Author Topic: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?  (Read 11435 times)

Offline Lotsapins

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #15 on: January 03, 2016 - 01:03:06 PM »
I just did this on my 70 Challenger. It's not that difficult at all.
You will need to buy the pump motor, 2) cylinders, a set of hyd lines, and a switch setup
of some kind.  Wiring is all there except wiring at the switch. That harness can be purchased
from Evans Wiring for $125 or you can make your own. The other big cost is the switch. It can
be bought new repro from PG Classics for $205. You will also have to try to find a 30A circuit
breaker that goes in the fusebox. Now all that being said there are may shortcuts and saving you
can make if your somewhat handy. I couldn't see paying $200 for a switch, so I used a regular switch
from the auto parts store. It has a chrome handle/bat, but that's the only difference. I had to make a bracket
that mounted to the original place with a hole centered to mount the switch. I adapted the harness without
cutting off the original plug with some terms and wire. Taped it up and go. I bought new woodgrain overlays from
performance car graphix for the dash. They have some blems that they sell for the cheap. I couldn't find a flaw i them.
I bought the new harness because I was buying a bunch of other wiring for the underhood area and he gave me a decent discount
because of how much I bought. The circuit breaker I couldn't find, so I used a ATX style breaker and taped the wires
and wire tied it by the fuse box.  I can supply a few pictures of some extra parts, but the car is together so it wouldn't be much.
 I have another harness for my 71 Convert if you want a pic of that.
Thanks , Keith
71 Challenger Conv
Build Thread: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=97569.0
71' Roadrunner Stock restored 383 4spd
08 Charger SRT8 Super Bee
07 Ram 2500 4WD Cummings




Offline Lotsapins

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #16 on: January 03, 2016 - 04:23:06 PM »
Here are a couple of pics.
Thanks , Keith
71 Challenger Conv
Build Thread: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=97569.0
71' Roadrunner Stock restored 383 4spd
08 Charger SRT8 Super Bee
07 Ram 2500 4WD Cummings

Offline crocha617

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #17 on: January 03, 2016 - 08:41:08 PM »

There are?  You mean latches that can be activated by a switch?

Pretty sure all the latches are the same regardless.
All latches are the same.

Offline CudaHead

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #18 on: January 11, 2016 - 03:41:14 PM »
Thanks everyone. Looks like this can be done.

CudaHad

Offline CudaHead

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #19 on: January 13, 2016 - 09:40:37 AM »
I went to the Parts Interchange book:
https://books.google.com/books?id=6HblMiBjCWoC&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=2947406+top&source=bl&ots=QpQmWarlLr&sig=9SVT0KLA3gIXHjGlw02rqca8Om4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV1N2r_abKAhXIOCYKHZhaC88Q6AEIWjAN#v=onepage&q=2947406%20top&f=false

I did a search on the other numbers and found a switch for a 70 Coronet, number 2864489.
It appears to be a similar switch but without the black plastic over the handle.
It was NOS and I bought it for $74.
Anyone know how I can find that plastic cover?

CudaHad

Offline mofish

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #20 on: January 13, 2016 - 10:21:09 AM »
Hey Lotsapins....looks like your convertible has A/C too. Now that's COOOL     :bigshades:

Offline 1 Wild R/T

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #21 on: January 13, 2016 - 11:09:28 AM »
Pump, lines & cylinders from a mid 80's Lebaron fit & are a heck of a lot cheaper way to get this done... every attachment point is in the exact location, the wires plug right in....  The pump reservoir is about 1/2" longer than the original but no one has ever noticed that on my car... The pivot point on the cylinders is 1/2" instead of 3/4" but that just means you don't need to track down the bushing that originally reduced the hole to fit the pivot pin...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1987-1995-Chrysler-Lebaron-Convertible-Top-Hydraulic-Pump-w-Cylinders-Works-/281906161119?fits=Model%3ALeBaron&hash=item41a2eaa5df:g:lL0AAOSwwbdWQ3Qv&vxp=mtr
JS27N0B 70 Challenger R/T Convertible  FJ5 Sublime, Show Poodle w/90,000 miles since resto
WS27L8G 68 Coronet R/T Convertible  PP1 Bright Red, Project
RM21H9E 69 Road Runner Coupe R4 Performance Red, Sold...
5H21C  65 Falcon 2 dr Wagon... Dog Hauler...

