Starting a C1 in cold weather

[Valeria H.]

Re: Starting a C1 in cold weather

Roy, Your Carter engine heater looks like a heating pad. I have several at home. Is there any difference? You are right, it sounds like an eccentric modality to get the engine to turn over but if it help,well...

Thanks for all your great advise. I did get the car home safely without ripping the hardtop off the deck lid and ordered a new clamp down. I just hope that the deck lid attachments were not placed a smidgen back too far on the deck lid as the hardtop is a newly restored one from proteam. If this is the case and there is too much tension on that front clamp can anyone suggest a viable method to deal with this beside advancing the deck attachment and trying to get the body filled in?
Valeria

[Roy B.]

Re: Starting a C1 in cold weather

Roy, Your Carter engine heater looks like a heating pad. I have several at home. Is there any difference? You are right, it sounds like an eccentric modality to get the engine to turn over but if it help,well...

Thanks for all your great advise. I did get the car home safely without ripping the hardtop off the deck lid and ordered a new clamp down. I just hope that the deck lid attachments were not placed a smidgen back too far on the deck lid as the hardtop is a newly restored one from proteam. If this is the case and there is too much tension on that front clamp can anyone suggest a viable method to deal with this beside advancing the deck attachment and trying to get the body filled in?
Valeria

The engine heater is GM accessory for 50's "Carter" , the battery plate sets under the battery to keep it warm =a later 60's accessory , good to hear you made it back home OK ,when you receive the new repro hard top latch be sure it's for a hard top and not a soft top (they are designed different and will brake) I wrote about that many many years ago!!

[Jerry W.]

Re: Starting a C1 in cold weather

Valeria....the mtg plate for the latch and the latch itself has serrated notches where they mate which allows adjustment to the desired tightness.....I sent you a email showing this....hope this adjustment will provide enough movement

[Valeria H.]

Re: Starting a C1 in cold weather

Jerry, Thanks for the pics. Unfortunately I took the broken latch off tonight. It appears that the post from the hardtop is listing to the outer edge of the hole it should fit into. I thought it was a front to back problem but it is not.

I'll try to work on it Wed night (basketball - Bobcats tomorrow night), if I receive the new latch by then and unlatch everything but my problem area and start from there. Thanks for the help.
Valeria

[Stewart A.]

Re: Starting a C1 in cold weather

Oh no not the hard top clip letting go. That is a pain in the arse !!! I fixed a gummy one on mine a few months ago. It used to unclip over most bumps. I'm sure I read somewhere that a guy drove his C1 at 60 and the clips popped and the top flew off destroying the hardtop and deck lid !!! It's ok if it's the drivers side you can keep your hand on the clip but the passenger side is a no no ! Stewy

[Valeria H.]

Re: Starting a C1 in cold weather

Stewy, fortunately for me it was the driver's side clamp that broke. When it first broke I didn't think it would be an issue until it lifted an inch off of car on the driver's side. I was able to hold it down somewhat after that but wasn't sure I'd be able to handle it until I got the car home. I was going about 70 mph and it was a windy day. I envisioned the top and deck lid both being ripped off. When the new clamp arrives I may need some advise about placing and adjusting the front clamps.
Valeria

[Stewart A.]

Re: Starting a C1 in cold weather

If me "Bubba" can put one on I'm sure you can do it with your eyes shut. Stewy

[Valeria H.]

Re: Starting a C1 in cold weather

Thanks to all for your advise on the cold weather starts and also on the hardtop clamp impromptu issue which reared it's ugly head. The replacement clamp arrived today. After unfastening all the attachment areas and some manipulation of the hardtop I was able to successful clamp down the culprit clamp with relative ease and so on down the line with a few jiggles. I managed to order the "hardtop" clamp and not the soft top one. I hope this holds.

Thanks again to all for your suggestions and pictures.
Stewy, you are so right about the wind tearing thru the cracks esp with elevated speed. I don't think the tops were made to fit all that well.
Valeria

[Stewart A.]

Re: Starting a C1 in cold weather

It would of been nice to see Chev make the hard top with nicer rubbers and cushions for clamping and sound proofing but that all adds to the weight which it's heavy enough. I tried to get the lid off by myself one day by using my back to carry the lid not recommended. Maybe the new Vettes could benefit from Carbon Fiber bits, that stuff is really light and strong (if made properly). Stewy