1955 soft top adjustments

[Gtrrhythm]

Hi
55 T-Bird stored for 10 years with soft top stored behind the seat. Have had it in the sun to let the fabric stretch, and got it all latched, but it's still not sitting right. Can anyone point me in the direction of adjustment instructions? Thanks!

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[lcboyer]

Hi
55 T-Bird stored for 10 years with soft top stored behind the seat. Have had it in the sun to let the fabric stretch, and got it all latched, but it's still not sitting right. Can anyone point me in the direction of adjustment instructions? Thanks!

Can you explain not sitting tight?

 

[Gtrrhythm]

Can you explain not sitting tight?

Couple of things going on. One side does not sit flat on rear deck. Also, that bar that runs over the window on both sides with the joint (hinge?) in it - will not straighten up and be parallel with the window. So it sags downward at that joint. I'm afraid to force anything.

 

[lcboyer]

To adjust the manual soft top frame or alignment on a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, you must align and fine-tune the mounting points, side pins, and rear deck latches.

Alignment and Adjustment Steps

• • Move the Seat: Push the front seat forward to access the rear deck wells and swing arms. [1, 2]
  • Check Rear Mounting Studs: Locate the studs and brackets behind the seat where the swing arm and rear bow attach. Adjust the slotted bolts or mounting nuts at the quarter panel/deck plates to shift the rear pitch or height of the top. [1, 2]
  • Align Rear Pins: Ensure the rear pins and keyways drop evenly into the deck plates without binding. If the rear channel flexes or lifts the seal, alignment requires loosening the mounting hardware and shifting the frame evenly side-to-side. [1, 2]
  • Adjust Front Latches: Check the front latches at the windshield header. The latch hooks and brackets can be adjusted using their retaining bolts to ensure the leading edge pulls down tight against the windshield frame without leaving gaps. [1]
  • Lubricate Linkages: Apply grease or lubricant to the pivot and pin joints on the swing arms to prevent binding during operation. [1, 2]

 

[Gtrrhythm]

To adjust the manual soft top frame or alignment on a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, you must align and fine-tune the mounting points, side pins, and rear deck latches.

Alignment and Adjustment Steps

• • Move the Seat: Push the front seat forward to access the rear deck wells and swing arms. [1, 2]
  • Check Rear Mounting Studs: Locate the studs and brackets behind the seat where the swing arm and rear bow attach. Adjust the slotted bolts or mounting nuts at the quarter panel/deck plates to shift the rear pitch or height of the top. [1, 2]
  • Align Rear Pins: Ensure the rear pins and keyways drop evenly into the deck plates without binding. If the rear channel flexes or lifts the seal, alignment requires loosening the mounting hardware and shifting the frame evenly side-to-side. [1, 2]
  • Adjust Front Latches: Check the front latches at the windshield header. The latch hooks and brackets can be adjusted using their retaining bolts to ensure the leading edge pulls down tight against the windshield frame without leaving gaps. [1]
  • Lubricate Linkages: Apply grease or lubricant to the pivot and pin joints on the swing arms to prevent binding during operation. [1, 2]

This is really great information! Thank you so much!!!

 

[DynoDan55]

Do you also have a hardtop? If so, maybe the deck plates are not angled best for both tops, which is often a compromise (at least in the case of aftermarket soft tops).

 

[Gtrrhythm]

Do you also have a hardtop? If so, maybe the deck plates are not angled best for both tops, which is often a compromise (at least in the case of aftermarket soft tops).

I do have the hardtop. Car came with it installed. Apparently the prior owner never used it. Was put on to go with the car for the sale. The plates might well have been shifted to accommodate.
I'll be loosening everything to adjust for both. Going to take my time and get it right.

 

[simonsma]

I do have the hardtop. Car came with it installed. Apparently the prior owner never used it. Was put on to go with the car for the sale. The plates might well have been shifted to accommodate.
I'll be loosening everything to adjust for both. Going to take my time and get it right.

As the hardtop is really not adjustable in itself other than the latche tensions it's important that you install the hardtop first. Anchoring the front of the heart top with the rear inserts loosened off so they center correctly and then tighten down to ensure that the back of the hardtop goes in where it needs to go. Then installing the soft top tapping the front clips first and then adjusting the internal screw adjustments behind the seat to allow the pins to go in there perspective holes. Once this is obtained then adjust the tensions on your anchoring points. It's also a good idea too use the clear protector that sits between your tops to keep your paint from being abused.

