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To convertible owners who use the hard top.

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Old 01-17-2011, 03:14 PM
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1989 406
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Default To convertible owners who use the hard top.

I picked up my car yesterday. The hard top is currently on the car and I was curious as to how long people leave these on and if it will damage the soft top.

Thanks.
Old 01-17-2011, 03:17 PM
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j3studio
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Originally Posted by 1989BLOWNCONVVETTE
I picked up my car yesterday. The hard top is currently on the car and I was curious as to how long people leave these on and if it will damage the soft top.
Congratulations on your acquisition.



I would want to occasionally take the hard top off and bring the soft top up, but I would not feel bad about leaving the hard top on for three to five months - that was, after all, the original design intention.
Old 01-17-2011, 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by j3studio
Congratulations on your acquisition.



I would want to occasionally take the hard top off and bring the soft top up, but I would not feel bad about leaving the hard top on for three to five months - that was, after all, the original design intention.

Thanks. It is something else. It has a 406 and it is a terror.

I am looking forward to having a lot of fun with it.
Old 01-17-2011, 04:31 PM
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Nothing wrong with leaving the hardtop in place for months at a time. You do need to be careful in folding the soft top and putting a clean towel where the plastic window folds is a good idea.

Obviously, keeping as much moisture out of the interior as possible is a big help. If the soft top is white, it's vinyl, if it's black or tan, it will be cloth.

Did you get the OEM Torx ratchet and the small ratchet for the rear encapsulated bolts that are in the locating pins??
Old 01-17-2011, 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by c4cruiser
Nothing wrong with leaving the hardtop in place for months at a time. You do need to be careful in folding the soft top and putting a clean towel where the plastic window folds is a good idea.

Obviously, keeping as much moisture out of the interior as possible is a big help.
All good advice I should have provided ...
Old 01-17-2011, 07:20 PM
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HT on, mid dec thru march, it's a good idea to use a clear strip to protect the paint under the HT, other wise you risk marring the paint.

I sometimes use the HT in August when it is really hot in Texas
Old 01-18-2011, 07:42 AM
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corvette95
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I've had mine on for 4 years now on my NCRS car. I have a convertible top pillow in the soft top.
Old 01-18-2011, 08:30 AM
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I've only had my hardtop on the car since October so won't know how it's faired until spring. I did use a pillow for the soft top and the paint protecters for the paint.
Old 01-18-2011, 01:42 PM
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I'd like a hardtop, but really I wouldn't make much use of it as I put the top down as much as possible
Old 01-18-2011, 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Texas Stinger
I'd like a hardtop, but really I wouldn't make much use of it as I put the top down as much as possible
The hardtop is great in the winter months. It keeps the soft top from being wet/moist and any dampness out of the interior.

The hardtop has other benefits too. With the hardtop installed, the car is quieter inside. Resonance from aftermarket exhaust systems is reduced.

If the hardtop is properly installed, the car actually becomes stiffer than a coupe. It should also allow 'vert owners to use their cars for track days/HPDE's if there is a requirement for roll bars for 'verts. The hardtop has an internal "halo bar" that is similar to the coupe and the large steel attaching brackets that attach to the top and the B-pillars providing the strength and some roll-over protection.

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