I got my top frame and hydraulics all put in and worked it for the first time and all was going well until it got half way down and one of the pivot points hit the wheel well flange, that I did not beat down enough, when I put the outer wheel well in.
The frame tweaked and bent the center folding frame on the right side.
After many hours of re-bending it back as close as I could get it, it goes up and down but when it is down you can see the whole frame is closer to the left side by about an inch.
Is it something that can be straightened or do I need to replace the bent piece?
If I do have to replace it, does anybody have one.

By the way this is a bare frame,no top on it yet. :(

Sorry to hear that, its always something... But pictures will help people's feed back a hole lot.

I will get pictures but it will be after Christmas and the I will have to learn how to put them on here. I have never had any luck putting pictures on here for some reason.

I was looking at taking that part of the frame off and try to re-tweak it. It is not real bad and the top goes up and down fine, it is just off to one side in the down position.

Thanks

Are you talking about air bags and is this an after market frame... It sounds like you may have to put it in/or make a jig and bend it strieght... There are some good knowledgeable guys on here and I'm sure they will chime in.

I am not sure what you mean about air bags? It is the original GM frame. It is only one part of the frame that is bent, twisted really.
The rest of the frame is fine and I would only need to re-bend the one piece of the frame.

Eldon i got it, its the vert frame...

I don't know if we are talking about the same thing. This the convertible top frame not the frame of the car.
It is a 67 FB convertible. The part that needs tweaking is about 18" long and on the convertible top frame.
I am not sure I would need a frame shop to straighten this just a vise and hammer I think.
What I was wanting to know is has anybody straighten one and did it work?

Eldon this thread has some good info... http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=132747&highlight=convertible+frame+bent

Oops! I posted in the old thread. Well I guess maybe we will fid out then!!

Update.

Well after sleeping on it for a couple days and looking at it and measuring it every way I could, I got it fixed.
I had to use many different tools and jacks along with the measurements I took and got it bent back into place and now it goes up and down with no hitches or tweaking!

I have a new found respect for guys who have restored convertibles, especially those that were all apart like mine was when I bought it. There are so many moving parts that have to line up just right, it ain't funny. (no disrespect to the coupe guys)
It is amazing how a 1/4" adjustment makes a big difference on how the frame operates.
EB

Update.

Well after sleeping on it for a couple days and looking at it and measuring it every way I could, I got it fixed.
I had to use many different tools and jacks along with the measurements I took and got it bent back into place and now it goes up and down with no hitches or tweaking!

I have a new found respect for guys who have restored convertibles, especially those that were all apart like mine was when I bought it. There are so many moving parts that have to line up just right, it ain't funny. (no disrespect to the coupe guys)
It is amazing how a 1/4" adjustment makes a big difference on how the frame operates.
EB

Good,you are now the Team Camaro Convertible Top Frame Guru!

Does anybody have any questions...... :)

There are so many moving parts that have to line up just right, it ain't funny. It is amazing how a 1/4" adjustment makes a big difference on how the frame operates.
EB

This is the reason a lot of us will choose to just restore the frame while on the car, and just remove things that can be/need to be serviced/replaced one part at a time. Luckily for me, the previous owner that did all the work to start the resto on my 69 fully understood this and had experience with GM vert frames. I was tempted to remove the frame to better be able to complete the resto, but it went up and down so well and lined up that I decided to leave it be.

Having owned the 68 before, I knew to beat down the flange on the inner/outer wheel houses on this car to prevent what happens when you don't (as you now know). Just another of the little vert differences that one runs across.

All I can tell you all is that the most important two things you need to fix the convertible frame top is a good glass of whiskey (Makers Mark) neat and a good cigar. Repeat if necessary!