Elemental

After some time spent trying to loosen the convertible top frame, it will need to be disassembled completely and rebuilt with new tubular rivets. These rivets are what allows the frame to be put up and then collapsed. The old ones have rusted making the entire assembly too stiff to be used.

The original rivets are being ground away and pressed out to allow for them to be replaced. The reproduction rivets included in the kit that arrived today are nearly identical to the originals so reassembly should be pretty straightforward.

The kit also includes a collection of wave washers, nylon washers and nylon bushings that exactly duplicates what was used when this top frame was new so it should appear as it did originally as well. 

It's a good thing given how much this relatively small bag of rivets and washers cost.

A rivet set has been ordered to allow the rivets to be mushroomed with an air chisel. It is supposed to be here in a week.

Four of the five bows have been removed, media-blasted, treated for rust and primed with epoxy primer.

A set of tack strips, which are pieces of fiberboard that slip onto these bows so staples can be driven into them to hold the top parts, and felt pads will be ordered and installed after this is reassembled and painted matte black.