1960 Questions (not 1966)

[Joe Maulsby]

The 1960 AIM makes reference to the "Folding Top Assembly Chart," part no. 377064 and the gas tank compartment cover instructions Part no. 3742517. Who repros these labels? I did not see them in Corvette Central or Paragon catalogs, or overlooked them.

What is the purpose of the large, round grommet (one hole in grommet) that plugs a hole in the fiberglass gas tank cover, center front edge closest to cockpit?

[Ed Jennings]

Re: 1960 Questions (not 1966)

Cars produced with power folding tops had some extra holes and grommets in the panel behind the gas tank, but none that I am aware of on the gas tank cover itself. None of the 5 C1's that I have owned had this hole, at least that I can remember. An owner inspired modification??? Perhaps someone added a vent hose in an attempt to rid the cockpit of fuel fumes???

[Geoff C.]

[Mike Nelson]

Re: 1960 Questions (not 1966)

My '61 has a similar hole in the gas tank cover. I covered it since it seemed rather counter-productive to sealing the cover to keep gas fumes out of the cockpit. No one that I have asked seems to know it's purpose, either. My car was originally a power folding top car, but all of that was removed before I came into possesion of it.

[John H.]

Re: 1960 Questions (not 1966)

Those aren't labels - the top chart converted the color of the top ordered to a part number for the assembler to pick out of a rack (different color top assemblies carried different GM part numbers), and the fuel tank cover "instruction" was an internal process document in the plant describing how the sealer was to be applied and how the cover was to be installed. I think the hole and grommet are a previous owner-inspired alteration.

[Don H.]

Re: 1960 Questions (not 1966)

I have a '60 power top car and it seems like the hole you descibe is where the wiring for the deck lid switch comes out. I would check for sure but the hard top is presently on. Don H.

[Mike Nelson]

Re: 1960 Questions (not 1966)

According to Fig. 70 on page BODY 1-30 of manual ST-12, the hole is for the folding top cover safety switch wiring.

[John H.]

Re: 1960 Questions (not 1966)

"After further review".... I think you've got it. I've never had a power top car, and never paid any attention to their details; however, in the A.I.M., RPO 473, Sheet 4.00, right near the center of the page, it shows grommet #3708?31 near the front edge of the tank cover, with a harness going through it to the safety switch, and the adjacent note for "Tank Compartment Cover Instruction #3739164 most likely showed where to drill the hole on power top cars.

[John H.]

Re: 1960 Questions (not 1966) - Addendum

The A.I.M. reference in the above post is from the '57 manual - don't have later C1 manuals.

[Geoff C.]

Re: 1960 Questions (not 1966)

I have had a few power top cars and one tell tale piece of evidence are the 2 brackets shown in this picture. A clevis pin mounts them directly to the hydraulic cylinders for the bows. They are seldom removed from power top cars that have been gutted.

Geoffrey Coenen