Hello I live in Charlotte NC and own a 1969 Firebird Convertible. I posted some pictures on this site a couple years ago. Sorry this is so long, I get to the questions at the bottom, but really want to tell the story so people know how clueless I am on the matter I guess.
Haven't been here in awhile, but this week I got a new convertible top on my Firebird, it looks great and while it was in there I had them fix the hydraulics, had to replace the motor tubes and cylinders. The guy had called me and told me that the convertible switch was bad, then had called back to say they got it working (not sure what they did) but that it was in bad shape and might need to be replaced if he couldn't get it to work right. He called me back a couple days later and let me know that the switch worked but was flaky and that he would try to get a new one, but had called around and had little luck finding a new switch for a 69 convertible, told me he could show me how to work with the switch when I picked the car up. I picked the car up today and the top looks great and of course the first thing I did was play with the top (I had never had the power top in working condition) The switch was still hanging out of the dash a little and I could see the 3 wires going to it. The guy (Fred) came out and showed me the deal with the switch and told me that while he had been messing with it is had arced and started smoking and he thought there must be no fuse going to the switch, also the switch gets hot when you use it. He told me that he would hate for it to catch the car on fire and that it was dangerous, we went in and called NPD and they did say they didn't have that switch but sounded like they were getting slammed with calls or something. After getting home and messing with the switch a little more, I wrapped more electric tape around the back and the wires on the switch, I am pretty sure there is no bear wire on the switch now, if I bend the wire a little one way it starts the motor going down, I would think the short might be in the wire itself but I am not sure. the switch does get hot and I am surprised that much juice goes through that switch to make it hot like that.
So I guess what I am asking is, do you think I need a new switch? if so then where could I find it, hopefully fast so I can take my car to a car show that's coming up. I am almost scared to drive it with out a new switch, for that matter it may just start the mottor while the car is in the garage, blow the motor on it just running. If there really is no fuse to the switch, is that right? couldn't I just add one inline? Is it better to get a original switch or is there a better newer switch that I can just put in, I like for it to look original but if it isn't safe then I can use a new one and just keep the old one so if I ever sell it , ill have it.
