[patox]

Almost 12 years after buying my 66 GTO vert (in avatar since that date) I found a 69 GTO vert and couldnt resist. As banks are good at loaning you money for things you shouldnt buy I pulled the trigger at brought home this "little brother" to my 66. funny enough, both are "almost" the same color.

The car needs some work, but its a pretty nice bone stock 10 footer, with a removable rigid top on it (yes wtf!!), as it seems at some time in his life, the convertible top had some issues and they decided to build a fiberglass top for it, on a very decent work that fits decently too.

The top is attached with the original system on the front, and 2 hinges on the back that were added with few damages or modification to the car, so I think getting it back to its former ragtop status wont be that hard.

This brings me to a question... would you guys get a new repro (chinese) convertible top structure or you'll be better off rescuing an original "some rust included" original? Any experience with an aftermarket top? brands?

I think this is the first of many questions that will continue to rise on this car, as Im not very knowledgeable on this generation...

Thanks!

[Andretti]

Congrats on the new family member! I see it's got a column shift and A/C too. That top is really unique, I've never seen anything like that on an A body before. The contour from the outside even looks a little like the soft top.
I would go with a new top frame, expensive but a good investment.

[lugnutx2]

I would go with an original used top frame that's rust free, yes they're still out there.

[Greg Reid]

Pretty amazing job that someone did on that top! If someone had described that the me I would picture it looking like crap.

[Txbobcat]

With an original top you should be able to get every piece that you need to reinstall it correctly and less expensive to.

[patox]

Hey here again.. I decided to put some color on it so a fresh paint was applied (yes it is VERY red now) and a few details solved but....

I purchased an repro rear bumper from AMD, supposedly a good repro but it fits lousy...

The original bumper and the car has rounded tips in the corner but the new bumper does not! (please see pic)

Did I get the wrong bumper? Are repro this ****ty? Or the car is having some issues on its bottom??

Thanks again..

[north]

Good rule of thumb is to only use repro Chinese junk when you have no other option.

[4zpeed]

It looks like the problem could be adjustment, maybe pulling the bumper out some, especially on the bottom would help, take a look at some others.

Yours looks to tight to the body.

.



Edit: The gap on the last one is a bit too large for my liking, especially at the bottom but you see what I mean.

I think with a little adjustment you'll be much more satisfied, it really doesn't appear that different from the original.


Frank

[Greg Reid]

The 68 bumper l got from Ames was good. Not drop dead perfect but nothing like that!

[b-man]

Interesting car, the fiberglass hardtop looks like it was done nicely. Funny though it seems the labor and materials required for that top must have come pretty close to the cost of getting the correct top parts for the folding top. Al that said, since you're living in Chile sourcing the correct factory parts can be daunting so that hardtop looks like a great solution.

Getting to the bumper fit issue, I'm seeing a much different shape on both side of the car for the bumper recess. The passenger side needs to be reworked to match the drivers side, the radius is much to large at the top corner. Just look at all the pictured examples above and you'll see the issue pretty clearly.

No matter what bumper you try to fit, either repro or rechromed original it won't ever look or fit right until the bodywork is corrected.

[4zpeed]

I noticed that too Bart, didn't really want to delve into it but your right to bring it to his attention, possibly a aftermarket passenger quarter.

The drivers side looks ok, if the bumper is readjusted it may make the passenger side somewhat acceptable and allot less noticeable.


Frank

[GregP]

Go with a used original top. Last time I did this I needed everything since it was all missing from mine. I was able to get it all including every piece including bolts, nuts, clips, pump, etc. and didn't have to go crazy trying to figure out what I didn't have.

[patox]

Originally Posted by b-man

Interesting car, the fiberglass hardtop looks like it was done nicely. Funny though it seems the labor and materials required for that top must have come pretty close to the cost of getting the correct top parts for the folding top. Al that said, since you're living in Chile sourcing the correct factory parts can be daunting so that hardtop looks like a great solution.

Getting to the bumper fit issue, I'm seeing a much different shape on both side of the car for the bumper recess. The passenger side needs to be reworked to match the drivers side, the radius is much to large at the top corner. Just look at all the pictured examples above and you'll see the issue pretty clearly.

No matter what bumper you try to fit, either repro or rechromed original it won't ever look or fit right until the bodywork is corrected.

To be honest, I just noticed that different shape on the pics you posted... didnt realize when I took them. Passenger side really needs work.

The original question was refering to the bumper itself... my "original" ie the one in the car, has rounded corners, while the repro has straight corners...

Any original 69 bumpers out there as to check the corner shape???

[patox]

Originally Posted by GregP

Go with a used original top. Last time I did this I needed everything since it was all missing from mine. I was able to get it all including every piece including bolts, nuts, clips, pump, etc. and didn't have to go crazy trying to figure out what I didn't have.

I wasnt able to source a full original top in the condition I wanted.. so I pulled the trigger for the repro. Assembly will start in the next weeks... time will tell how wrong I was.....

[north]

That's the main issue with those rear bumpers, the top outer corners are squared off instead of rounded like the shape of the quarter itself. Used rear bumpers aren't expensive.

pic is of the original (never rechromed) rear bumper on one of my cars.

[patox]

Originally Posted by north

That's the main issue with those rear bumpers, the top outer corners are squared off instead of rounded like the shape of the quarter itself. Used rear bumpers aren't expensive.

pic is of the original (never rechromed) rear bumper on one of my cars.

HUGE difference..., and not the bumper itself but the body of my car...
Is there any vendor manufacturing a patch panel as to rebulid that part? or I need a master metal craftsman to try fixing it? tried ames but it seems they dont have them

Can I have more pics of original cars as to give the body guys more ideas of how it should look like?

[GTO JONES]

Originally Posted by 4zpeed

It looks like the problem could be adjustment, maybe pulling the bumper out some, especially on the bottom would help, take a look at some others.

Yours looks to tight to the body.

.



Edit: The gap on the last one is a bit too large for my liking, especially at the bottom but you see what I mean.

I think with a little adjustment you'll be much more satisfied, it really doesn't appear that different from the original.


Frank

The radius on the passenger side quarter panel looks different.

[Brewster]

Wow allot of effort went into that top. To bad the owner just didnt trade it in on a hard top? Assuming it must have been a local car?? Sorry didnt read whole thread.
Bart hit it dead nuts on body though and a little tlc will help fix that. Good luck with all the above.
Cheers

[north]

a few more of my A bodies, all have factory rear bumpers, the Yellow leMans and the green GTO are rechromed originals, The brown GTO and the 4 dr green LeMans are untouched originals

[patox]

Bringing my post back to life.. finally we are thinking on installing the new convertible top structure, and it doesnt seem like an easy task.
Any one has a manual, instructions, or tops for dummies info that might be willing to share?

I have a brand new repro structure, and new top conver... the structure part is the main concern (for now)

Thanks!