My '68 442 convertible has the original power top cylinders, and I'm pretty sure they need replacing. Can you get to them from the trunk, or are they in the spaces between the side of the back seat and the rear quarter panel? Where is the best place to buy them? Should I replace the hydraulic lines while I'm at it, and if so, how difficult is that to do? Finally, do the lines have to be bled after replacing the cylinders? Sorry for the ignorance, but this forum is a great source of information. Thanks, Mike.

 

They are behind the rear seat armrests. Take back seat out, remove the side armrest panels and they are there. Can't get to them from the trunk. You can take the flat metal cover off the top of the side armrest to see down in where the cylinder is though. If the top is not going up fast enough or stopping before it's up you may have lost some fluid and air is in the system.

 

Yes you probably should replace the lines too as they are relatively cheap if you're going the new route for everything. Yes you'll have to bleed the system.

 

Here's a pic showing the location of the cylinders. Note that the top is removed so more is visible than with just the seat and armrests removed.

PC230030_zpsf63cd72d.jpg

 

Bleeding the cylinders is a matter of cycling the top up and down while making sure the reservoir on the pump is full. Filling the pump with ATF is a nasty job. Be sure you have plenty of rags of old towels.

 

Save yourself some time, the mess, and headache and buy this. I just replaced my lines and cylinders a few weeks ago and it worked perfectly, it really made it easy to bleed. Also, why your there replace the rubber grommets that hold the pump down as mine were pretty brittle.


http://convertibleparts.com/fluid-matic-tool.html

 

Some places to check and compare prices:
ThePartsplace.com
Inlinetube.com
Supercarsunlimited.com

Note how hoses are hooked up to pump because if you reverse them when reinstalling them the top will go down when you push up on the switch. Ask me how I know that.

 

Why do you think they need to be replaced? If your cylinders aren't leaking there probably isn't anything wrong with them. My 48 year old cylinders are working fine.

 

Mine were oily covered with dirt and dust from leaking but still worked. Just needed purged but I replaced them afraid they may squirt up and stain my top. Don't know for sure that would happen, just heard the concern from someone else and bought into it.

 

This place had the best price I could find, plus made in the USA:
convertiblecylindersdirect.com

 

Looks good. Made in USA. Priced today at what I paid 3 years ago.