When you remove the old top...
When you remove the old top and frame from a car such as the one we've been working on, there will be a high degree of dry rot. This frame looked okay, but appearances can be deceiving....
When you get right down to it, isn't this the reason we have nice interiors and weatherproof convertible tops? When you need to get out of the rain, you want a comfortable place to sit and relax. Special thanks to interior expert Elbert Efird for installing our Kee Auto Top and covering the door panels with Arctic Ice from East Coast Leather to match the Recaro seats.
Compared to what the original top looked like when we initially brought the car to the shop, you'll have to agree it's quite an improvement. In this, the final article on the build of the '68 Hotchkis Performance Camaro Convertible, we'll take you through the details of how to refurbish old convertible tops and install a leather interior that'll last for years to come.
...Complete disassembly consists...
...Complete disassembly consists of ripping and prying the old top off the frame, followed by digging out the old, rotted tacking strips. The header bow was severely rusted, but we were able to save it and take it to Robbie Morrow for powdercoating so it would look decent.
More labor finally resulted...
More labor finally resulted in the resurrection of the old frame into something onto which we could install the Kee Auto Top vinyl top that Karen Evans St. John helped us choose to complement the interior and paint.
This shows the power top cylinder...
This shows the power top cylinder and how it attaches to the lifting bracket...
...The power top is operated...
...The power top is operated by pressure from the electro-hydraulic pump located behind the back seat cushion.
The Body by Fisher manual...
The Body by Fisher manual is a must-have book for figuring out how this goes together, since the regular chassis service and assembly manuals don't cover the convertible top assembly.
Here's what you won't find...
Here's what you won't find in most articles: the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Removing and refurbishing this top was a royal pain! It turned out the top had been bent when the car was rolled over in the '70s, but the damage wasn't apparent until we had run the covered top up and down a couple of times and bent the crap out of the already weakened framerail on the side of the top. Fortunately, Rick's First Gen Camaro has a new replacement top frame...and after the Power Tour, Elbert removed the brand-new Kee Auto Top and reinstalled it with the brand-new frame.
Caution: professional installer...do...
Caution: professional installer...do not attempt this at home. Watching Elbert install the top, he makes it look like a walk in the park--but he also has years of experience...
...Could the average mechanic...
...Could the average mechanic do this job? Nah, don't even consider it unless you have a spare month or so..
Check out the fit and finish...
Check out the fit and finish on this baby!
Bobby Livengood proves once...
Bobby Livengood proves once again his deft touch with the hammer, as he gently forms the new windshield and header trim before the windshield is installed. This is the type of detail work that sets a well-restored car apart from the quick in-quick out or cosmetic restorations that you end up redoing when you find your dream car. The convertibles all have this fiberglass well, which channels water away from the trunk area...very important to prevent that sneaky rust from eating your car.
This is a good idea: Put in...
This is a good idea: Put in the windshield before finishing the car! Jimmy Smith from Triumph Auto Glass puts in the new windshield with all-new bonding agents that create a weathertight seal, unlike the old leaky glues!
Back at Elbert's shop, Dustin...
Back at Elbert's shop, Dustin Efird patiently explained how to strip off the old upholstery ...
...and even showed where the...
...and even showed where the dash was covered at one point to hide the ugly cracking, which is so prevalent with these old dashes.
Elbert fitted the carpet in...
Elbert fitted the carpet in the trunk and utilized cardboard panels for side patterns.
We used Wedge Engineering...
We used Wedge Engineering adapters on the bottom of the Recaro Trend Topline seats, which allowed the seats to fit into the stock location.