I see the 1971-75 GM convertible top guide recommended as a good source of information. But aren't those the 'scissor top' introduced for the big cars in 1971? Is it worth buying? Is our top the 'two part' top? Or a 'one part'? This is all new to me and I am researching as much as I can. I just got the 'Convertible Top- Restoration and Installation' by Fred Mattson. I also have the 1968 FSM and Fischer Body manuals. So far it is all clear as mud.
I have one, as well as Classic Firebird, and all the rest. No revelation there. Not one book or instruction manual. The Convertible Top Guys offer a book that says almost all US cars are the 'two part' kind. I will probably order it too.
I did mine many years ago. I followed the steps in the '68 Body by Fisher Manual section 13 right down to making the stick spacers discussed in Fig 13-10.
If by two part, you mean the folding top and back curtain with the flexible plastic window? Yes, two parts. Plus a new well material, pads, etc. I found that the tacks they recommended eventually started walking out of the tack strips so I had to re-secure the back bow with a pneumatic staple gun and stainless staples a couple years ago.
Note that there is not a correct well material with the correct '68 insulation available so you have to use what is generally available, the non-insulated well.
That said, I would never do the top again myself. I would have a professional shop do it the next time.
Well, that is what I am trying to decide. Thanks for the frank opinion! I started reading the Convertible Top book and it says a two part top has a separate rear curtain we would call a window. It is mounted to the frame, not really a part of the top. A one part has the curtain as an integral part of the top. It is usually used on cars with little room like two seaters, Corvettes, etc. My clear plastic curtain seems to be sewn into and part of the top so-- a one piece? And a 'scissor top' was not offered until 1971 on big cars. It uses a totally different mechanism and the point was to allow much more room for rear seat passengers. So the book about them is probably not applicable to us except for generic top installation. Jimc2002 the more I look into this the more I go down the rabbit hole. Right now I am concentrating on getting the hydraulic system working. Then I can see if the frame is working as it should. My rear plastic curtain is gone so I used some table top clear plastic sheet just to close it up. The rest is OK and not in a rush to be replaced. I did not realize how complicated this job is.
