69 Dart convertible : Top Adjustment ????

I recently purchased a 69 Dart ragtop & had the top down for the first time this weekend. Releasing the hold downs at the sunvisors took some muscle. At the end of the day, I put the top up but it stopped 2-3 from resting on the windshield frame. It took all my strength to push the top down to get the lockdowns in place & latch the top up. This was a royal pain in the tail !

I am very unfamiliar with ragtops & was curious if there was an sort of adjustment for the top to come down closer to the windshield frame. To me, it seems like it doesn't come down far enough. Any info would be appreciated.

Power Top or Manual?? Power top you use the power to run it all the way up, manual typically moves freely just need to overcome a spring, shouldn't be to hard.. By 2-3 from resting on the windshield frame do you mean 2"-3" ?? If so is the top fairly new? If so it should be warm when you try to close the top, as it cools it contracts & it's hard to stretch the top to latch it... Far better than a loose fitting top..

I'm pretty sure that there are some adjustments on your top frame that can correct this. My '67 Fury convertible can be adjusted at the rear above the quarter window on each side. You could stop by a top place and ask them the procedure. The top should be tight but not so much that you have to strain your arms to fasten it. Good luck to you.
John

All 67-69 Darts are power tops, never made a manual top! I have owned around 20 convertibles and there is some adjustment available but you most likely will have to remove the back seat and the side panels to get to where the top bolts on. If the top is new it will be awhile before it gets better, as mentioned above make sure the top sees plenty of sun before trying to latch it. I left one convertible in the garage with the top down all winter and it wouldn't come close to latching in the spring!

your problem is the top material [shrunk] when the top was down...mine does this [which is why i leave it down all the time now] there,s no adjustment that will help.... a new top thats not shrunk would be a good start though...and you WILL BREAK the latches cranking on them hard like it sounds you are doing! dan

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Power Top or Manual?? Power top you use the power to run it all the way up, manual typically moves freely just need to overcome a spring, shouldn't be to hard.. By 2-3 from resting on the windshield frame do you mean 2"-3" ?? If so is the top fairly new? If so it should be warm when you try to close the top, as it cools it contracts & it's hard to stretch the top to latch it... Far better than a loose fitting top..

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It's a power top that is pretty old. Even though its not ripped or torn, its obviously got some age on it.

It is 2-3 inches gap. I was in a hurry when typing the original post. Sorry for the confusion.