convertible (getting ready for paint) and
> would really feel a lot better (and make things a lot easier) if I just
> removed the excellent convertible top and set it aside while I prime
> repeatedly and then paint the car.
>
> It looks to me like it would be pretty easy (I've never done a top before)
> to just take the entire convertible top complete with frame (in folded
> position) off the car and put it back on after I'm done painting.
>
> Is this as easy as it looks?  Is there any really good reason not to do
> it?
> I asked in the fall about protecting the top while I paint but I'm just
> not that confident in my masking abilities.  It is a white top on a red
> car.
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> Ray R.
> Certifiable Corvair Nut
>