Sell me your soft top or help me fix mine...PLEASE!!!

[got one]

I have a Gen 1 and the drivers side bar that connects the front to the back is bowing (was like it when I bought the car so I have no idea how it happened). Ask anyone around...I drive my Viper all the time and use my top quite frequently...so I need the following:

1. Please let me know how to fix this thing...or
2. Please sell me your Gen 1 softop

Thanks in advance folks...

Ryan

 

[obaa996]

I've *HEARD* (i.e. haven't seen it done nor tried it myself) that you can warm it up, carefully bend it back, and let it cool....

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Check with Biff of V-Mania (?), he seems to have done this in an oven before. Since he makes the hardtops, I think has some experience.

Then let us all know.

 

[got one]

I tried talking to Biff...so far he has been non-responsive

 

[Sam Vipeme Brasile]

Dodge had a answer to this problem back in 1997, they made replacement side rails. Talked with the guys from Dodge @ the Orlando VOI
Had mine covered under warranty. It had a bigger arc to compensate the saggging side rail, cause was from the sun it got to hot and it sagged. The top was very loose when the rails sagged
I think the replacement cost was about a $800.00.
It also has a different locking mechanism for the rail, it no longer uses the slide lock, now it uses an easy screw,
They drilled a hole in the rail and use the existing stud thread, the stud was removed with a screw driver that was used from the slide lock.
When you put the side curtains on, the top of the curtain has a gap because of the new side rails, there was an answer to that buy mopars side curtains, they were adjustable, bulb weather stripping and seem to fit better. More $$$$$$
What I can say after all this is you still can't keep water out!!!!!!
The joy of having a Viper! (95 RT)
Haven't had a problem since with sagging side rails.
I'm sure you can still get these.
Part #5010323AA this is the only number I have from the write-up @ the dealer.
They came as a set.

Good luck

Sam

 

[phantred]

posting here in case anyone searches and finds the thread -

My soft top on my gen 2 was cracked(the front bar(which is plastic or ceramic or something) was cracked right in half, I used jbweld to put it back together, and despite the tremendous stress it is under, it is doing great.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

I met Biff at a Rendevouz or two ago. As a friend of mine had banana shaped side rails, so I asked and his answer was putting it in the oven at ~160F for a few hours. Of course, I'm at that age where I forget as soon as I ask... But I do remember that it goes in the oven!

Empirically this makes sense. The sun might not get as hot, but then the sun has many days to heat the part. The oven is hotter, but 160F is not really extreme. Perhaps every hour you could even take it out to see how "bendable" it has become. I recall that the heat makes it pliable; it won't sag back into a straight condition.

I don't mean to sound too flip here, but if they are really sagging, at this temperature, you don't have much risk. Would love to see it work, as the OEM soft top is all I have to use year-round (and it stays outside year-round.)

 

[FrankBarba]

I have new OEM in the box soft top...also new in the box side rails...please email with your offer.

 

[got one]

I met Biff at a Rendevouz or two ago. As a friend of mine had banana shaped side rails, so I asked and his answer was putting it in the oven at ~160F for a few hours. Of course, I'm at that age where I forget as soon as I ask... But I do remember that it goes in the oven!

Empirically this makes sense. The sun might not get as hot, but then the sun has many days to heat the part. The oven is hotter, but 160F is not really extreme. Perhaps every hour you could even take it out to see how "bendable" it has become. I recall that the heat makes it pliable; it won't sag back into a straight condition.

I don't mean to sound too flip here, but if they are really sagging, at this temperature, you don't have much risk. Would love to see it work, as the OEM soft top is all I have to use year-round (and it stays outside year-round.)

Thanks King of all fluids. I am just tired of dealing with the windows not lining up right due to this...can't use my vmania windows with the top on the car because of this...

There has to be somebody out there with a step by step?

 

[Hostile]

I did this one time but I do not recall
what temp. I used,Biff knows,best bet
contact him.Then post all the information
so we have it.

Skeeter