can someone provide a dimension for the center bolt hole in the convertible top cover for the hartop hold down sleeve/bushing. Say from the leading edge of the cover to the center of the hle or the edge of the hole.
Thanks
Don
Thanks
Don
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Re: C1 hardtop hold down bolt hole
Best way to do that is to mount the top and then drill the hole. I'm not sure how GM did it, but there are original tops that fit very poorly on an originally-hardtop-equipped car, becausae it's not the top that came on the car from the factory. -
Re: C1 hardtop hold down bolt hole
Since there IS a minor degree of adjustment latitude between the convertible rear deck lid and the mounting hinges, I wouldn't suggest you place your drill hole based on someone else's measurement. The prefered method is to do it the way the factory did...
Lightly mount the SPECIFIC hardtop you're going to install on the car and use its existing mounting clip holes as a template to mark the deck lid for drilling. That way you're working the real McCoy item(s)...Comment
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Re: C1 hardtop hold down bolt hole
The plant used an off-line fixture that clamped to the lid (before the lid was installed on the body) that had drill bushings in it to drill the hardtop mounting holes and the guide holes for cutting out the soft top latch holes. That's why the holes in the brackets on the hardtop are slotted and/or oversize for the bolts, and the bolts have integral flat washers formed on the heads.Comment
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Hum....
I note that midyear (C2) AIM books call out what appears to be a pre-drilled rear deck lid as a functional sub-assy for the C07 option and there's no discussion of locating and drilling the deck lid for mounting hole(s). But, I'm not sure you're right about the off-line fixture for C1 Corvettes, John. Here's where I was coming from...
Pick a year, I happened to grab a 1961 AIM for reference. I flip to the hardtop section, UPC 419, and see the deck lid drilling operation called out on sheet 3 in View A with the following text:
"NOTE: Using assembled hard top as template locate hole 31/64 +0/-1/64 to align with centerline of hole in bracket [9] - 2 places in compartment lid."
Sure sound to me like they were using the actual finished assy hardtop as a functional template for locating and drilling the mating deck lid holes... Anyway, that's always the way we've done it at our shop when a given customer wants to add a hardtop to his existing non-HT car!Comment
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Re: C1 hardtop hold down bolt hole
Tony and others, excellent responces. Of course I new that would be the best method but my h/top is in bad shape needing restoration and new w/strips. At some point in this cars history the center bolt was fiberglassed over, the two side bushing holes and bushings were still in place. After a repaint and several hot sunny shows, I am finding that a witness mark of the original hole can be seen in the paint if looked at at the right angle. I thought if I installed the bushing This mark wouldn't be seen and wouldn't bother me as much, and I could restore the top at a later date if I chose to do so. I don't use the hardtop and don't think I ever will.
DonComment
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