Author Topic: Power vs nonpower Convertible top  (Read 2159 times)

Offline CW4macret

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 399
Power vs nonpower Convertible top
« on: November 26, 2016, 11:23:40 PM »
The 66 I just got seems to have a manual Top. I cannot find a switch. Can someone tell me if the power and non power use the same frame? I am thinking of buying everything to convert to power but not sure if the frames are the same.
Mac
64.5, 5F07D
66 Convertible 6T08T
71 Mach1 429CJ 1F05J
01 Coupe
05 GT
08 GT500
14 GT500

Offline CharlesTurner

  • Charles Turner
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7685
Re: Power vs nonpower Convertible top
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2016, 11:48:27 PM »
Same exact frame.  The only difference is power top has hydraulic cylinders and non-power has spring-loaded cylinders.  I guess the spring loaded help bring the top up a little to make it easier to pull up the rest of the way.

Non-power have plastic clamps to hold the top in place.
Charles Turner - MCA/SAAC Judge
Concours Mustang Forum Admin

Offline CW4macret

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 399
Re: Power vs nonpower Convertible top
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2016, 11:55:34 AM »
Thanks for the info. Since I want this one to be a driver sounds like I can convert.
Mac
64.5, 5F07D
66 Convertible 6T08T
71 Mach1 429CJ 1F05J
01 Coupe
05 GT
08 GT500
14 GT500

Offline 5F08KGT

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 157
Re: Power vs nonpower Convertible top
« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2016, 05:54:24 PM »
In 1967 (I was 10)  my Mom bought a '65 Convertible and she didn't realize the top was manual.
SHE hated that car, but its where I fell in love with Mustangs.
I always begged her to let ME put the top down on nice days in Maryland.....
Really wasn't that hard to do, even for a 10 year old....
Fast forward to 1973 when I bought MY first car-a '65 K GT Convertible....with a MANUAL top!!
Never a problem putting THAT top down either!!

Manual tops aren't that hard to deal with!

Offline CW4macret

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 399
Re: Power vs nonpower Convertible top
« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2016, 06:01:17 PM »
Thanks I will keep that in mind
Mac
64.5, 5F07D
66 Convertible 6T08T
71 Mach1 429CJ 1F05J
01 Coupe
05 GT
08 GT500
14 GT500

Offline 5F08KGT

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 157
Re: Power vs nonpower Convertible top
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2016, 08:47:21 AM »
Manual tops are really trouble free as far as operating them, very simple.

I think that if I bought a car with a manual top I'd keep it that way......thats just me though......

Offline NEFaurora

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 970
Re: Power vs nonpower Convertible top
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2016, 07:05:04 PM »
My '66 Vert came with a Manual top...  I got real tired of having to get out of the car on both sides to lower the top, tired of pinching my fingers...and got tired of having to get out of the car when it started to drizzle outside if I had to pull over before it seriously rained...  I did the full power top conversion as per factory specs back in 2004 by just using a well written Mustang Monthly article and the Osborn Factory assembly manuals.  That's all you need.  You can do it all in a weekend or two. It was so worth it.  Once you go power, You never go back...literally.  There's nothing like just flipping a switch and having the entire top raise or lower in about 30-40 seconds.. Everything to do the Manual to Power Top Conversion is available from NPD.... for around $900.00  I highly suggest/recommend doing it.  If you're not entering in a "Concours" class in MCA... or in an "Unrestored" class, I really recommend doing it.  It's a pretty easy and highly satisfying conversion..  The Power top system is very simple once you know how the system works...and it's damn reliable once it is assembled correctly.   That's just my experience.

Enough said.

My other '65 Vert already came with a Power top.....so I had no need to do that one.. but the Power Top Motor and Hydraullic cylinders were missing and removed when I initially got the car so I did have some work to do on it to get the Power Top functioning again.

:o)

Tony K.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2016, 01:00:35 PM by NEFaurora »
Tony Kovar (NEFaurora@aol.com)
1965 Mustang Convertible 200 cid 3spd manual
1966 Mustang Convertible Sprint 200 C4 Auto
2007 Mustang Convertible V6 Auto with "Pony Package".
1966 Mustang Sprint 200 Registry Owner/Moderator
MCA#70001