I checked the tech threads and didn't see a similar problem. 1970 98 previously at 35 MPH and above the top "buffeted" meaning the fabric vibrated and was quite noisy. I replaced the roof rails, pillar posts bow seal and rear window quarter seals with new Steele rubber. As far as I can tell there is no or very minimal air leakage around the windows or windshield. The problem is a little better now, it doesn't start vibrating until 45-50. The vibration seems to be at bow 2 (the one the screws are in over my head). At 70 it seems to be vibrating in two places, at bow 2 and back at bow 4. It is so loud at that point, like an outboard motor that the car is no fun to drive. I called a convertible top expert here in SoCal and described the problem and he said it isn't common and he hasn't heard about such a problem before. He told me to bring it in. All the screws in the bows that have them seem to be tight, but there is a little play between the bow and the fabric. When the problem starts at 45 MPH, if I put my hand up and push on the fabric, the noise stops. The fabric seems to be as tight as other convertibles I had that did not make noise. Any thoughts?

 

I tend to get a similar noise (and a vibration I can feel) around 60-70, depending on headwind direction and speed. My top is rather tight though when closed, still a little difficult to latch.. Are all of the pads in place?

 

It has to be a tightness issue - either the top material itself, as stretched from the main bow to the header bow, or the spring-loaded tension cables along the sides - something is too loose.

My '71 convertible, 20 years ago, didn't vibrate at all, even on a 120mph run through the Mojave Desert in January.

- Eric

 

The pads appear to be in place. I'll check the cables tomorrow. Thanks!

 

I took the car into a convertible top specialist. First he showed me that the passenger window still had some leaks. I couldn't see them, but a thin-blade screwdriver could be inserted from the outside in with no glass-rubber contact. He then had me feel above bow three, the one above the backseat with no screws in it. It felt tacky and he said the rubber strip that needs to be there was missing. So I took off the door panel and adjusted the glass until it was exacty aligned with the rear window quarter seal. I then adjusted two brackets at the top of the door frame that let the iindow rise a hair higher. I then loosened two nuts that attached the window to the riser and pushed the bracket out, which angled the window top more toward the roof rail. All the glass then appeared to be touching rubber since I could see the rubber pressing the inside of the glass. Next I went to Home Depot and got half inch wide weatherstrip, the less compressible kind, not the foam. I cleaned off the top of bow 3 with solvent until the metal was smooth and applied the self-adhering weatherstrip. It was only about 1/4 inch thick between the bow and fabric. The top looked no different from the outside. And wallah, I drove the car 70 MPH and other than normal wind noise over the fabric, there was no flapping.

 

Great - glad it's fixed!
Thanks for the follow up...