i kinda got side tracked a bit ,as i was looking over this top frame things don't seem be aligned properly .it appears the frame needs to come forward to meet the quarter glass better .but the window also looks to be a bit forward can they both be adjusted?thanks

 

pics are with window rolled all the way up and top firmly latched in place

 

Looks like whoever did the top didn't know what they were doing. At the top edge where it seats in the front, there should be like a 3/8" or 1/2" roll of material there. It's still too far back. Yes, you can move all the windows forward + back. Was that top down for a long period of time?

 

You need to carefully review the "Folding Top" Chapter in the Fisher Body Manual.
There are a number of different adjustments that may come into play.

- Eric

 

i guess I'm on the hunt for the manual been getting away without it but defiantly would come in handy.yes the top was down for over twenty years.i think i might strip all the material off tonight .does that quarter window look too far forward ?was wondering if the front door window acted as a stop

 

Here are a few (including shipping):

$20

$21

$21

$20

$25

- Eric

 

Thanks Eric I'll get one

 

Ok...if the top was down for 20 years,that's your main problem. It has shrunken and I'm not sure if you can fix it. Maybe it shrunk 1" front to back, that's the 1" at the front where it should meet the stainless windshield mldg. I've seen 1/4 windows up that far on good tops. You can see the hinge over the 1/4 is not really open all the way. The windows are neither here nor here at this point, just put them all down for now, and see what you can do. Maybe loosen the front edge top material and see if the frame header comes further forward. The problem is...the top is stapled under the pinchweld mldg, over the rr window, glued behind the 1/4 windows, and you have other bows that affect the top positioning. So...maybe you take the material off at the front, and the frame still won't come forward far enough to reach the stainless, because all that other stuff is stopping it. I don't really think it's the frame, or a frame adjustment. I think it's the material. Let us know what you find. BTW...looking again, that windowprobably could go back or it could go up to seal better. but the windows have nothing to do with how the top frame seats, they suck to adjust, I wouldn't mess with them at this point.

 

When I had my frame in pieces, all windows out for rehab, it took a lot of patience to adjust and align. This was without a top. I agree the top is most likely holding it out of place. The book is a must for these adjustments

 

I finally got my fisher body manual in the mail have used it a dozen times already . Got the windows lined up and put the new weatherstrip on and reinstalled door panels everything is much tighter now . Going to remove top frame for painting if I can get it adjusted close . It doesn't seem like there is a whole lot of room for adjustment . The whole frame needs to come forward at least 3/4 of an inch. The header now has a few tabs rusted off not sure if it will need replacing or can be repaired. I'll post results . I've seen a few guys on here with similar issues it may help them out.

 

no luck on the adjustments blew new seals in the motor .after rebuilding pump i added new fluid tonight to try to operate top. seemed to going ok except the pass side piston wasn't doing its job it has no leaks but no lifting power ,i assumed it needed a little more fluid. i then noticed fluid dripping out the bottom of the pump reservoir. as i removed rubber plug from reservoir fluid exploded all over my newly painted trunk .so caution to the new guys there is plenty of pressure in the top pump if you overfill it .which leads me to one question can these cylinders go bad without actually leaking ? "to be continued"

 

I just saw this pic on another site. I think this is the main big adjustment you can make This car is missing the serrated bushing that matches up. This is a big adjustment, there are smaller adjustments like on the front header and the rear bow when you install the top. I'm not sure how exactly it works, but it looks like you can move the whole frame with this. My GS has a similar issue with the top. Let me know if this works for you.

 

thanks for the help I'm not seeing the pic though

 

How about this? I think it controls the height?

 

Ok I got I will try that adjustment tomorrow and let you know the results . Thanks

 

i messed around with that adjustment this morning before work and with it maxed out (arm all the way up)it does move headed bow forward slightly but does nothing to move the rear of the top frame closer to the quarter window .the odd thing is the opposite side fits ok .as far as i can see there is no adjustment that brings the entire frame forward.i will take my manual to work and study it today

 

Geez'...you get up early! Ok...well I know the front header adjusts a small amount back forth. I know the hinge at the top near the rear bow adjusts a bit, too. It's in the book. Bear in mind that many top frames are bent because people would sit on the top frame for like parades, pictures, etc. I don't know how you would tell if it was bent w/o something to compare it to. I'm a bit surprised somebody on here doesn't have a good handle on this! I know people remove the frames to paint them, so somebody should know how to adjust them. I know it's in the manual, I have the manual, also. I'm college educated, and the manual really doesn't explain the procedures of adjusting the top frame very well.

 

I've studied this book but can't get a whole lot out of it .it could very well be bent but like you say I have nothing to compare it to . I just don't want to invest time and money into it if I'm going to have to replace it . I don't give up easy though

 

Not sure this will help, I leave my top down all summer and when its time to put it away I raise the top all the way but don't latch it down for a day or two. The top material has been replaced once and the original material seemed softer than the replacement.

 

after tons of research ,measuring ,and head scratching i have no reason to believe this top frame has beed bent or damaged in any way .the one thing i was overlooking was the fact that the top cables were broken and i believe this has a lot to do with the alignment.i went ahead and removed the frame for painting .ill have to get a new header bow though as mine has several tabs rusted off .unless someone has a suggestion to repair them ?thanks for all the advice