[Chrysler300]Update: Convertible Tops: New/Old

["Jess Miklas" <jpmiklas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I was just TOO CURIOUS, so last night so with tape measure in hand,  I 
pulled a bunch of back seats:

The power cylinders and rods from the 96 Sebring are virtually identical in 
every respect  to those on my 300L, 68 Sport Fury, 62 Sport 300 and 70 Cudas 
EXCEPT FOR THE LENGTH !!

On the 300L, the cylinders are 8" long.

On my 62 300 Sport, the cylinders are 11"long.

On my Cuda w/power top the cylinders are 9" long.

The Sebrings are 10-1/2" long.

The 300C cylinders are very different!

Also, the 300s require a hose set approx 84" in length whereas the Sebring's 
top out at 74".

The length of the cylinders is appearantly not limited by the usable space 
within the body as my power top equipped Cuda has 9" cylinders  but my 
manual top Cuda has 10-1/2 cylinders (spring loaded rather than hydraulic, 
but otherwise identical).

I am no convertible top whiz by any means, but
I would assume the cylinder length determines the rod travel only, which 
makes me assume you could use the Sebrings 10-1/2 cylinders in the 300L and 
the Cuda since the action would stop
once the mechanism bottomed out. I realize there IS a possibility here of 
course to "over-lower" the top and rip the fabric, so you'd have to be 
careful or put a positive stop clamp on the rod.

Oh well. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't find a miracle money saving 
alternative here. I DO believe that the Sebring motor IS a viable 
replacement.

Jeff Miklas

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jess Miklas" <jpmiklas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 1:38 PM
Subject: [Chrysler300] Convertible Tops: New/Old


> Some people might know this, but I didn't so I'll pass it on:
>
> Recently, I helped a neighbor with a 96 Sebring convertible as he was 
> trying to find out why his top wasn't working.
> I was amazed at the similarity of the top cylinders, lines and motor to 
> those in my 300L. The motor even mounted the same with the four rubber 
> boots. The lines were basically identical and the cylinders really looked 
> compatible.(From my memory)
> The really amazing part was that he called a recyling yard and procurred a 
> complete motor, lines and cylinder assembly still sealed with fluid for 
> $100.00. He popped the new assembly in and didn't even have to bleed it.
>
> I haven't had a chance to visually compare the Sebring cylinders with the 
> ones in my L, but will do so soon I hope.
> Thought I'd pass this along in case anyone is trying to buy top parts 
> through Hemnmings etc and getting burned on $$$. It might be worth it to 
> look in a late model salvage yard.
> If memory serves, the 300H and 300K top cylinders were very similar to the 
> 300L as well as those in my 70 Cuda. My 300C cylinders were similar also 
> but were larger.One other consideration may be the width of the body as 
> well as far as the lines are concerned. I will update after I've had a 
> chance to do some inspection and measuring. If someone else has already 
> done this, please post it and save me some time. THANKS!
>
> Jeff Miklas
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
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