Ford Techs or others that know convertible top adjustments?

[onewheat]

I am trying to adjust the sag out of the side rail above the door windows on a 2002 Mustang. I have played with the balance link (both up and down) and the star cams. The balance link seems to be the correct adjustment, but they’re as low as they go and it’s not enough. I still have sag in the side rail which means the front windows can’t go up all the way or they get into the roof before the weatherstrip. I can leave them ‘slightly’ down but then they’re less than water-tight. I have a factory Ford manual which is less than awesome on their convertible adjustment section and I have been scouring the Mustang forums but other than wheel size and type of Flowmasters, they’re also less than really technical. Anyone here versed in convertible adjustments???


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[unslow1]

As the owner of 3 convertibles I'd be taking that to a convertible top shop. Odds are a dealer tech has never messed with one.

 

[onewheat]

I was thinking that - although they don't seem to be very common around here.

 

[unslow1]

Most upholstery shops do a lot of convertible tops. I had to drive about an hour to get one I wanted. The local guys did a couple a year. The guy I went with had a 6 week waiting list. He also had several muscle cars and corvettes sitting there when I went to check the place out. They actually ended up being less than the local guys. When you are doing a few a day I guess you get good and have volume discounts.

 

[onewheat]

The top itself is in pretty good shape - it's just the sag at the B-hinge I need to get straightened out. I guess I just need to start making calls. It seems like there are more options around the Nashville area than there are here in BG. Adjusting convertible tops must be like witchcraft or something. There really is very little info on the web.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

In Bowling Green?
Where they MAKE Corvettes?
I can't believe there are no convertible top specialists or upholstery shops within 75 miles of you.
Maybe check out some auto upholstery forums?

 

[onewheat]

In Bowling Green?
Where they MAKE Corvettes?
I can't believe there are no convertible top specialists or upholstery shops within 75 miles of you.
Maybe check out some auto upholstery forums?

There are places that will replace a worn top - but the adjustment guys seem to be few and far between. Nashville has a lot of Upholstery shops listed around the highway loop. It will take a bunch of phone calls to see if anyone knows how to adjust a frame and then a visit to see if they really do. The forums are a good idea. For all the forums I belong to, I do not belong to an upholstery one.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Is it possible that something is worn and needs replacement rather than adjustment? My experience with convertible tops is limited to removal and installation of existing tops for collision work and even that was limited. We generally had an upholstery guy come in to do the R&I just to alleviate the headaches. They are generally nightmares if you don't have the experience.

 

[onewheat]

Is it possible that something is worn and needs replacement rather than adjustment? My experience with convertible tops is limited to removal and installation of existing tops for collision work and even that was limited. We generally had an upholstery guy come in to do the R&I just to alleviate the headaches. They are generally nightmares if you don't have the experience.

It is a possibility - but I'm not sure what that would be though? The sagging B-hinge seems to be common among this era Mustang. The shop manual states the adjustment to make and doesn't reference any part that could possibly be worn to cause this particular problem. The Ford manual leaves a lot to be desired in this area though. I haven't found any shops locally that seem to know much either. If I could figure this out - I think I could open a side business.