A week or two ago, I opened the trunk of my 72 Cutlass ragtop and noticed a fluid leak, quickly tracing it to the top motor and finding the plug was out -- either improperly installed or removed and not put back when refilling or inspecting the car. Since putting the plug back in place -- and cleaning up the fluid (ATF, thank God) -- the top works and the plug has stayed in place. However in the past week, a new issue has developed -- the top raises unevenly, with the driver's side coming up higher at first, then the passenger side catches up. And a small tear has appeared in the top. Tonight, I raised it part way and saw the the top frame pivot/joint was the cause of the hole. I'm wondering whether I've got low fluid causing the uneven movement or if the top frame has become bent or is catching on something as it's coming up out of the well. Thoughts??

 

A related issue -- what kind of ATF should I use to top off the top motor? The book says Dexron for the tranny.

 

Any ATF will work, it's just a replacement for hydraulic fluid and I don't believe many of the special properties that make it work in a transmission are used in the top motor.... Tedd

 

I don't believe low fluid would cause it to come up unevenly. Without seeing it, it sounds like you have a problem with the top frame. As Tedd said, any ATF will work.