Adjust Lebaron top.

[amoparx]

Hi All, I bought an '89 Lebaron Monday. I also got a very nice "newer" top from a '95 in a salvage yard. I installed it yesterday. The top has a very hard time reaching the windshield. I've lengthened the front sides (near the hooks) and even loosened the main 6 frame bolts and still have to really muscle it to get it to latch. As it is, the front dowel/pin doesn't really drop in to the hole. It more or less is barely hooked on the rear edge of the hole. Any ideas? I've played around with the adjustment cams and even have a "Mopar" manual explaining it, but can't seem to make it work.

[chryguy]

Bob,

Those vinyl tops are not happy in cooler weather. My last 89 was a complete PIA when it was cold...you really had to muscle it (two hands or two people) .

When it was warm out, it merely took a little persuasion to get it to latch (just using one hand).

I have always been of the opinion that SOME people who own convertibles think they can put the top up while the car is moving...and have actually seen this done. Not a good idea...
So the possibility that something may be a little "out of kilter" is very likely. Of all the 'verts I've owned, off hand, the locator pins were centered in *maybe* one of them.

I'd get it nice and warm first, and see how that affects it...

CG

[amoparx]

I had another '89 GTC for almost 12 years. It was harder than most and nearly impossible when it was cold. I also installed a top on that car a few years before I got rid of it. This one is ridiculous. Just never encountered anything this bad. It sure looks great though!

[chryguy]

How was the old top? Easier?

Maybe the frame on the new top is tweaked a little? Not enough to actually see, but enough to make it more difficult?

CG

[amoparx]

That's hard to say. I only owned the car less than a day before taking the top off. So, I only "released" it. LOL. It was shot. The framework was even bent in the back. Someone had replaced the glass with Plexiglas and used a million screws and washers to secure it to the top. It wasn't pretty.

[tommyturbo]

I've got an 89 GTC, and the oe top always seemed to close easy enough. I had the top replaced with a high quality replacement, and I had to adjust the j hooks a bit tighter to make a good seal at the windshield header, guessing that the new material was tighter fitting than the oe top that had probably stretched out. But it still is very easy to close. Sounds like your top material is too taught.