Why won't my hardtop fit?

[respecturelders]

Hi,

I recently bought a 1986 Euro Vert. I purchased a hardtop this past weekend and when I went to install it, the hardware simply wouldn't fit. The older guy I purchased it from had ran it on his car for a decade or so and was thoroughly confused on why it wouldn't fit on my car as well.

Once I removed the plastic caps, the “tube” that the hardware goes into was exposed but when I tried to put in the hardware bolt, it would not fit. On the hardtop hardware, the metals “tabs” that are protruding that allow the hardware to lock into the mechanism are keeping the hardware from sliding into the “tube”.

I can’t find anybody else having similar problems, and this is my third week with a vert so I’m pretty lost, but just leaning towards using a Dremel to allow the metal tabs to slide into the tube.

Let me know if you have any information that might help,

Thanks

[el-nino]

Try Moving the "tube" so it lines up with the hard top. I had to do that in order to get mine in...

[jeffnhiscars]

A Dremel will do damage you will regret. Theres a plastic bushing in the body side where the pins drop in and they do break. You can buy them from the dealer but they are stupid expensive

[fporro]

the studs have an upper and lower moving parts, rotate lowers to line them up. if p;astic pieces are broken just buy them off a regular cabrio being parted.

[mr2peak]

Spray the bolts down with a penetrating oil. WD40 works well here. I'm guessing the pin is stuck and the top won't rotate freely, had this problem on my top.

[cWalk3r]

Wonder if it has something to do with the top being not straight or the tubes being bent or something.