...balloon up with the windows closed at higher (>45 mph) speeds? Car is a 72 GS. I had a new top put on about 18 years ago, and the seam in the cross-bow right behind the driver pulled out because of the "ballooning". Since then, I don't keep the windows up unless I get caught in the rain, and I even keep one window cracked while at the track to keep the top from ballooning. I want to get a new top soon and want to know if something is wrong before I do.
You got 18 years out of your top?! OMG :eek2: The top is secured to the bows to keep it from MAJOR ballooning. If you've lost a seam you've lost the ability to hold the top down. Just make sure the replacement top is put on as well as your old one.
After I put 150,000 or so miles in the first 5 years of ownership, the first replacement top lasted 6 years. Now the car is a garage queen. It really needed to be replaced a few years ago, but now it goes down in the spring and up in the fall. If I recall correctly, the seam failed a couple of years after replacement in 1988. It happened after some passes at the strip. I took it back to the upholstry shop, and they said they've never seen that seam fail. It is "fused" at the manufacturer. They tried to glue it, but it never held. I don't recall why I didn't push them for a new top, as it was still under warranty. Maybe I felt responsible because of the 100 mph + passes at the track? o No: Anyhow, the seam failed, but not due to anything I did??
That is somewhat normal, as long as it isn't creating too large a bubble. I had a top last about 16 years before ripping in the wind.
My friend father bought a 61 Invicta convertible brand new. It still has its factory original top and paint. Thats 45 years on the same convertible top!
Tops in the north and tops in the garage last a LOT longer than tops down in the sunny south and/or go to work everyday. :bglasses:
Mine Too Some 18 years ago I was doing about L1 or L2 on the speedo down I 280 near San Bruno CA and my roof departed, I had a shop install a "Robins" and within a year the bonded strip you mentioned came undone causing the roof to balloon and the glass back window seam failed then the window fell out into the well liner, I bought another rear curtain and in no time flat it happened again, next I etched the rim of the glass with diamond sand disc and polysulphide sealed it, this only lasted about a year, but I digress... I got about 18 years out of the top but it is badly needing replacement, they seem to go quick when they start to tear and curl up... Fran 71 Lark Droptop
This discussion leaves me with the question... What is the top speed I should go with the windows down and top up? Usually I'd have the AC on but I need a line from the compressor cause it leaked.
