Frozen Convertable Frame

[JDoug]

Hi All.. I am new to this forum.. I have a '57 Fairlane Convert and have been told that often those sitting around have joints in the frame freeze up. Trying to loosen can sometimes break them..  Mine has been sitting in a garage for 44 years.. Super straight, top is in shreds..  I am wanting to see if the top frame is froze but not sure what method to do and I sure don't want to break it.. any suggestions would be most welcome..

Thanks, JDoug

[Lgcustom]

Welcome to the forum! Though I'm not one of the experts on convertibles, since the top is in shreds, the first thing I would do is get penetrating oil into every joint you can find. Then let it soak a few days and carefully try to move each joint. The experts will chime in soon hopefully. I wish you success.

[geraldchainsaw]

i have some experience so i'll tell you what i know.    2 years ago i broke my conv  frame and had to have it welded.    its possible some of the joints could be stuck,  but i would check the cylinders first,  mine the mounting bracket was broke,  lots of things can go wrong,  could be a electrical switch,  stuck joints or bad cylinders or busted brackets,  have someone with u when u do try to figuer it out,  of course have the back seat out,  it takes alot to break the frame,  but it is hydraulic

[59meteor]

I am certainly no expert in convertible tops, but as far as freeing up stuck fasteners or seized metal items, I have yet to find any commercial penetrant that works as good as brake fluid. As a automotive dealership mechanic, it seemed that every 3 or 4 Oxogen Sensors that we needed to replace would unthread 1/2 turn or so, and then lock up solidly, refusing to go back in as well. Even trying a variety of brand name penetrating oils or heat from a torch, often resulting in badly damaged threads in the exhaust manifold or exhaust pipe. After discovering that brake fluid makes a great lube, we have never had a stuck O2 sensor damage any threads since. It has also worked great on seized brake caliper slides, frozen linkages, and almost anything else we tried it on. I keep a plastic syringe in my toolbox, which is great for directing the brake fluid into tough to reach areas. Might be worth a try.

[Ray]

ditto on the brake fluid idea. soft top frames are dissimilar metals, steel pins, base metal folding arms, and some sheet metal parts. the one I am currently working on I have had to use light acid and oil based products alternately. good luck.

[SkylinerRon]

Don't drip brake fluid on anything you want to keep.
I use PBBlaster where I have to spray and ATF/Acetone mix on anything I can soak.
Spray the joints several times (days apart).
You might try unhooking the top cylinders and lower the top by hand.

Goodluck,

Ron.