[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by DanTwoLakes

Your Cutlass has the same top as Brian's Skylark with the bow height also 20 1/2". Your top will go on just like the Skylark.

Dan, what exactly is the "bow height"? In my manual there is a measurement that they push quite a bit, sounds very important, it's the distance between the rear most bow and the next one forward and in the manual it's 17 5/8".

Here's my top as I dug it out of the shed where it's been hibernating for 12 or so years.

Brian

[DanTwoLakes]

The bow height is the distance from the chrome around the top edge of the rear well on the body of the car to the center of the rear bow of the top. The measurement is made with a yardstick resting on the center of the chrome up to the center of the rear bow with the top up and latched. The old top doesn't need to be on the car to measure this, but if the original pads are in place, and the measurement is correct, you are good to go. 20 1/2" is your bow height.

The distance between the rear bow and the next one in is not important. If you get the bow height wrong, the opening in the top that gets stapled to the rear bow will be off, and you will have big problems until you get it right.

[MARTINSR]

Dan, they never mention the one you are, this is the one they drive home. They show how to make an adjustable bar that will stay there while you put the top on.

Brian

[DanTwoLakes]

Brian, that is for installing new pads, not for the top. The pads are attached at each bow, and hold the frame in the correct position while padding the outside edge of the top from underneath. The bow height is in the back measuring up to the rear bow from the opening just behind the trunk.

[MARTINSR]

I know this is a stupid question as I will probably figure it out when I am into it but how in the heck to do you adjust BOTH of these lengths? It seems like that second bow from the rear isn't adjustable. I know that the rear one "floats" around so you can set it at the perfect "bow height" you have outlined but then how can you adjust it to the one I have posted if the second from the rear bow isn't movable? Or is it?

Brian

[DanTwoLakes]

You really only need to get the bow height correct. Your frame probably has the original pads which can be left in place and re-used, unless they are rotted. The pads hold the other bows in place because the pads are attached to the bows, usually with screws, tacks, or staples. The top will have pockets in it that correspond with the other bows. There should be some retainers that hold the pockets to the bows. If you get the bow height correct, everything else will just fall into place.

[MARTINSR]

I know my top isn't original and the pads look pretty shabby, I bought new ones (they are in my "stock" up in the attic. ) Plus, the top irons will need to be painted so I will be striping off all the top stuff, after taking a LOT of photos by the way.

Brian

[DanTwoLakes]

Use the old pads as patterns to make the new ones. Take exact measurements to make sure they are exactly the same as the old ones. Mark where they attach to the middle bows. Take lots of pictures.