[DanTwoLakes]

The rear curtain goes on first, and the bow height has to be right before you staple the rear curtain to the rear bow. There is an opening in the top that gets stapled to the rear bow. If the bow height isn't right, the opening in the top won't line up with the center of the rear bow. There's a piece called wire-on that is stapled over the seam in the top at the rear bow. If the bow height is off by an inch in either direction, there's no way to cover the seam with the wire-on.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by DanTwoLakes

The rear curtain goes on first, and the bow height has to be right before you staple the rear curtain to the rear bow. There is an opening in the top that gets stapled to the rear bow. If the bow height isn't right, the opening in the top won't line up with the center of the rear bow. There's a piece called wire-on that is stapled over the seam in the top at the rear bow. If the bow height is off by an inch in either direction, there's no way to cover the seam with the wire-on.

Ahhhh, I need to get my top out of the box and get a good look at it!

Thanks Dan, Brian

[Gringo]

Does that second bow move? If not that should be your height. Some move back and forth a little. In my Atlas chart it shows 21 1/2 with a plus or minus of a 1/4" Find center of rear bow and center of chrome strip. Measure out 18" each way from center and mark. Measure at these points. Measure from center of tack strip to edge of chrome. I usually cut a couple of wood to hold in place. You will find out later as you start to put top on why you need rear set right. There a couple of funky slits in top that must end up over tack strip. Mark center of top and work out each way. Good luck.

[DanTwoLakes]

This is a '65 Buick Skylark. The bow height is 20 1/2" according to Aro, Robbins, and Electron. The '66 and '67 Skylark are 21 3/4".

[Gringo]

Dan are you using only center measurement? as opposed to the 18" from center. This could be the difference. My chart is old. It only goes to '73 but I've found it still works.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Gringo

Dan are you using only center measurement? as opposed to the 18" from center. This could be the difference. My chart is old. It only goes to '73 but I've found it still works.

I have to tell you, I am going to walk out right now and see but if you go 18" from center in either direction it is probably going to lengthen that measurement because that rear body curves BIG Time. I'll go out and check, I just got home.

Brian

[MARTINSR]

By the way Dan, I am a little confused in the description of how to measure that rear bow height. Center, edge, I don't understand.

Looking at the chart below, is it A, B, C, or D?

Brian

[MARTINSR]

Well, just went out and my bow is 20 1/2" using the C version of measurement that you guys laid out for me. If it's B center to center it's 20 7/8". This is with the bow back from the second to the rear bow just as GM says at 17 5/8"

Anyway, I pulled out the goodies from the boxes I have been storing for 10-18 years. The pads look fine.



The windows, not so much. DAMN IT. One is in perfect condition but it has no side "skirts" on it. I guess it was a cheaper one. The window is sown in on this one.



The other one looks like much higher quality with a large skirt on the end, the plastic is bonded to the side some how on this one.



But alas, the damn window is all stained from being rolled up in storage, CRAP.



So tell me, is this top usable? It sure seems like it has shrunk. The following photos are with the front of the top clamped to the front bow as shown.



This is how wrinkled the top is, VERY bad, it has to be a lot shorter because of this. I left it sitting there to warm up tomorrow in the garage (it will be as hot as a two dollar pistol in there!). I am thinking it will flatten out a lot.



With just a gentle tug this is where the top looks like it ends up at the rear. This is just a gentle tug with the top all wrinkled as shown in the last photo. So I am thinking I can get another inch or two out of it easy.



What do you think, is this top savable? And where is a good place to buy a new rear window. Or top for that matter if I need one.

Brian

[Gringo]

I'm curious as to were you got the 201/2 measurement. In the center? What is the measurement at 18' from center? That's a long time to stuffed in a box. I have stapled them to the top of my garage door and hung some weights to bottom and let them hang in the hot sun for a couple days. If rear window is scuffed or stained or mildewed you need to replace it. any auto trim shop should be able to order you what you need.

[MARTINSR]

As I said in an earlier post the moulding has a big sweeping curve and I thought 18 inches from center would yield a far bigger number but it only added about a 1/4". So in the center measuring as in my drawing the C it's 20 1/2 in the very center of the bow vertically side to side on the car (as well as center horizontally) and then add a 1/4" if I moved that out 18" from the center.

This is all with a perfect 17 5/8" upper measurement exactly as the GM manual says.

I like your idea of hanging the top, I was thinking of that myself. I won't be able to until this weekend. But it will get darn hot in that garage tomorrow.

Brian

[DanTwoLakes]

Originally Posted by Gringo

Dan are you using only center measurement? as opposed to the 18" from center. This could be the difference. My chart is old. It only goes to '73 but I've found it still works.

That is a center measurement. Does it make any sense to you that the bow would be 1" higher 18" away from the center?

[DanTwoLakes]

Brian: Look at post 19 in this thread to see how to measure bow height: CLICK HERE

[MARTINSR]

Dan, this shows you where my brain is at, we had discussed this at length already and I forgot! Thanks for being so patient with me. Well, it looks like it is "C" and that is exactly where mine is at 20-1/2" WHOO HOOO, nothing more to think about. And that is with the top measurement exactly as GM says at 17-5/8" this is all looking good to me.

Brian

[MARTINSR]

I will get out the old pads tonight and see where it all lays. But really if that bow is correct I could just staple and screw my new pads on, it's GOING to be right if I do that with the bow height correct won't it?

How about my issues with the two windows and the top shrinkage?

Brian

[DanTwoLakes]

The top should be O.K., but the rear curtain is a question mark. I would hang both of them in the warm garage and see what happens. You can't go any further with the top until the new pads are in place and the rear curtain is installed correctly.

Brian: You are driving yourself crazy with this. Don't agonize so much over tiny little details. The original top was put in by somebody who could have cared less how it turned out.