I have a friend who needs to have one of the conv. top pistons rebuilt. Can the car be driven with the top up and the piston removed?

 

Good question RJ. WE are doing mine Monday, Jon89 and Joyesjag and maybe Dave. I had planned on not driving mine while they where off in Washington, but if we have some nice days it would be a shame not to. I'm not concerned about it being up as I would just leave it down, I worry about the plugs not being connected and the ECU going ape stuff or what ever controls the little gremlins for the top, when you turn the key on. The top being up might be a different story, as the rams hold the rear arms in place. They may lock and the rams are not in any holding capacity once they are locked.
Gus should chime in here, I hope and we both will know.


Wayne

 

I forgot about the plugs. I think I will unplug mine and see if it throws a code.

 

No warning light when unplugged. Next, I will put the top up tomorrow and disconnect the cylinder. It should stay locked in the up position without the cylinder, but it certainly looks like no problem driving with the top down.

 

The weather was so nice tonight that I went back in the garage and took the cylinder out. It appears the top would stay up, but the quarter windows go down if the cylinder is disconnected. So while there will not likely be a problem driving with the top down, it won't work with it up, although it's probably just a matter of jumping the connection at the plug.

 

My final comment. I drove around with the ram disconnected and the fuse pulled. Connected again and everything works.