Hard Top not fastening down

[Jherman59]

This is my first year for my 2004 Tbird. I took the hard top off - no problems. Putting it back on.. yea.

The front drivers side screw doesn't want to "grab". Almost as though it's stripped, but I don't think that's the case. The passenger side screws in and grabs just fine. I've repositioned the top, had someone press down while I was attempting to screw it in and no luck.

I thought I had read somewhere on here about someone else having an issue with reattaching their hard top.

Any advice is certainly appreciated!

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[tbird]

Try this thread- http://forums.fordthunderbirdforum.com/threads/hard-top-wont-attach.3627/

 

[Jherman59]

Thank you!

 

[Donaldo]

I could not reinstall my 2005 T-Bird’s hardtop at summer’s end, because the front screws in the windshield header would not engage the threaded holes in the hardtop. Rats! 😡

This was my solution: 🙂

1. Loosen the rear clamps.
2. Have someone stand on a stool for leverage and bear down with all their weight, using both arms, directly on the hardtop corner above the first screw. That will force down that corner of the hardtop. The threads should engage on that side. Get the screw started, Do NOT tighten down yet!
3. Same for other side.
4. Now tighten the first screw most of the way.
5. Same for the other side.
6. Now crank down both screws to be snug.
7. Re-tighten the rear clamps. 😉

 

[midi0916]

This is my first year for my 2004 Tbird. I took the hard top off - no problems. Putting it back on.. yea.

The front drivers side screw doesn't want to "grab". Almost as though it's stripped, but I don't think that's the case. The passenger side screws in and grabs just fine. I've repositioned the top, had someone press down while I was attempting to screw it in and no luck.

I thought I had read somewhere on here about someone else having an issue with reattaching their hard top.

Any advice is certainly appreciated!

I'm having the same issue with my 2003. How did you correct it please?

 

[Pcrpete]

Make sure rear clamps are at the half way position

 

[Anewaltj]

I replied to a similar post 6 months ago...however start as stated above, make sure the studs are pushed all the way up then just get one side started and then the other one, once started move the rear clamps to the tighten position, before tightening the front screws all the way.

 

[midi0916]

I replied to a similar post 6 months ago...however start as stated above, make sure the studs are pushed all the way up then just get one side started and then the other one, once started move the rear clamps to the tighten position, before tightening the front screws all the way.

I tried that.
Drivers side will just not tighten down.
It grabs initially but won’t get tight

 

[Anewaltj]

pretty sure I started the passenger side first, then the drivers side....

 

[Brax]

pretty sure I started the passenger side first, then the drivers side....

1 put the rear clamps in the middle position, (the front screws are backed out.
2 Look at the front of the hardtop from the driver's seat between the sun visor you can see where the bolt will screw into the hardtop, put the wrench on the bolt and gently push up the bolt you should see it enter the threaded part on the hardtop, pull down gently on the front corner of the hard top and screw the bolt in about 5-6 turns. repeat on other side from passenger seat. If the bolt does not go into the hard top easily you need to remove the plastic header from the top and adjust the bracket for best fit there is a thread about that
3 tighten the rear clamps full forward then tighten the 2 front bolts until they just contact the stop after both sides are snug tighten good both sides.

 

[kberg85284]

This is my first year for my 2004 Tbird. I took the hard top off - no problems. Putting it back on.. yea.

The front drivers side screw doesn't want to "grab". Almost as though it's stripped, but I don't think that's the case. The passenger side screws in and grabs just fine. I've repositioned the top, had someone press down while I was attempting to screw it in and no luck.

I thought I had read somewhere on here about someone else having an issue with reattaching their hard top.

Any advice is certainly appreciated!

Hi yeah I had same problem. Loosening the rear clamp helps but mainly the angle the screw goes in is key. We went a little rearward going in and that did it. Then tighten the rear clamp back up. Have fun driving