Offline Lotsapins

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #22 on: January 14, 2016 - 07:45:16 PM »
Pump, lines & cylinders from a mid 80's Lebaron fit & are a heck of a lot cheaper way to get this done... every attachment point is in the exact location, the wires plug right in....  The pump reservoir is about 1/2" longer than the original but no one has ever noticed that on my car... The pivot point on the cylinders is 1/2" instead of 3/4" but that just means you don't need to track down the bushing that originally reduced the hole to fit the pivot pin...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1987-1995-Chrysler-Lebaron-Convertible-Top-Hydraulic-Pump-w-Cylinders-Works-/281906161119?fits=Model%3ALeBaron&hash=item41a2eaa5df:g:lL0AAOSwwbdWQ3Qv&vxp=mtr


Don't do it !!!! I used a pump from a lebaron like your showing. Yeah it hooks up, yes it fits in the bracket, yes the wires plug in the same, but the pump isn't strong enough to lift that top !!!! I did it and couldn't get the top to go up without help. I used the pump from my 71 Challenger and it was night and day. I will be buying a new pump for the 71 so it didn't matter. Think about the size difference in the tops and weight difference and it will all make sense. I still have the lebaron pump. You can have it for $50, but it won't lift that roof.
Thanks , Keith
71 Challenger Conv
Build Thread: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=97569.0
71' Roadrunner Stock restored 383 4spd
08 Charger SRT8 Super Bee
07 Ram 2500 4WD Cummings

Offline 1 Wild R/T

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #23 on: January 14, 2016 - 09:29:49 PM »
Don't do it !!!! I used a pump from a lebaron like your showing. Yeah it hooks up, yes it fits in the bracket, yes the wires plug in the same, but the pump isn't strong enough to lift that top !!!! I did it and couldn't get the top to go up without help. I used the pump from my 71 Challenger and it was night and day. I will be buying a new pump for the 71 so it didn't matter. Think about the size difference in the tops and weight difference and it will all make sense. I still have the lebaron pump. You can have it for $50, but it won't lift that roof.

Then there's something wrong with your pump cause mines worked perfectly for twenty years now.....
JS27N0B 70 Challenger R/T Convertible  FJ5 Sublime, Show Poodle w/90,000 miles since resto
WS27L8G 68 Coronet R/T Convertible  PP1 Bright Red, Project
RM21H9E 69 Road Runner Coupe R4 Performance Red, Sold...
5H21C  65 Falcon 2 dr Wagon... Dog Hauler...

Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #24 on: January 22, 2016 - 04:21:09 PM »
Got my pump, lines and relay off of a newer convertible in a junk yard too. Lots of cars to choose from. The pump I got has a single winding and reverses at the relay not at the switch. The original had 2 windings, one for up and one for down. Using a relay keeps all of the current out of the switch and gets it right off of the battery. 
For the top cylinders, got them new from eBay with the aluminum top after one of my old ones exploded at the top lip while I was testing it on the floor. I didn't want that to happen in the car when trying to raise the top.
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

My Pace Car restoration thread:
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0


Offline waskier

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #25 on: March 27, 2016 - 08:21:23 PM »
There were a lot of Lebaron convertibles made and they look like the only difference was the motor plug, but the Lebaron's came with two different cylinders(1"-1.75").  Since I don't have the stock cylinders to compare to does anybody have the stock cylinder dimensions, or, has anybody already done this conversion?   

Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #26 on: March 28, 2016 - 09:21:26 AM »
I have a stock one that I can measure in my junk pile. But all the ones I found in the junkyard were either too long or too short that's why I had to buy new ones.
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

My Pace Car restoration thread:
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0


Offline waskier

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #27 on: March 28, 2016 - 09:34:37 PM »
GREAT!  Lets see...
1.  Outside diameter
2.  Overall cylinder length
3.  Total length with rod compressed.
4.  Total length with rod extended.
5.  Anything else you can think of...

Thanks.

Offline CudamanTom

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #28 on: March 28, 2016 - 10:26:37 PM »
GREAT!  Lets see...
1.  Outside diameter
2.  Overall cylinder length
3.  Total length with rod compressed.
4.  Total length with rod extended.
5.  Anything else you can think of...

Thanks.

Quite honestly, unless you are making these yourself, you don't need all these dimensions. Just get them on ebay as prescribed for cuda. I did research a while back for replacements and no luck except for a few websites and ebay selling the same thing for the same price.
Save yourself the pain and just buy them.
 :2cents:
Tom
1971 Cuda Vert 440-833 - (clone)
1971 Cuda 440-727 - (clone)


Because I like it fast!!!

Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: 1970 Convertible Manual to Power conversion?
« Reply #29 on: March 29, 2016 - 11:56:55 AM »
GREAT!  Lets see...
1.  Outside diameter
2.  Overall cylinder length
3.  Total length with rod compressed.
4.  Total length with rod extended.
5.  Anything else you can think of...

Thanks.


All I found in the junk yard was too long or the ram eye didn't measure the correct length when compresses.

Total length, eye to bottom of cylinder.


Length from ram eye to mounting hole, center to center, 2-3/8"



Total length extended, center of ram eye to center of mounting hole. it is 9" but camera is off center



Bottom of cylinder:



Don't use stock 46 year old cylinders. Like I said before, I was extending the cylinders on the ground, and the top of one cylinder split open and sprayed fluid everywhere. Didn't want that to happen inside the car trying to lift or lower a top.
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

My Pace Car restoration thread:
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0