 

[Ronaldo]

Hi
55 T-Bird stored for 10 years with soft top stored behind the seat. Have had it in the sun to let the fabric stretch, and got it all latched, but it's still not sitting right. Can anyone point me in the direction of adjustment inst

Hi
55 T-Bird stored for 10 years with soft top stored behind the seat. Have had it in the sun to let the fabric stretch, and got it all latched, but it's still not sitting right. Can anyone point me in the direction of adjustment instructions? Thanks!

I recently went through this myself. Put the top up after 10-15 years behind the seat. It was new back in '95. Put it up a couple of times and left it up for years then put it back. Now I couldn't get the rear latches to hold down. To me it looked like the latches were too short so I had longer ones fabricated. That's how desperate I was. Still couldn't get it fastened down. I would fasten the back but then couldn't get the front of the top to meet the front latches. Heat from the sun was no help. It suddenly occurred to me that the material had shrunk substantially. No amount of adjustment was going to make up for the shrinkage. $2500 later my top is brilliant.

Hi
55 T-Bird stored for 10 years with soft top stored behind the seat. Have had it in the sun to let the fabric stretch, and got it all latched, but it's still not sitting right. Can anyone point me in the direction of adjustment instructions? Thanks!

 

[Gtrrhythm]

As the hardtop is really not adjustable in itself other than the latche tensions it's important that you install the hardtop first. Anchoring the front of the heart top with the rear inserts loosened off so they center correctly and then tighten down to ensure that the back of the hardtop goes in where it needs to go. Then installing the soft top tapping the front clips first and then adjusting the internal screw adjustments behind the seat to allow the pins to go in there perspective holes. Once this is obtained then adjust the tensions on your anchoring points. It's also a good idea too use the clear protector that sits between your tops to keep your paint from being abused.

Great information and ot makes great sense. Thank you!

 

[Gtrrhythm]

I recently went through this myself. Put the top up after 10-15 years behind the seat. It was new back in '95. Put it up a couple of times and left it up for years then put it back. Now I couldn't get the rear latches to hold down. To me it looked like the latches were too short so I had longer ones fabricated. That's how desperate I was. Still couldn't get it fastened down. I would fasten the back but then couldn't get the front of the top to meet the front latches. Heat from the sun was no help. It suddenly occurred to me that the material had shrunk substantially. No amount of adjustment was going to make up for the shrinkage. $2500 later my top is brilliant.

That's the type of nightmare I've been hearing about. Good thing we love these cars! I'm probably going to try all the adjustments information received, and if it works that soft top will live on it basically full time. Hard top maybe for a month in early spring (I'm in NH) and a month in the fall for cooler weather. But use the softop otherwise, and when stored for winter.

 

[jakesbackyard]

I’ve put many convertible tops on cars as a trimmer for 50+ years. One of the worst things to do is store a convertible with the top down. I know it’s the easiest thing to do with a TBird with both tops for storage, but also allows the soft top to shrink up. I own a 56. The best thing to do is put the soft top up and store the hard top on a cart. The soft top will last much longer.

 

[Gtrrhythm]

I’ve put many convertible tops on cars as a trimmer for 50+ years. One of the worst things to do is store a convertible with the top down. I know it’s the easiest thing to do with a TBird with both tops for storage, but also allows the soft top to shrink up. I own a 56. The best thing to do is put the soft top up and store the hard top on a cart. The soft top will last much longer.

I totally agree about not storing the soft top long term. Would putting the top behind the seat maybe twice a year for only a few weeks be a short enough time that it wouldn't shrink?

 

[jakesbackyard]

I have just put my top back up for the first time in 3 months! It was behind the seat May through mid September. Probably longer than usual, but it has been extremely warm in ND this summer with no rain. I definitely wouldn’t leave it behind the seat during cold weather. I was a little nervous putting it up, but all is well. Fit great. I should say that mine is a Hartz cloth top which is not quite as bad at shrinkage as a vinyl top. I think you would be fine storing it down a couple weeks at a time in warm weather.

I totally agree about not storing the soft top long term. Would putting the top behind the seat maybe twice a year for only a few weeks be a short enough time that it wouldn't shrink?