2011 camaro assembly removal - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

huskerborn · 09-20-2019, 11:15 PM

Has anyone done a complete convertible frame assembly removal on a 2011? I am doing that now and I bought a complete top replacement from a car with 25k miles. It is from a 2012, they said 2010-2015. Anyway, I pulled my old one, put the new one in but the back is not back far enough.

There are two metal stops on the back of the top, one on each side, that are supposed to catch, but I am off by about 2 inches.. so the back of the assembly just pulls up instead of catching.

See my pictures.. I am just a tad scared I made an expensive mistake and a 2012 frame won't fit a 2011.

Sick to my stomach at the idea this may not fit my car.. that said I can reinstall my old one, but that would be a $600 mistake. Does anyone know if a 2012 frame will fit a 2011

huskerborn · 09-21-2019, 08:08 AM

Does anyone know if a 2012 assembly will fit on a 2011? What sucks is no dealer, except for one, has a guy that knows anything about these tops. That one guy is the only person in the whole region around Nebraska.

I did read that a person had there 2011 top replaced with a 2013, so that gives me hope this will work and that it just needs adjusted.

lemontwist · 09-21-2019, 09:04 AM

you never specified what frame it was.....i thought you were talking rear sub-frame.
now i see it's a convertible top frame. my wire has had 2 verts i had to work on the tops, NEVER again. i will not have a vert!!!!
good luck i hope you get it worked out.

huskerborn · 09-21-2019, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemontwist

you never specified what frame it was.....i thought you were talking rear sub-frame.
now i see it's a convertible top frame. my wire has had 2 vertsi had to work on the tops, NEVER again. i will not have a vert!!!!
good luck i hope you get it worked out.

OOPS, I can't believe I didn't specify it was a convert I was talking about. My bad, I have updated it.

I love the car and the convertible.. I am hoping this doesn't end up costing me my first born.. The fact that only one guy in my area is certified to work on these, is crazy.. and every upholstery place won't touch it.

huskerborn · 09-21-2019, 06:14 PM

here is a picture that depicts the location of the above pictures

huskerborn · 09-23-2019, 10:47 AM

I was finally able to talk to the mechanic and he said the 5th bow is bent. he also said the UAW is on strike and they can't get the part right now. I think I am going to take the one out of my old frame and use that.. he said they would do the swap for me.

I am relieved

huskerborn · 09-30-2019, 12:52 PM

I ended up taking mine to the dealer, they replaced my 5th bow for $350. UAW is on strike, so they couldn't get a new part. I used the 5th bow from my old top and all is better for me. I bought the whole thing, frame, top, everything, what I didn't know was that "new" top had a bent 5th bow. Still, $900 for the whole thing, in great condition, is worth it.

09-20-2019, 11:15 PM	#1
huskerborn Drives: 2011 Chevy Camaro Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Peru, NE Posts: 22	2011 camaro assembly removal Has anyone done a complete convertible frame assembly removal on a 2011? I am doing that now and I bought a complete top replacement from a car with 25k miles. It is from a 2012, they said 2010-2015. Anyway, I pulled my old one, put the new one in but the back is not back far enough. There are two metal stops on the back of the top, one on each side, that are supposed to catch, but I am off by about 2 inches.. so the back of the assembly just pulls up instead of catching. See my pictures.. I am just a tad scared I made an expensive mistake and a 2012 frame won't fit a 2011. Sick to my stomach at the idea this may not fit my car.. that said I can reinstall my old one, but that would be a $600 mistake. Does anyone know if a 2012 frame will fit a 2011 Attached Images Last edited by huskerborn; 09-21-2019 at 09:27 AM.

09-21-2019, 09:04 AM	#3
lemontwist Drives: 12 2SS/RS L99,11 2SS/RS LS3totaled Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: mooresville nc Posts: 1,048	you never specified what frame it was.....i thought you were talking rear sub-frame. now i see it's a convertible top frame. my wire has had 2 verts i had to work on the tops, NEVER again. i will not have a vert!!!! good luck i hope you get it worked out. Last edited by lemontwist; 09-21-2019 at 01:56 PM.

09-21-2019, 06:14 PM	#5
huskerborn Drives: 2011 Chevy Camaro Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Peru, NE Posts: 22	here is a picture that depicts the location of the above pictures Attached Images Last edited by huskerborn; 09-21-2019 at 06:55 PM.

09-21-2019, 08:08 AM	#2
huskerborn Drives: 2011 Chevy Camaro Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Peru, NE Posts: 22	Does anyone know if a 2012 assembly will fit on a 2011? What sucks is no dealer, except for one, has a guy that knows anything about these tops. That one guy is the only person in the whole region around Nebraska. I did read that a person had there 2011 top replaced with a 2013, so that gives me hope this will work and that it just needs adjusted.

09-23-2019, 10:47 AM	#6
huskerborn Drives: 2011 Chevy Camaro Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Peru, NE Posts: 22	I was finally able to talk to the mechanic and he said the 5th bow is bent. he also said the UAW is on strike and they can't get the part right now. I think I am going to take the one out of my old frame and use that.. he said they would do the swap for me. I am relieved

09-30-2019, 12:52 PM	#7
huskerborn Drives: 2011 Chevy Camaro Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Peru, NE Posts: 22	I ended up taking mine to the dealer, they replaced my 5th bow for $350. UAW is on strike, so they couldn't get a new part. I used the 5th bow from my old top and all is better for me. I bought the whole thing, frame, top, everything, what I didn't know was that "new" top had a bent 5th bow. Still, $900 for the whole thing, in great condition, is worth it.