Replacing your Mopar's convertible...
Replacing your Mopar's convertible top is easy and less expensive than you might think. Follow along and we'll show you how it's done.
We love driving our Mopars around, and when the weather is nice we enjoy the ride with the top down. Convertible Mopars aren't for everyone, but if you like the wind in your hair and don't mind getting caught in the occasional downpour with the top down, they can be a lot of fun. Since Chrysler only made a limited number of these drop-top machines during the musclecar era, convertibles generally have good collector value in addition to simply being a cool ride.
While there's no doubt a convertible gets attention, especially with the top down, there are some misconceptions about cars with convertible tops. The first misunderstanding is that these cars always leak. While older cars with weathered tops and worn weatherstripping can certainly be prone to leaks, a convertible car with a properly fitted new top and new weatherstripping will seal its occupants from the elements as well as any other old Mopar.
Another fallacy about convertibles is that the top mechanism is complicated and often doesn't work properly. In actuality, the convertible top mechanism is simply a frame of metal and hinges on which to install the canvas top. Though some convertibles came with manually actuated tops, most Mopars produced in the '60s or later had electrically powered, hydraulically actuated tops. Though a power top is slightly more complicated, it's also a far more convenient way to get the top up and down, especially in a sudden rain shower.
You might recognize the '67 Barracuda we're working on from previous articles or even our Rare Finds section. Having been stored outdoors in the Florida sun for ten years or more, the top on this convertible was dry, torn, and in some places nonexistent. Additionally, exposure to the elements had rendered the power top's hydraulic cylinders inoperable, so we'll need to address that issue as well. Fortunately, Paddock Parts had everything we needed for the installation, including a new top with premium rear window, a new well-liner, new boot cover, and all the hydraulic components to make the top go up and down correctly.
 After sitting in storage lots...  After sitting in storage lots in the hot Florida sun for more than ten years, there's no doubt our Barracuda needed a new top. We actually began this job at the paint shop, not the upholstery shop. |  The top cylinders are easy...  The top cylinders are easy to install, only being held in by one bracket and the bolt that attaches the cylinder to the top frame. |  With our new components in...  With our new components in place, the new lines are installed. Now the reservoir can be filled with type F transmission fluid, and the top is actuated up and down to fill the cylinders and lines and purge air from the system. This will have to be repeated a couple of times until the reservoir remains full of fluid and all the air is purged. |
 The first step of our convertible...  The first step of our convertible top installation actually happened at the body shop. While the car was being painted, we had J.D. perform a couple of minor repairs, then strip and repaint the top frame. This procedure will make the car look much better when the new top is installed, and should be accomplished with the old top removed. |  The old motor and pump unit...  The old motor and pump unit is simply held in place by rubber grommets. The new motor comes with new grommets and is a direct replacement. |  Before taking the car to Emo's...  Before taking the car to Emo's Upholstery, we decided to install the hydraulic pump and motor, lines, and cylinders ourselves. We got the parts from the Paddock, and they were direct bolt-in replacements. |
 Before going any further,...  Before going any further, the new top is placed in the sun. This makes the top more pliable and easier to work with during the installation. |  | |