[arbys]

It's been about 2 years since I've put my convertible top boot on. My clips won't snap onto the stainless (?) molding attached to the car. It seems that the stainless needs to raised above the painted body panels. I'm afraid that if I try to raise it up it will detach from the body. Any suggestions to raising the stainless, should I shim it up, exactly what would you do?

[arbys]

It seems like there should be a permanent space between the molding and the body panel.

[fyrffytr1]

I agree with arbys reply. There is a gap between the trim and body on my 67 too. It is about 1/8".

[MidnightAuto]

While we are speaking of boots, what I don’t understand is how you don’t scratch the chrome trim with those reproduction boot clips? Seems like they will scratch bright work immediately. So I have not even attempted putting on my boot

[arbys]

Originally Posted by MidnightAuto

While we are speaking of boots, what I don’t understand is how you don’t scratch the chrome trim with those reproduction boot clips? Seems like they will scratch bright work immediately. So I have not even attempted putting on my boot

The metal holder clips hold the nylon "snaps" and the only thing contacting the stainless steel is the nylon portion of the clip.

[MidnightAuto]

Hmm. My clips for my 64 look like this

https://www.opgi.com/fasteners-hardw...it-cl5001.html

And in the boot itself I recall there being snaps. (Not at home at moment) Feels like I am missing a part

[GoGoat]

I have an 15 year old aftermarket boot. Not sure where I got it.My clips do work on the trim that is tight on the paint. A couple issues I have is my paint is slightly marred where my hand slipped pushing or pulling clips. Maybe when paint was fresh. I'm more carefull now. Also I can't get the corners down. Maybe i could streach the corners on a flat surface in the hot sun. Good Luck.

[arbys]

Originally Posted by MidnightAuto

Hmm. My clips for my 64 look like this

https://www.opgi.com/fasteners-hardw...it-cl5001.html

And in the boot itself I recall there being snaps. (Not at home at moment) Feels like I am missing a part

No, the 66 is completely different.

[Peter Serio]

If the boot is old, those shrink as they age. And the nylon edged clips they had for a 66 and 67 A body cars; those get brittle. Sometimes they crack when you try and snap them on top of the molding. One thing is after 10 or 12 years of use you may need to buy a new boot and/or replace some of the clips.

Another thing; the instructions that came with a new boot I ordered said: do not ever try and put the boot in place on the car if the outside air temperature is below 72 degrees. And before you first try and put the new boot on, set it out in the bright sunlight for at least an hour to let the vinyl soften.

Any 45 or 50 year old GM convertible car boot (original) to the car, is going to be under-size and you need a new one.

[arbys]

When I bought the car it did not have a top boot. I purchased the boot about 8-9 years ago and IIRC I inadvertently closed the gap between the body panels and the stainless steel trim. What would be the best way to return it to it's correct position. Should I pry it up with a nylon trim tool and then take a small pry bar and bend it up?

[squidtone]

I bought a PUI boot about 12 years ago. It's pretty nice, but out of the gate the flap that attaches to the top of the seat (velcro) was too short by about an inch. I've been meaning to somehow address this and I still haven't!

I don't remember if the clips came with the boot, but I do remember they didn't fit over the pinch weld trim. They were too loose and popped right off (if they even stayed in the first place). I found that the clips work fine if you squeeze them more "closed", so that they have a better fitting bite over the trim. In other words, pinch the open part of the "C" shape more closed. I used a bench vise and carefully closed them down about 1/8th inch. My trim is tight against the body by the way and they work fine after "pinching down".
Good luck!
Dave

[arbys]

Originally Posted by squidtone

I bought a PUI boot about 12 years ago. It's pretty nice, but out of the gate the flap that attaches to the top of the seat (velcro) was too short by about an inch. I've been meaning to somehow address this and I still haven't!

I don't remember if the clips came with the boot, but I do remember they didn't fit over the pinch weld trim. They were too loose and popped right off (if they even stayed in the first place). I found that the clips work fine if you squeeze them more "closed", so that they have a better fitting bite over the trim. In other words, pinch the open part of the "C" shape more closed. I used a bench vise and carefully closed them down about 1/8th inch. My trim is tight against the body by the way and they work fine after "pinching down".
Good luck!
Dave

Great idea !

[arbys]

Well, I think that I have it figured out. I used the blue poly tool to force between the molding and body panel, drove it with the mallet until it bottomed out, inserted the body putty spreader all of the way, drove the 6" pry bar between the trim and spreader and slowly lifted it. If it didn't go enough I repeated until I had the correct spacing for the clip to snap in correctly.

[MidnightAuto]

Glad to hear u figured out. I pulled my boot down from attic and have been inspired to give it another go after purchasing several years ago. Here are some pics of the boot and the clips that came on it. I seemed to have misplaced the corresponding clip that mates to the trim. I recall they looked like the link I had posted above. It seemed to me that it was metal on metal and would scratch the trim so I abandoned. Anyone familiar with the 64 boot clip part and approach?

[MidnightAuto]

Pics

[arbys]

Originally Posted by MidnightAuto

Pics

This is how the 66's look like, completely different. The clips mount in a clear plastic bonded attachment to the top boot. No chance for metal scratching the paint.