Never seen this fix on the board...

[Newport Viper]

95 RT one of the bolts? that holds the black pad? into the top of the roll bar (we know it isn't a roll bar) is loose.
I can't see under it to figure how to get it back into the hole. Do I have to lay with my back on the trunk or what to see what I am doing? It is rattling and driving me crazy! What is the easiest way to get access to it? How many others had this come loose?
Thanks in advance for your reply!

 

[ruckdr]

Newport,

PLEASE don't lay on the trunk !!!
You have to do this by "feel".
Use a 1/2" open end wrench, and reach into the slots under the bolts and tighten 1/6 th of a turn at a time.
Good Luck.

 

[prodiver]

All 4 of these bolts have to be removed to install a factory hard top and it is a pain in the a--. I found a way to get more then a 1/16th turn with a wrench though. Take a 1/2 inch open end wrench and file or grind the sides of it down so that there is only 1/8th to 1/4 inch on either side of the wrench. It will fit in the opening and you can get a lot more turns then with a standard wrench.

 

[GTS Dean]

Has anybody tried one of those Craftsman Quick-Wrenches on this? Sounds like a natural for this job. I remember clearly what a pain it was on my '93.

 

[JonB]

And yet ANOTHER reason to buy the V-mania Gen-1 hard top instead ! Autoform is a bit harder, but Mopar top is the most challenging.

 

[ruckdr]

GTS Dean,
Your idea of the Craftman Quick-Wrenches sounded like I should try this since I have a set of those wrenches. It turns out that for the jaws to open wide enough, 1/2 inch, the head becomes too big to rotate.

I have the Mopar top,and it is a snap to put on/off. Just loosen the 4 bolts that hold the padded black bar on, and lift it off,(it is slotted), remove the 4 bolts, put the hard top on with the 2 allen head bolts in the back, and the 2 post swivel locks in front, and that's it.
Good Luck,

 

[Matt]

Man, Don, I can't believe you think putting the Mopar top on and off is a snap. I have one and I don't think I'll ever put it back on. It is a pain in the butt to remove that sportcap pad. I've been thinking of trying to sell it to switch to a V-Mania top just so I can get some use out of the hardtop.

As others have said though, Newport Viper, it has to be done by "feel". The only consolation is that they shouldn't come loose again after you tighten them.

Matt

 

[prodiver]

I agree the bar is a pain to remove and install. I have not tried it yet but I am going to enlarge the holes enough to get my fingers in to hand tighten the bolts and to get a ratchet wrench in there after they are hand tight.

 

[FUSCUCLA1]

The black pad on my rt/10 was off when I got the car and I cant figure out how to put it back on. I went in and ordered the bolts, but the ones I got look to be for mounting the soft top and the dealer doesnt know what other part it is. Anyone know the part number? Thanks in advance.