C1 Harware Question

[Frank Rossi]

1962 Hardware question. Question 1 The truck latch (3 bolts) on the car have a R inside of an O. The judging manual states should have a "U". What I got from Paragon has "TR". Question 2 The two bolts that hold the hood support to the hood have a "TR" also from Paragon the judging manual states a dished bolt. What is correct and who sells the correct hardware?

Thanks

[Terry D.]

Re: C1 Harware Question

Frank

First let me say that Paragon or Corvette Central or any of the other vendors sell "reproduction parts". They fit but they are not always the exact part you need if you are going for points. You will learn like the rest of us to ask lots of questions and then hope you get the right part. As for correctness, if you are looking to Top Flight in this organization, than you need to get what the manual says. Most of us are in agreement that the manual is not always correct, but it is what your car will be judged by. You have to realize that we are trying to make exact copies of cars that are over 30-40 years old. The car makers back then did not keep as good of records as they do today. Also if they ran out of a certain bolt or part they did not shut the assembly down, they used what ever was available in the plant till they got a new shipment of bolts or whatever they were out of.
As to where to get the correct hardware, again you ask lots of questions, go to lots of swap meets, car shows, message boards like this and sooner or later you will find what you need. That's part of the hobby. If every vendor sold the "exact" part, how hard would it be to have an all original car?
Terry

[Mike E.]

Re: C1 Harware Question

Who do you listen to--someone who has a vested interest in selling you parts and making money off of you, or a group of people who have an interest in most accurately indicating how many documented, original cars have been configured?
This is not pointed to you Frank, but to anyone---if someone can't figure out the answer to that question, they shouldn't be trying to restore a car.

[Chris H.]

Re: C1 Harware Question

Mike the guy is new here! He does not know about this stuff like you and others have helped me over the last few years.

Frank, seems like most correct fastners for the C1's are not available. Paragon and others supply them but only tool up what they feel they can sell profitably. If a correct fastener has only one usage, say the hood support, then they would never be able to sell enough to make money. Therefore they offer a fastener that is the proper thread and maybe comes close to length and has the most used marking. Seems like many of them are TR so that is what they offer. If you can you should reuse the fastener that you have (assuming it is the correct one) and get it replated if needed.

I do have U marks on the trunk bolts so now I know there is one area that I do not need to worry about when I get to the trunk.

My hood support bolts are dished with an E. Not sure if they are original but they are the flanged head type which looks correct.

if you need to see a bunch of pics of a my 62 check out

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewalbum.html?alb=0

use chenige as password and user id if needed. I am doing a Sloooooww restoration while keeping the vehicle as drivable as possible.

Chris

[Frank Rossi]

Re: C1 Harware Question

I appreciate all of the input. You read what is in the judging manual and what get recorded on the judging sheets and it appears that is the authority. The hardware looks to be original and maybe was the day the car was built. I have not been able to find a manual with that kind of detail. I have the assembly manual but it is not that specific.

Thanks Frank

[Chris H.]

Re: C1 Harware Question

the only manual close to that detail is the Judging guide which is not infallible. If you have soemthing that does look original but does not agree with the JGM ask here first before you change it.

there are a few here working on fastener guides. It should be helpful!