I just recently bought a 1989 convertible I would like to in the future take it through flight judging. my question is for all you C4 NCRS guys is how to tell if a convertible top is original to the car?

I'll check tonight if I have a chance.

If you plan on getting really serious about NCRS, a guide might be a wise investment:

http://www.ncrs.org/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_17

Did you ever find out how to tell the date codes on the convertible tops?

Did you look at the back window? There should be a date stamp in it.

the only thing that looks like a date code is F-OO, would that be a year 2000? date?

I've seen pictures from an 89 that had an actual month and year stamped (heat pressed?) into the plastic window in the corner.

I used to "worry" about keeping my Vette "correct" for awhile when I purchased it but then realized> who cares what the NCRS thinks? As a Museum Professional I realized the NCRS is a bunch of rank amatures pretending to be professionals. It's like some sort of "old boys club" where they confer upon themselves the title of "expert" and pretend to know all like the Great and Powerfull Oz> Just dont look behind the curtain to see how wrong they can be
;-)
I've noticed issues with their judging guide for the 1984 I bought years ago based mainly on their method of compilation and my own personal observations. Simple things like the auto shift indicator they missed are inexcusable. (Earlier Autos have PRD321 rather than later marked with the Overdrive D that are sold by major retailers as "replacements").Maybe they have made corrections since but I'm not gonna shell out more $$ for their latest guide. ;-) I recall getting the lame original survey before the guide was even issued(which was compiled by some guy with an 86 in NJ).
Many unique differences they missed in the guide are things well documented in GM Tech Service Bulletins (like hatch gas-shock length)or were mentioned in articles by well known Vette gurus like Gorden Killebrew that I've read over the years.
So, who really cares what some organisation that IS wrong says is "right"?

Thank you for your foolish answer on a thread that's over a year old.

Well at my first chapter meet I made second flight.

Quote:

Not bad for the first time, did you discuss the deductions with the judges?

Yes, I lost most of points for bulbs that burnt out an for lights that I did not even know that were on the car not working.

The little light under the spare was a nice surprise lol, and one of my side marker lights went out. I drive my car and on the way over it might have gone out. I had no idea that the car had that little light on it, and of course it was out. I had fun and learned a lot about my car. And should be able to get it to top flight after the fixes from my judging sheets.

Speaking to me Bill H?

I dont get here much but when I do I've noticed almost all these Restoration threads are OLD with hardly any new posts. So what is your point about post age?
Are people now not allowed to look at year old topics and post on them? Why not just remove every page after page 1?

Wouldnt the goal of this ENTIRE Restoration section be to exchange knowledge to Restore your Vette to it's original condition if you so choose? Is the goal to do so haphazardly or to OEM as purchased condition?

If people are restoring by NCRS standards they NEED to KNOW the NCRS is frequently WRONG!
Should I just keep silent and let people follow the wrong path? Should I let them throw out an old valuable part because the NCRS says its "wrong" because the NCRS are too stupid to realized some parts are different?

My point is a valid point> The self appointed NCRS "experts" really aren't judging ACCURATELY and not even using commonly available Technical Service Bulletins for reference in compiling judging manuals. So who is to say what NCRS says actually IS EVER correct then?

My main advice to the OP is that he and everyone else should just drive his Vette and enjoy it instead of beating himself up seeking approval from a small group at the NCRS when they frequently are WRONG anyway!

NCRS could and is wrong some times, it is like climbing a mountain what is the point. Because its there, same as going for a NCRS award because its the mountain of the corvette restoration world that few people understand.

Quote:

Yep, being wrong is a learning experience. The Technical Info & Judging Manuals can have errors, they're put together by volunteers after all. And they get revised but only after extreme effort by more volunteers and still can have errors. But the amount of info in them is phenomenal.

And the amount of info that NCRS handed over to the National Corvette Museum is mind boggling.

Quote:

Yes, very few. Well said.

Good luck with your Top Flight goal.