Raising and Lowering a 1967 Convertible Top

[USA 1967 Soft Top]

Hi,

I just purchased a 1967 Convertible from a person who almost never raised the convertible top. The instructions in the operator's manual are not very clear. Does someone have detailed instructions on how to raise and lower the convertible top? Does the metal support for the top attach on the window side or the interior side of each of the brackets found on the rear window area on both sides of the Moogy?

Thanks in Advance
Steve - Washington State

[mike.perry]

Someone must know how to raise and lower a soft top, sorry I have a saloon (sedan) and Traveller

[IaininTenbury]

Well the official way is described in the cars hand book, however my personal favorite way of raising the hood is, assuming no hood bag is fitted, just to reach round behind you from the drivers seat, grasp the header rail and pull the folded hood up and over your head, till it's near to the screen top. Then turn back facing forwards again, and with each hand grasp the side cantilever framework above the doors and push upwards so it locks in the extended position, then pull the header rail down to the screen top and fasten the wingnuts. Ok, you still need to get out and fasten the press studs at the back corners, and tuck the flappy bits in over the rear windows, but the essential erection can be done in moments - far faster than a power hood on a modern car and handy when paused at a junction or traffic lights.
On one Morris Minor OC club run there were intermittant showers and it was great fun to press on a little and open up a gap between us and the minor behind, then at a junction raise the hood so the next time the car behind comes into view, the hood is up with no apparent pause in driving! This can be repeated at length over the course of the day as showers dictate...

It may not be possible to do this with the car in question as it helps if the hood frame joints are nicely lubricated and free. One that hasn't been used for a long time may well be too stiff for the one handed technique andit may be easy standing next tot he car with a helper ont he other side and raise one side each at the same time. The cantilever can then be locked straight, the press studs clipped on and the weather proof flaps tucked in behind the windows before some one gets int he car to pull the header rail down to the screen top.

[fussyoldfart]

Hi,

I just purchased a 1967 Convertible from a person who almost never raised the convertible top. The instructions in the operator's manual are not very clear. Does someone have detailed instructions on how to raise and lower the convertible top? Does the metal support for the top attach on the window side or the interior side of each of the brackets found on the rear window area on both sides of the Moogy?

Thanks in Advance
Steve - Washington State

It sounds like the top (the hood in Britspeak) was not only folded up but removed from the car entirely. The appropriate section of the shop manual is "R" pages 8 and 9 if you have the one that has been reproduced as a PDF. The illustrations are not very clear but it looks like the hood irons are bolted inside the bracket. Certainly the frame must be inside the quarter windows when the hood is raised into position, that may make it impossible to attach them any other way. I looked at my own convertible but it is a 1950 so it may not be the same as a 1967.