On this Riviera, the headliner was removed first, starting at the front
and working from the header bow rearward. Any screws were removed
and safely stored for reuse, and glued areas were carefully separated.
The top was then elevated from its closed position so glue and staples
could be removed, thus lifting the top from the framework beneath. The
weatherstrip on the header bow was then removed, and unlike most
convertibles, this top did not have a metal insert in the header bow
weatherstrip. As such, it would be reinstalled this way. The weatherstrip
was also removed from the glue strips that attached it at the front and
rear convertible top rails. This car had extra metal pieces in the rear
quarter rail of weatherstrip to remove.
The convertible top was pulled away from the side rail to remove
the top moldings. Also visible in this image is the end of the
convertible top cable.The Riviera had a “wire on” trim piece on the rear bow, and to detach
it, screws and staples had to be removed.
At this point, the cables that run the length of the roof were
unscrewed from the top frame. The metal strip in the top at the second
and third bows were removed, although they can be removed with the
headliner. Screws were removed at the rear of the well and replaced