Hello everyone I was lucky enough to get my hands on a beautiful olds delta 88 royale. It sat for a year before I bought it but I think shes warming up to me. So Ive been trying to find a diagram or some info from someone who knows whether or not you can lower the top manually. Sounds like its not recommended as it will cause more problems. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Im pretty sure they replaced the scissor frame and top, maybe they didn't hook all back up? I touched the back of the switch w screwdriver and it did spark so does that mean its not the motor but maybe the switch? It doesn't have any resistance when I wiggle it around and nothing happens, at all.

 

Do NOT try to manually lower the top. Get the manual to learn about the operations . Ken

 

You can lower it manually, no problem... But wouldn't it be better to figure out what's wrong and fix it?

To lower it manually, disconnect the two shaft-drive cables from the two drive units behind each rear window, in the top well area, then unclip the latches and prepare to break your back. You'll have to get it to where it's up in the air, then stand on the back seat and carefully lower it into the top well.
Putting it back up will hurt more.

As for the rest, Search is your friend.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...r-top-r-r.html
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...a-88-help.html
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-scissors.html
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...provement.html
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...tible-top.html
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-question.html

You need to get a copy of the Fisher Body Manual for your year, which will have a full description of top operation. Post-'70 FBMs are not available on WildAboutCars yet, so you will have to buy one. eBay usually has plenty.
The "Scissor Top Manuals" sold by various convertible top dealers are really just photocopies of the top section of the FBM.

Obvious places to start looking for a problem in top operation are the switch, which is a current choke point, and the relay, which has a tendency to burn out.

Read the linked information, then ask questions.

Welcome to Classic Olds!

- Eric

 

Thank you I do need to pick up the manual and take the time to learn about it because i'm sure it will save me the pain of trying to lower it manually and breaking something. I appreciate the input and Im sure I will be here often, my mechanical skills are slightly lacking. Seems to be a lot of knowledgable people who have probably all experienced the same issues at some time or another. I'll try to get some pics up and share the beauty! Thanks