Convertible top latch/hooks not reaching windshield

[sailbird]

Had two friends come over this morning to help me remove the hard top and set on the carrier. Raised the soft top, which had never been raised since the car was new, and the top would not reach the latch hooks, about 1/2" short. I believe the top material needs to be stretched, as it probably shrank over the years.

Finally, after some investigation, I found a set screw which holds the chrome hooks. I loosened them and adjusted the hooks out 1/4" and waa laa, they reached and the center hand latch snapped it tight. I was a happy cruiser!

[007Cruiser]

Great! If you ever need to stretch the top, open it as far as it will go and let it sit in the sun for an hour.

[Frank Dreano]

The Haartz Stayfast top material (unlike the old vinyl) has almost no shrinkage when stored, but do as suggested above and then try to latch it...there are two hand holds on each side of the center latch to aid in pulling the top down onto the windshield header (all this is in your owner's documents)...