Looking at a convertible later tomorrow. I'm familiar with everything around the top but the top isn't something I've had to deal with. I have experience with retractable hardtops but those are strictly electric. What should I be looking for on the frame? Bent pieces, loose, worn/excessive play? Pump should sound like a pump, no real groaning? Inspect the lines and cylinders for leaks? Should a working scissor top need any assistance up or down? (beyond unlatching it from the windshield frame) Is the glass rear window optional? I'm going to check alignment of the top relative to the side glass and windshield frame too. The condition of the top material. What type of material should it be? Is a small hole on the "c-pillar" the end of that top or could it be repaired for a few seasons? Anything you guys have for me to look out for on the 71-75 Buick scissor top is appreciated. Just want to cover all the bases. Thanks in advance.
scissor top cars dont have pumps and cylinders. they prefer the car be running so voltage will be higher for the motor. usually trying to repair holes in a top is time wasted. replace the top and treat it well. sometimes it is nice to help a top go up by lifting some on the third bow as it comes up relieving the top motor of the weight/drag of the third bow only until the third bow is at its most verticle point. the whole top runs off a single motor that is like a power window motor that has a gear reduction box on it that runs rotary cables to seperate right and left gear boxes that actually put the top up and down. total gear reduction is about 1440:1 although the motor only spins about 720 rev because the actuators only move .5 not1. the way many of the these top frames encounter damage is people disconnecting the motor and putting the top up and down by hand. each side has a special sync to the motor that makes the majic happen. a way the top canvas gets damaged is putting the top down when one or both of the side tension cables are either broken or disconnected at the second bow. the operation and adjustment of these tops are very precise to operate properly. one this to look for is metel to metal wear and the very rear pivot point that happens when the rear bushings wear out. the best way to view is looking over the rear seat and maybe having to move the well liner around a little to se the pivot. a properly lubed and adjusted and aligned top usually needs no help especially if the car is running. up front, if the latch handles are broken off, someone has sometime in the past unlactched the header bow and swung the handle back into the latched position and lowered the top. ONCE THE FRONT BOW IS UNLATCHED, THE HANDLES MUST REMAIN OUT(POINTING TOWARD EACH OTHER) UNTIL THE FRONT BOW IS READY TO BE LATCHED AGAIN. if the car you are looking at has a glass rear window and the spring loaded arms that pull the glass out of the way of the top as it enters the trunk are not connected, the window may get broken out when the top is lowered. tops should not be lowered when the temp is under 50 degrees. you can find some of this and other needed info by buying a GM shop manual for the car. they are nice to have. ---------- Post added at 02:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:36 AM ---------- if you can PM me an email addy, i will send you some other documents/info i have aquired over the years on the scissor top subject.
You gave him some great advice. I too am curious about what happened. I have the top manual by Fisher i believe. If you have other info on these tops i would love to have it, if you don't mind My email is Teeges38@gmail.com thanks
Thank you for the information Yuk. The car I was pursuing is no longer for sale. The owner said she would think about it over the Winter and call me in the Spring. We will see.
