ZL1 verts - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

meSSohappy · 04-17-2016, 04:59 PM

Is there a thread specific to ZL1 verts? My top doesn't recline as well as my 2011 ssrs. Dealer says this is normal and there is a bulletin about it, yet I was not informed when buying it. I actually have to push the side arms down for the last 2-3 inches to install the tonneau cover.....BS I say !!!

HDRDTD · 04-17-2016, 05:26 PM

First, I'd ask if your Camaro is brand new. If it's brand new, You might give it a few months to see if the situation improves as the top has a chance to go up and down a while and the fabric stretches and the top relaxes a bit.

Yes the top should go all the way down.

But, if it still doesn't go all the way down, the top may have to be adjusted a bit. The problem is finding someone qualified to make the adjustment. There's a fine balance between the top being tight enough to eliminate wrinkles and rub without it being so tight the rear bow collapses. Not many Chevrolet dealers have techs that have been trained on convertible top adjusting.

The early SS convertibles had more than their share of top issues for a whole variety of reasons, but by the time the ZL1 verts came out, all the issues were pretty much gone.

I had a 2011 vert that did get the top replaced due to minor rubbing, then I traded it in on a ZL1 vert when I heard they were coming out. I've had my ZL1 for 3 1/2 years with ZERO top issues.

hawk02 · 04-17-2016, 11:59 PM

Prior to my ZL1 convertible, I owned 2011 and 2012 2SS convertibles. I noticed right away that the top on my ZL1 sat a little higher in the well then the previous two model years. It wasn't a dramatic difference but one that was definitely noticeable. Even with it sitting higher, I've never had a problem getting the tonneau cover on. I even place a folded towel over the top before installing the cover.

Here's photo I took back in Sept of '13 of my top folded in the well. Does your's sit higher than this? Post a photo for comparison.

meSSohappy · 04-18-2016, 11:10 AM

Thanks for the replies. My top sits as yours does. The car is brand new and their is a bulletin from GM stating that this is normal. my 2011 top had zero issues and looked much better in the well than this one. Just a little disappointed that it doesn't go down further. Is there any concern about the wind getting under the top and stretching the fabric over time?

will post a pic later.

hawk02 · 04-18-2016, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meSSohappy

Thanks for the replies. My top sits as yours does. The car is brand new and their is a bulletin from GM stating that this is normal. my 2011 top had zero issues and looked much better in the well than this one. Just a little disappointed that it doesn't go down further. Is there any concern about the wind getting under the top and stretching the fabric over time?

will post a pic later.

From what I understand, it's air entering around the side rails that causes the top to flap up and down and not necessarily air coming in over the rear seat.

I've always had a concern about the top flapping in the wind and the long term affects on fabric durability. That's why when the top goes down, I always put the tonneau cover on. Did this with my previous two 5th gen convertibles. Did have some rub marks but no other issues with those tops. My ZL1 top has been problem free for the 3+ years of ownership. I'm guessing I've probably cycled the top more than 500 times during that time.

04-17-2016, 04:59 PM	#1
meSSohappy Drives: 2018 ZL1 A10 Join Date: May 2012 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 1,374	ZL1 verts Is there a thread specific to ZL1 verts? My top doesn't recline as well as my 2011 ssrs. Dealer says this is normal and there is a bulletin about it, yet I was not informed when buying it. I actually have to push the side arms down for the last 2-3 inches to install the tonneau cover.....BS I say !!! __________________ DAVENPORT STAGE 2 PLUS - 2" ARH ceramic coated headers - 3" ARH catless exhaust - Stock NPP mufflers - Kong ported SC - Katech 103 ported TB - Rotofab 5" Big gulp CAI - 22.5% lower pulley - ATI Harmonic balancer - Cordes SC expansion tank - MSD hi temp ignition wires - Koolsox spark plug insulators - custom tunes - 660hp/725tq pump - 713hp/763tq race

04-17-2016, 11:59 PM	#3
hawk02 Coupe Newbie Drives: '23 CT5-V BW, '21 Corvette HTC Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 3,439 View My Garage	Prior to my ZL1 convertible, I owned 2011 and 2012 2SS convertibles. I noticed right away that the top on my ZL1 sat a little higher in the well then the previous two model years. It wasn't a dramatic difference but one that was definitely noticeable. Even with it sitting higher, I've never had a problem getting the tonneau cover on. I even place a folded towel over the top before installing the cover. Here's photo I took back in Sept of '13 of my top folded in the well. Does your's sit higher than this? Post a photo for comparison. Attached Images __________________

04-18-2016, 11:10 AM	#4
meSSohappy Drives: 2018 ZL1 A10 Join Date: May 2012 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 1,374	Thanks for the replies. My top sits as yours does. The car is brand new and their is a bulletin from GM stating that this is normal. my 2011 top had zero issues and looked much better in the well than this one. Just a little disappointed that it doesn't go down further. Is there any concern about the wind getting under the top and stretching the fabric over time? will post a pic later. __________________ DAVENPORT STAGE 2 PLUS - 2" ARH ceramic coated headers - 3" ARH catless exhaust - Stock NPP mufflers - Kong ported SC - Katech 103 ported TB - Rotofab 5" Big gulp CAI - 22.5% lower pulley - ATI Harmonic balancer - Cordes SC expansion tank - MSD hi temp ignition wires - Koolsox spark plug insulators - custom tunes - 660hp/725tq pump - 713hp/763tq race

04-17-2016, 05:26 PM	#2
HDRDTD Drives: 2013 Triple Black ZL1 Vert M6 ECF Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Trenton, Michigan Posts: 7,046	First, I'd ask if your Camaro is brand new. If it's brand new, You might give it a few months to see if the situation improves as the top has a chance to go up and down a while and the fabric stretches and the top relaxes a bit. Yes the top should go all the way down. But, if it still doesn't go all the way down, the top may have to be adjusted a bit. The problem is finding someone qualified to make the adjustment. There's a fine balance between the top being tight enough to eliminate wrinkles and rub without it being so tight the rear bow collapses. Not many Chevrolet dealers have techs that have been trained on convertible top adjusting. The early SS convertibles had more than their share of top issues for a whole variety of reasons, but by the time the ZL1 verts came out, all the issues were pretty much gone. I had a 2011 vert that did get the top replaced due to minor rubbing, then I traded it in on a ZL1 vert when I heard they were coming out. I've had my ZL1 for 3 1/2 years with ZERO top issues.