Steps to lower and raise the top on a 1963 olds 98

thinking back to my 92 olds 98, you have to take off the inside door panel, look in the door, on the bottom of the glass it will be attached to the regulater, which is the mechanism that raises and lowers the window, disconnect the glass from this piece and just lift it out the top.

The system is hydraulic, if the pump runs and nothing happens you have a leak in the hydraulic system, in most case that is the hose that go to the cylinders that raise and lower the top. Go under the car and look for oily residue under the frame near the bottom of the rear quarter glass area.

It is a hydraulic pump that applies pressure to the 2 hydraulic pistons to raise & lower the top. So, check for something obstructing movement first.

The convertible top:

• is motor-driven.
• requires parking brake engaged to complete circuit for operation.
• is equipped with a back window glass (42006) . The back window glass is permanently attached to the folding top back window curtain (52500) and cannot be opened.

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VISUAL INSPECTION CHART Mechanical Electrical

• Damaged fluid reservoir.
• Damaged folding top hydraulic cylinders .
• Damaged folding top motor upper and lower hose .
• Damaged convertible top regulator.
• Parking brake not engaged.

• Open power distribution box circuit breaker CONV TOP (30A), fuse junction panel Fuse 1 (15A).
• Circuitry open/shorted.
• Damaged convertible top switch.
• Damaged raise/lower relay .
• Damaged folding top hydraulic lift motor and plate kit .

• Convertible Top Does Not Raise/Lower

• Open circuit breaker or fuse.
• Circuitry open/shorted.
• Damaged folding top switch.
• Damaged raise/lower relay .
• Damaged folding top hydraulic lift motor and plate kit .
• Parking brake not engaged.

1960 1963 ALTERNATORS THATS WAS THE BIRTH YEAR OF THE AC ALTERNATORS THEY COULD GENERATE LARGE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT AT LOW RPM.THE OLD DC GENERATORS HAD TO DRIVE FAST KEEP BATTERY CHARGED.YOU COULDNT OPERATE A LOT OF ACCESSORIES AT ONE TIME DRAIN THE BATTERY QUICKER.THE 1963 ALTERNATORS THEY HAD EXTERNAL VOLTAGE REGULATORS.THEY HAD TO BE ADJUSTED.

From the top of the car remove the slide and anchor bolt from the alternater bracket. remove your 3 or 4 pin plug and diconnect the pos power line beside the 3 or 4 pin plug ( on the back of the alternater). now raise the car and from below remove the lower bolt that allows the alternater to swing back and forth. the bolt fits through the housing of the alternater. remove the belt. now the alternater is free. this lower bolt that was just removed attaches to a bracket bolted to the block. remove this bracket and the alternater will slide out of the bottom of the car. complete the above steps in reverse to install new part.

Please be mindful to carefully note the position of the old parts as you disassemble the suspension, then follow these steps to do the re-installation:

REMOVAL

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.

3. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.

4. Remove and discard the tension strut-to-control arm nut, then pull off the dished washer.

When separating the control arm from the steering knuckle, do not use a hammer. Be careful not to damage the ball joint boot seal.

5. Remove and discard the control arm-to-steering knuckle pinch bolt. Using a small prybar, spread the pinch joint slightly, then separate the control arm from the steering knuckle. A drift punch may be used to remove the bolt, but be very careful not to damage the ball joint boot seal.

Do not allow the halfshaft to move outward, or the tripod CV-joint internal parts could separate, causing failure of the joint.

6. Remove and discard the lower control arm inner pivot bolt and nut.

7. Remove the lower control arm from the frame and the tension strut.

INSTALLATION

Make sure the front washer is at the strut-to-lower control arm attachment.

8. Insert the strut into the inner bushing.

9. Position the lower control arm into the subframe bracket, using a new nut and bolt. Tighten to 73-97 ft. lbs. (98-132 Nm).

10. Assemble the lower control arm ball joint stud to the steering knuckle, making sure the ball stud groove is positioned properly. Be very careful not to damage the lower control arm seal.

11. Insert a new pinch bolt and nut, then tighten to 40-53 ft. lbs. (53-72 Nm).

12. Clean the strut threads to remove dirt and/or debris.

13. Install the dished washer, with its dished side away from the control arm bushing. Install a new nut on the strut and tighten to 73-97 ft. lbs. (98-132 Nm).

14. Install the wheel and tire assembly, tightening the lug nuts to 85-105 ft. lbs. (115-142 Nm), then carefully lower the vehicle.

I hope this helps.

There are 2 hydrolic rams that raise and lower your roof. You can just disconect them from the top, then manualy raise and lower the top. But it sounds more like your fluid level is low. Open your trunk and find the pump pull the plug and fill the resiorvor.

you may need to get the motors ckecked ot for the top, if they are week and/or old they may stop right int eh middle of lowering or raising the top, expesive to fix and you have to do both motrs at the same time...

they are runon hydraulics you may have a leak in the hose but yes u can disconnect the motor and raise and lower it maunally