SECTION 7-B 1959 BUICK CONVERTIBLE TOP OPERATION

7-2 DESCRIPTION

The convertible coupe incorporates a Hydro-Lectric system to raise and lower the folding top. After the top has been unlatched and raised above the windshield by hand, it can be lowered or raised, respectively, by actuating a power control switch located at the instrument panel. Hydraulic fluid from an electrically driven pump is forced through tubing to double-acting, piston-type cylinders located at each rear quarter section of the car. Pressurized fluid entering the top of the hydraulic lift cylinders forces the pistons down-thus lowering the top. Pressurized fluid entering the bottom of the hydraulic lift cylinders forces the pistons upward-thus raising the top.

 

7-3 TOP BOOT

Care of Boot

The top boot is attached to the body with concealed “floating-type” snap fasteners along the side and rear edges and a “slide-in” retainer along the front edge as indicated in Figure 7-1.

1959 Buick Top Boot

1959 Buick Top Boot

When the folding top is raised, either of the following two methods may be used for storing the boot.

  1. The boot may be stored in its protective case in the rear compartment of the car.
  2. The boot may be left attached to the slide retainer and folded behind the rear seat back.

The top compartment behind the rear seat back must be used only for storage of the top boot when it is attached to the slide retainer on the seat back. The storage of such items as golf clubs, luggage and miscellaneous objects in the compartment not only interferes with the proper operation of the top, but may damage the top or the plastic rear window.

Installation of Top Boot

  1. Slide the front edge of the boot into the retainer “A” along the seat back as indicated in Figure 7-2. Center the boot for proper engagement of snap fasteners.
1959 Buick Sliding Boot Into Retainer

1959 Buick Sliding Boot Into Retainer

  • Place top boot in position over the folded top and engage several of the boot fasteners to the studs along the rear molding. Then adjust the boot to remove wrinkles by sliding forward edge of boot to the right or left in the retainer, indicated at “A” in Figure 7-3.
    • 1959 Buick Top Boot Partially Installed

    1959 Buick Top Boot Partially Installed

  • Engage the remaining boot fasteners to the studs on the molding and rear quarter trim as shown in Figure 7-1.

    •  

    7-4 TOP OPERATION

    To Lower the Top

    1. Stop the car. If the top boot has been stored in its retainer behind the rear seat, turn the boot over the seat back and fold the ends, as shown in Figure 7-4.
    1959 Buick Position of Boot When Lowering Top

    1959 Buick Position of Boot When Lowering Top

    It is not necessary to lower the rear window or rear quarter windows before lowering the top.

  • Turn down both sun visors; then, rotate each locking handle until it is disengaged from the striker on the windshield header.
    • 1959 Buick Unlock Top From Windshield Header

    1959 Buick Unlock Top From Windshield Header

  • Raise the front of the top, as shown in Figure 7-6, to disengage the front rail from the windshield header.
    • 1959 Buick Disengage Top From Header

    1959 Buick Disengage Top From Header

  • Actuate the power top control switch until the front top rail is approximately two feet from full down position, as shown in Figure 7-7.
    • 1959 Buick Pull Padding From Between Arms

    1959 Buick Pull Padding From Between Arms

  • On the right and left side of the body, pull the top material and padding “A” from between operating arms of top as shown in Figure 7-7.
  • Operate the top control switch until the top is approximately six (6) inches from the full down position. Tuck corners of padding “A” into top compartment to insure proper fit of top boot, Figure 7-8.
    • 1959 Buick Tuck Padding Into Compartment

    1959 Buick Tuck Padding Into Compartment

  • Operate the top control switch until the top is in fully lowered position. Smooth out the top material on body panel, Figure 7-9.
    • 1959 Buick Smooth Out Top Material

    1959 Buick Smooth Out Top Material

  • Fold over the corners of the top material as shown in Figure 7-10.
    • 1959 Buick Fold Over Top Material

    1959 Buick Fold Over Top Material

  • Place material over folding top as shown in Figure 7-11.
    • 1959 Buick Fold Top Material Forward

    1959 Buick Fold Top Material Forward

    To Raise the Top

    1. Stop the car. Disengage all top boot snap fasteners from studs, turn boot over the seat back and fold ends of boot toward center. If thoroughly dry_, the top boot may be removed from the retainer, folded and placed in the protective case. Smooth out top material on body panel as shown in Figure 7-9.
    2. Turn down sun visors and operate power top control switch until top is fully raised.
    3. After top is raised, guide the studs on the front top rail into the striker holes; then engage each folding top locking handle with the striker on the windshield header as shown in Figure 7-12.
    1959 Buick Engage Top To Header

    1959 Buick Engage Top To Header

  • Rotate each handle until it is parallel with the windshield header; then turn up sun visors, see Figure 7-5.

    • NOTE: Be sure top is securely locked to windshield header before starting the car.

    To Lower Rear Window

    Slide zipper fastener indicated at “A” in Figure 7-13 upward, across the top and down the opposite side. Then carefully lower the window into the top compartment. To avoid damage, do not place miscellaneous objects on the window.

    1959 Buick Rear Window Zipper

    1959 Buick Rear Window Zipper

    To Raise Rear Window

    1959 Buick Zip Rear Window

    1959 Buick Zip Rear Window

    1. Hold the window in its approximate closed position: Then slide zipper along the sides and top of the window.
      NOTE: In some cases the rear window zipper can be operated much easier if the top is released at the windshield header to relieve the tension on the zipper.
    2. On the outside of the car after the window has been raised, tuck the top flaps into the valance along the right and left side of the window opening as shown in Figure 7-15.
    1959 Buick Tuck In Flaps

    1959 Buick Tuck In Flaps