When I brought the car home from the PO I put the top down to make it easier to work on. Now when I try and close it it gets about an inch or two away from the windshield and stops. I assume it has something to do with the wires? The first day I had it (a few months ago) it was fine. Could it have shrunk? It's been in my garage the whole time.

Can you not push down on the top with your arm while you hook the clamps and then draw it into position?
It's supposed to be a tight stretch.
Jim

Pushing pretty hard

I've never had it happen on old tops, but had several new tops that I was not able to latch for a day or two, and even after that only while applying force with one hand, while using the latches as levers with the other. After a few months of use it got easier.
If the top is well worn then I would look to see if the wires are routed correctly, or if there is some other mechanical problem keeping it from closing all the way.

The top is really old. This is the first time it was off in probably 15 years.

I just used some brute force and pulled it down hard with the latches. It's up again. Whew. I need to get some sort of vinyl conditioner or something.

jimmycakes401 wrote:I just used some brute force and pulled it down hard with the latches. It's up again. Whew. I need to get some sort of vinyl conditioner or something.

Don't know where you live, but cold weather will have a lot to do with the ability of the top to stretch and close properly.

New England. But it's been in the 70s

It's a really old top. Has a tear or two. Is there a conditioner I can use to loosen up the vinyl a little or will just the warmth of the sun do that? Also, is it okay to store it with the top down? If it's going to shrink in the winter I don't want it pulling the vinyl more and tearing further. It's an ugly top, but I want to get it read to at least attempt to save me if a sudden blast of rain hits.

303 Products for vinyl cleaning/protection/conditioning.

The sun will warm it up and that should also help.

Tears, I had a convertable Firebird eons ago, and it had a decent top with one pretty good, long rip. Put a couple of iron-on jeans patches on it, worked good for years.

Tight, yup, mine is too.
Keith