This Blog

Syndication

Welcome to MyLRS Sign in | Join | Help

Project IntroVert, Mustang Top Frame Removal

Share |

Once we had the opportunity to establish what we are working with on Project IntroVert, the first thing we established is its pretty evident this thing is in dire need of a top frame! Several pieces were bent or missing and it was not repairable. Due to this being long n/a we started making phone calls and the local U-Pull-It just so happened to have a 4cylinder donor car there with what we were told was a perfect top frame. Tony and I packed up our tools, and headed out on the adventure to extricate this top frame from the donor car. Upon arrival it wasn't looking too promising since the top vinyl was destroyed, and someone had made several repairs over the years with what appeared to be tent material glued on with silicone. However, after pulling some material back, we established the frame was mint!.  Here is what we were greeted with.

Another angle

From the back

At this point, we tackled removing the frame. As you see, alot of the vinyl was already gone but we took box cutters to make quick work of removing what was left to free it up from the car as well as to gain access to the mounting points. It is surprisingly easy to remove the top frame from one of these cars. Some of the pictures I took came out blurry,  so I didn't get to document this quite as well as I had hoped. Here you see one side next to the rear seat which has 3 bolts that need to come off. The other side is the same situation, just a mirror image of this. 

Next, if you lean over the quarter and look a bit lower down in there, you will see a 4th nut/bolt that holds this piece on. A bit lower than this, and you will see the top cylinders and their one mounting point to the body of the car. This also needs to be removed.

Once all of this is removed, the top frame will lift out as one unit. Thats it! It is really that simple. Here is a picture of what we we're left with once it had been separated from the car. Soon to come will be installation.

Soon we will remove the convertible top frame from our 1988 Mustang GT Convertible and replace it with this one. We will then add new black Mustang convertible top material and a Mustang convertible headliner. Keep checking back for updates!

 

Comments

 

Jesse said:

Is that a four eye in the background I see?

May 17, 2010 10:56 AM
 

Lee said:

Yeah that blue one in the back is an 85 or 86. I tried to rob a piece from the drum in the back from it.

May 17, 2010 11:40 AM
 

Reed Parkinson said:

What was actually wrong with that car? It looked too nice to be in a wrecking yard. My coupe dosent look that nice.

May 17, 2010 4:34 PM
 

Alan92 said:

Gee,  I wish we had junkyards like those up here, they look better than most cars on the road in upstate ny lol. I bet that 85-86 mustang out back doesn't have rotten door posts and floors either, what a shame.

May 18, 2010 1:00 AM
 

Karson said:

They do have a few solid bodys out there, the trouble is their interiors are completely trashed because of the sun and heat here. Were talking entire halfs of the dash missing and such. I actually looked at that 85 car, and although the body looked great, the floors were rotton. I did spot a couple fairmont futuras that looked pretty good out there, but the rest had already been picked apart pretty good.  

May 18, 2010 8:32 AM
 

eeprete said:

Nice yes, the vert top frame is easier to remove than most people think. Will you be installing the top yourself or farming it out to a shop. btw, nice thread on the upholstery install. I used your blog for reference as I just did my 86 GT vert upholstery.

May 19, 2010 8:45 AM
 

Karson said:

We plan to do the install ourselves utilizing the how-to dvd we sell. We'll keep you covered as the blogs continue.  

Glad the upholstery blog helped you out. Its pretty involved but very doable.  

May 19, 2010 2:49 PM
 

Chris Danner said:

hey

May 28, 2010 10:46 PM
 

Ronnie said:

I'm really looking forward to the next phase of this when you put the top on. I have an 88 LX 5.0 Vert that I will need to put a new top on soon and I wanted to do it myself to save the money.

Soon it will be time to start my interior re-do also.

July 4, 2010 10:51 AM
 

scmustang said:

Can't wait until you start the interior - my '88 5.0 GT convertible is waiting for an interior restore and I need some guidance.

July 8, 2010 1:40 PM
 

Dejay said:

I bought the DVD on the install along with the new top.  After watching the DVD I hired somebody to do it.  After watching the pros do the top I I know I made the right choice....  

July 21, 2010 9:09 PM
 

Chris said:

Is that trim piece around the back of the convertible top available as new or a reproduction?

August 10, 2010 6:48 PM
 

Karson said:

Hey Chris,

Are you referring to the Hockey stick looking pieces on the body of the car, or that decorative strip on the actual top itself above the rear window?

August 11, 2010 8:14 AM

About Karson

Been a car nut since I was a little kid. Bought my first car when I was 13 years old and over 70 cars later, still living this addiction!