How to maintain your convertible
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 6
From: Grand Junction, CO / Tomball, TX
How to bleed your hydraulic pump Tools: Multi-purpose hydraulic fluid, 3/16 Allen wrench
First remove the plug with your 3/16 Allen wrench as shown in the picture below. Next fill your pump with multi-purpose hydraulic fluid that you picked up from your local auto parts store such as Auto Zone or O’Reilly’s. (They carry 5 gallon buckets which is overkill for around $20 but if you can find a quart that would be perfect.) Do not over fill! Now screw the plug back in. Once you have completed this, lower and raise the top once or twice. This pumps the fluid into your lines and pushes the air into your pump. Now you can open up the pump and fill with fluid again. Continue this till you can’t fill the pump anymore with hydraulic fluid. Your top should now lower and raise with ease.
Just some info: To lower and raise your top manually you need to turn this valve off as seen in the picture below. Turn it back on to raise it electronically.
First remove the plug with your 3/16 Allen wrench as shown in the picture below. Next fill your pump with multi-purpose hydraulic fluid that you picked up from your local auto parts store such as Auto Zone or O’Reilly’s. (They carry 5 gallon buckets which is overkill for around $20 but if you can find a quart that would be perfect.) Do not over fill! Now screw the plug back in. Once you have completed this, lower and raise the top once or twice. This pumps the fluid into your lines and pushes the air into your pump. Now you can open up the pump and fill with fluid again. Continue this till you can’t fill the pump anymore with hydraulic fluid. Your top should now lower and raise with ease.
Just some info: To lower and raise your top manually you need to turn this valve off as seen in the picture below. Turn it back on to raise it electronically.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 6
From: Grand Junction, CO / Tomball, TX
How to maintain your convertible Step 1
Tools: Car wash mitt, car wash soap, lint roller, fabric protectant.
In this step I will tell you how to adequately clean and maintain your canvas convertible top. First you want to wash your top with soap and a hand mitt. I use Mequiars NXT car wash and a soft white hand mitt that I also use to wash the car. As you do with your paint dip the mitt in the bucket of soap and water. Lightly scrub your top but not to hard to fray any of the fabric. Do this till it is clean. Rinse. Now let it dry, in the should is the best place so the sun wont fade it while drying. Now go back over the top once dry with a lint roller picking up and loose material from the mitt. Once you have done this take your fabric protectant, I use RaggTopp fabric protectant, and spray the top not soaking it but a light coat all over for protection. Your top is clean and safe. I would recommend repeating this at least every two weeks.
*The above is applied for vinyl but instead of a mitt use a soft bristle brush.*
Step 2
Tools: Grease, trim protectant.
In this step you will find out that not only does your top need protecting but its components as well. First lift your top up about half way. Now you can see all the rubber trim above the windshield and on the side of the top above the windows. Clean this thoroughly with a trim cleaner/protectant such as Mequiars exterior trim detailer. Once you have gotten all the trim you know need to lube all of the joints. Lay the top all the way down. This will expose all of the joints; generously lube them up with any suitable grease. This will stop any squeaks you might have had or will have.
Now your convertible top is clean and protected.
Tools: Car wash mitt, car wash soap, lint roller, fabric protectant.
In this step I will tell you how to adequately clean and maintain your canvas convertible top. First you want to wash your top with soap and a hand mitt. I use Mequiars NXT car wash and a soft white hand mitt that I also use to wash the car. As you do with your paint dip the mitt in the bucket of soap and water. Lightly scrub your top but not to hard to fray any of the fabric. Do this till it is clean. Rinse. Now let it dry, in the should is the best place so the sun wont fade it while drying. Now go back over the top once dry with a lint roller picking up and loose material from the mitt. Once you have done this take your fabric protectant, I use RaggTopp fabric protectant, and spray the top not soaking it but a light coat all over for protection. Your top is clean and safe. I would recommend repeating this at least every two weeks.
*The above is applied for vinyl but instead of a mitt use a soft bristle brush.*
Step 2
Tools: Grease, trim protectant.
In this step you will find out that not only does your top need protecting but its components as well. First lift your top up about half way. Now you can see all the rubber trim above the windshield and on the side of the top above the windows. Clean this thoroughly with a trim cleaner/protectant such as Mequiars exterior trim detailer. Once you have gotten all the trim you know need to lube all of the joints. Lay the top all the way down. This will expose all of the joints; generously lube them up with any suitable grease. This will stop any squeaks you might have had or will have.
Now your convertible top is clean and protected.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 6
From: Grand Junction, CO / Tomball, TX
How to tighten your convertible top Tools: Phillips head screw driver, Dap contact cement, something to punch holes in the material such as a pointed Philips head screw driver.
First, turn off the hydraulic valve in the trunk. Next lay the top all the way back till it is down. Take a marker and mark a few spots along the edge of the top. Next unscrew the header panel. This will expose the material that is glued down. Pull it up, your top should move freely now. Depending on how stretched out it is, pull the material about 1/4 - 1/2 of an inch, I normally do half. Punch new screw holes in the material starting from the center and working your way out. Screw it down, then close the top and make sure it is a little tight yet no creases. Now you can lower it back down and unscrew the screws. Next you want to glue the material down, the best thing to use and I use it on all tops is Dap Contact Cement from Lowes or Home Depot, about 3-4 dollars a bottle. Spread that on where the old glue was, lay the material back down, and screw the header panel on. Lastly turn the hyd. pump valve back on.
First, turn off the hydraulic valve in the trunk. Next lay the top all the way back till it is down. Take a marker and mark a few spots along the edge of the top. Next unscrew the header panel. This will expose the material that is glued down. Pull it up, your top should move freely now. Depending on how stretched out it is, pull the material about 1/4 - 1/2 of an inch, I normally do half. Punch new screw holes in the material starting from the center and working your way out. Screw it down, then close the top and make sure it is a little tight yet no creases. Now you can lower it back down and unscrew the screws. Next you want to glue the material down, the best thing to use and I use it on all tops is Dap Contact Cement from Lowes or Home Depot, about 3-4 dollars a bottle. Spread that on where the old glue was, lay the material back down, and screw the header panel on. Lastly turn the hyd. pump valve back on.
If you are not getting a good seal on the window and your weather stripping looks good, here's how to adjust the window to close better:
http://shbox.com/1/adj_window.html
Thanks to Future Z Owner for the link.
http://shbox.com/1/adj_window.html
Thanks to Future Z Owner for the link.
Paint your vinyl top:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/convertible-vehicles/1008310-rattle-can-paint-job-top.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/convertible-vehicles/1008310-rattle-can-paint-job-top.html
another tip from Dustin for tightening the top fabric if it is loose in the back:
If you get in the back behind your back seats you can see a brace type peice bolted in back there that the back of the top attaches to by staples. Unbolt that then just remove the staples from that one side so you can further tighten it and restaple it. Should be an easy fix.
