Top Storage Poll

[CarolinaCrusier]

Re: Top Storage Poll

Tom -
You can use the search feature at the top of the page and enter "hoist" to get a lot of info about types. Some have built their own (with "how to" info) and others have purchased from different companies. This post from Dot lists some of those companies:

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...38&postcount=3

Dot also has them listed on her "porthole authority" website ... check it out if you haven't been there. A whole plethora of info on the Thunderbird!
Jay

Thanks Jay--appreciate your help.

[RQTBIRD]

Re: Top Storage Poll

Still remove manually with the help of eiither my son or son-in-law. Have plans to build one with electric motor & controls. I have most of the parts now so will probably get it done this summer.

[Treken]

Re: Top Storage Poll

This thread made me take my top off today...LOL

A buddy came over this morning for a coffee and we done the traditional buddy system of removing the hardtop...

I still can't believe how nice this winter here in Canada has been...

[MikeB]

Re: Top Storage Poll

My top is on the car right now but I imagine it will come off in May. I purchased a manual hard top lift from another member and was going to install it in the garage. Unfortunately, there is a huge wooden beam that runs near the middle of the garage ceiling and my attempts to figure out how to install it failed; I re-sold it to another member.

Mine sits on the stand when not on the car just like it always did. I need to ask my friend (who owns a Corvette) to help me take it off and put it on.

[rcjohny]

Re: Top Storage Poll

I have the same type of beam in my garage just put my mounts, one on each side of the beam, works great.

[MikeB]

Re: Top Storage Poll

I have the same type of beam in my garage just put my mounts, one on each side of the beam, works great.

Wouldn't have worked in my garage; the wood beam is encased in wall board and comes down 24+ inches from the ceiling so mounting a support on either side would leave the hard top way too low even in its uppermost position. Trust me, I tried to think of everything and the closest solution was a major remodeling of the ceiling which I was unwilling to do.

[5bird7]

Re: Top Storage Poll

It surprises me that almost 60% remove their hardtop manually and store it on the stand. I am not sure why it surprises me but it just does.

Here's some reasons why.

1 - ceiling too low to accomodate hardware and top and still be able to walk around in garage - our case before we moved - 8 ft ceiling just doesn't do it when youre 6'4".
2 - ceiling too high - our case after we moved - uh, like 20' foot ceilings
3 - much cheaper if you can do it yourself and get friends to help - our case all the time.
4 - as Vickie and others have said - need to get it installed.

[jerrym3]

Re: Top Storage Poll

Can't use a hoist.

One garage has HVAC ductwork running north/south, and the other one has the auto door opening mechanism.

Besides, neither garage is deep enough to keep the top suspended, so, if it takes two people to place the top on/off the rack, with or without a hoist, it's still a two man job.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Top Storage Poll

takes two people to place the top on/off the rack, with or without a hoist, it's still a two man job.

Actually 3 people to be safe.

The neighbor kid and I handle the top and the wife holds the cart from moving. The wheel locks on the cart are useless, the hard wheels on the cart still allows it to slide around if you bump it.

Last year the wife wanted to do the top with me....I better just keep my mouth shut about that.

[jerrym3]

Re: Top Storage Poll

I have used a third person once or twice, but usually it's me and one of my brother-in-laws.

But, I didn't put the hard top on this winter. Just left the car covered up in the garage except for a weekly short run (in good weather).

[FEsTbird]

Re: Top Storage Poll

Although I have 11' ceilings in my garage, I still store it on the floor in the garage. I just cannot bring myself to leaving it hanging over the car. I know its safe, but.......

I store mine on the hoist over my wife's Pontiac. The top is over the Pontiac's engine--to remove/store it from my Tbird, I back into the garage. After 6 years I can be in the right place within two tries.

[Bruce]

Re: Top Storage Poll

The red top and Inca top are stored in the garage on their stands covered. The black top is on the Inca 100% of the time and the Red Bird hasn't had a hardtop on it since the summer of '03.
The last time I removed or attached a hardtop on a Bird was the summer of '05 when I picked up the black top in PA.

[Black Bengal]

Re: Top Storage Poll

I remove the HT with a maual hoist & leave it on the hoist. One reason is I can remove the HT & install it myself with no help, but the main reason is I just don't have room in my garage to keep the HT on a stand on the floor. The reason is that my garage is used for parking my 3 cars believe it or not. I don't keep my cars outside.

[FEsTbird]

Re: Top Storage Poll

I store mine on the hoist over my wife's Pontiac. The top is over the Pontiac's engine--to remove/store it from my Tbird, I back into the garage. After 6 years I can be in the right place within two tries.

Just for the record, the top is off, covered, and hoisted up above the Pontiac hood. Car is in the summer mode; it has been in the mid-70s for several days. Of course, now that I have removed the top, we will probably return to the rainy season for a week or so.

[Gobird]

Re: Top Storage Poll

Replied to this earlier but no comment. I use an electric hoist and store it on the stand. I could leave it on the hoist but with my 4 car garage I have room to keep it on the stand.