I don't need a complete power top frame, just on the drivers side 2nd piece back. Mine is bent. Does anyone sell just frame parts? Nothing on Ebay that I see and Carlisle usually has the complete top frame. It too 6 tries to get the top to lay flat so I'll probably need to leave the top down for the season.

Can it be straightened :)

Power or manual?

power.

I know of several places in FL, that might fit your bill. "Hydro-E-Lectric", another out of Ft Laud @ (954)525-8810, and another company that was out of Inverness, FL.

If they can't help you, they might steer your onto a boneyard that might. Good luck on your search.

capt

Hey Gary,

Any success on the repair/replacement of your bent top frame pass side middle rail section? I've got the same exact issue with my '68 power top. Man, are those hydro cylinders strong....

If anyone else has any insight on fixes please advise. I dropped off the part (and my car) to a local convertible shop for possible straightening.... Ill post those results but I dont expect much.

Dave

Hey Dave,
I have the top down now, so I figure this may be a good winter project. I plan on taking out the piece and have a machine shop either straighten it or make a new one. I've had no luck finding "pieces" only full frame units. Let me know if you find anything.

Gary,

Will definately hook you up when I get any leads. I had a convertible shop "straighten" mine. I'm less the happy about the results but at least they did not charge me and it may be at least functional till a replacement maybe comes available. I bet a machine shop job would have been a bit higher quality. Talk about murphy's law.... it started raining on the way home and ended as I pulled in the garage.

Dave

I will look at mine tonight to see how much a pain in the rear it would be to fab a new one. i will get back to you tomorrow sometime

Hey Dave (DDOLES),

I bet it would be a pain to recreate this rail and appreciate any thoughts you may have.


Well... after 4 hours of constant hammering, trial fitting, and tweaking. I now have a functional top again. The rail is a bit lumpy and probably weakened but at least its working again.

Maybe it'll last till a replacement is finally found.

Sorry guys i havent had a chance to look at my top yet. Wife had other plans for me but i will be going to my storage are to look at tonight

soory i didnt realize my keyboard came unplugged. what i meant to say is "i will be going to my storage where parts are to look at my top tonight

Well, as you would expect, driving along and started to rain and was forced to put the top up and that did it. The welds are now pulling away near where the first joint meets the second joint. The frame piece now hangs @ 2 inches below the first piece, and now bent alittle more..
I wonder if this is still covered by GM warranty.

I have a 69 Camaro convertible manual top frame and a 67 Firebird power top frame. I want to put the power top on the the 69 Camaro convertible. Ive been told a manual top cannot be used with power top cylinders. The tops look exactly the same to me. Are there really two different tops, manual and power?
______________
Hugger Orange 69

The components are not interchangeable. Even with mods you run risks because all of the hinges and load points are different.

Check out the picture for a good way to differentiate the two tops. The power top is is beefed up to (almost...lol) handle those hydraulic cylinders.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k326/davezila/power-manual.jpg

Dave

The components are not interchangeable. Even with mods you run risks because all of the hinges and load points are different.

Check out the picture for a good way to differentiate the two tops. The power top is is beefed up to (almost...lol) handle those hydraulic cylinders.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k326/davezila/power-manual.jpg

Dave

I do not have the tools to do such a job but i would recommend welding a bar to connect all the way acrossed the panel to strenghten the part this way it will not bend.

Sorry, I did not specify.....

The left photo in the above picture is a power top. The one on the right (with the blazer in the background) is manual.

I contacted convertibleparts.com to see if they pave the rail I need. They sell full frames only. I guess I have a big problem.