The convertible top on my 67 a body fits tightly over the ends of the windshield, but has a gap in the center. It's almost like it needs to be pushed down in the middle. Is this how it should fit? Opinions welcome.

Do you mean the front top frame bow is bent?

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Joshua

The one that has the clamps and holds the seal to the windshield seems to have too much curvature. As a woodworker, I'm tempted to support the ends and tap down on the center with a block and hammer. Not very subtle.

The gap across the top of the windshield and the top should be even. Your bow must be bent, weakened from rusting, or the rubber gasket may be deformed making a bad fit. I would be very careful trying to rebend it straight. Be sure to get the rebend in the right spot, or you will end up with a twisted pretzel mess.

First see if the rest of the top irons are articulating properly with no binding, and the top is square to the windshield header before any rebending takes place.

You could place two short lengths of 2x4 on the outer sides of the top latches on top of the windshield, and gently deflect the center of the top header downward by hand only, no hammers. Second thought, make two posts that go to ground to support the outer ends of the front top bow to remove any stress going to the windshield. After each attempt to bend the header back, check the gap. This member is rather stout, and may not readily yeld. Be gentil!, that is a windshield holding up your efforts.

Worse case, the top header may have to be removed, rebent, or replaced. if badly rusted.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Sounds prudent wjajr, It occurs to me that the corner areas may be built up with silicone by a previous owner. Further inspection has led me to this suspicion, especially since, as you point out, the front bow has a rather large cross section, and doesn't look as if it could have bent out of shape easily. I'll post more, after I disassemble the area some. Thanks.

I put my top yesterday as we were having a "warm" New England day... High Forties. The sun was out, the top is black, and all is buttoned up now. My top exhibits a larger gap center, compared to outer ends of the top bow.

My weather striping on the front bow is old, and should be replaced, but won't until it starts to leak.

If your seal is leaking you can shim the center section with foam tape used to seal pick up truck caps to get you by, as these rubber seals are rather expensive.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

I had the top down in the Northeast Kingdom in VT, Monday. Cool runnings. I just replaced the seal, and it still is gappy in the center. Maybe it's just made that way.

Top update: Thanks to some pictures sent to me from 74dartswinger, I was able to see that the main problem was at the ends of the front bow. Using a big pipe wrench and a scrap of carpet, I carefully bent the ends up a bit. That helped a lot. Then, as wjajr suggested, I supported the ends of the front bow down to the ground with a couple of pieces of steel tube stock. Using a wooden block, I tapped the bow where it was high in one spot (with an 8 lb hammer!:shock: ). I also cranked down the clamps a bit. final result was pretty good. I went from being able to slide a finger into the gap, to having it fit pretty tight. Now I should be able to drive in the rain without getting wet. Thanks for all the help!