Installing luggage rack
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 2
From: McCordsville Indiana
Installing luggage rack
I am getting ready to install a luggage rack on my 77 coupe,would appreciate any tips on installation outside of don't drill into the gas tank,this car did not come with one on so there are no existing holes,it is an 8 hole rack. Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,689
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From: Yucaipa CA
you won't go through the tank. (unless the 82's tank is in a different location then a 77 hahaha) If you need reference points of where the holes were originally let me know and I will check back of my 82 which has a 75 vert clip on it.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,689
Likes: 4
From: Yucaipa CA
think mine was a 8 hole rack, can't remember or maybe the fuel door relocation cover the other 2 holes. but this should give you the general idea of where the holes were originally. The clip was from a 75 if I remember correctly mine could have been a 6 hole rack as well. will look at the car later and see if 2 holes were just not visible in the picture.
Last edited by jeffp1167; May 1, 2011 at 10:00 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
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From: Port St Lucie Florida
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Thought this might be a good time to raise this again.....my 69 has a rack and when I re-paint (maybe next year, wife permitting LOL) I definitely plan to remove the rack. Personally don't like the look. What do you guys and gals think about racks?
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Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 206
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From: Barrie Ontario
Use the positioning that "'75" has shown on his yellow vette. Remember to make sure that the clearance for the gas lid is there because it is no more than 1/4 inch total!
Measure, then do it again to make sure. If you're afraid to go too far, use a piece of tape on the drill bit to measure the depth of no more than 1"".
Good luck, it is really very easy about 2 out of 10 for difficulty.
Domer
Measure, then do it again to make sure. If you're afraid to go too far, use a piece of tape on the drill bit to measure the depth of no more than 1"".
Good luck, it is really very easy about 2 out of 10 for difficulty.
Domer
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 6
From: Chester Virginia
Something else to learn...I did my stainless installation easily and put the 1/2" wellnuts supplied in, the rubber washers around them then the stainless washers over them with the small indentations in the center down. Placed the rack on towels then carefully put the stainless spacers in, the bolts in one by one then tightened. Great installation but later had a change of heart since there were no assembly instructions with mine and undid it, turned the stainless washer indentation up instead of down and retightened.
Big mistake. I ended up taking it apart yet again and putting the stainless washer dimple down. Why? that dimple holds the top of the wellnut still while your bolt goes into the nut at the bottom. Without it the hold and 1/2" diameter of the Wellnut od aren't tight enough and it tends to just spin and won't snug up at all well.
Retightened and now all is well. Small thing but very purposeful it seems to me.
Lance
Big mistake. I ended up taking it apart yet again and putting the stainless washer dimple down. Why? that dimple holds the top of the wellnut still while your bolt goes into the nut at the bottom. Without it the hold and 1/2" diameter of the Wellnut od aren't tight enough and it tends to just spin and won't snug up at all well.
Retightened and now all is well. Small thing but very purposeful it seems to me.
Lance
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,841
Likes: 3
From: Halifax, NS, Canada
Here is a copy of the original GM installation instructions for your rack. Note the back set of rack holes are drilled 4.14" in from bumper seam.
Last edited by Binnie77; Jul 3, 2011 at 11:08 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Center your rack on the rear deck. Mark the mounting hole locations. You can use the posted pics for reference, but your rack may be different from others.
With hole locations marked, ensure you can open the fuel door.
My advice is to use a hole saw for cutting the holes. It's easier to saw fiberglass than to drill through it.
FWIW: the 77 AIM will show the hole cuttng and mounting for the optional 77 V54 rack. Might not hurt to look at the diagrams.
With hole locations marked, ensure you can open the fuel door.
My advice is to use a hole saw for cutting the holes. It's easier to saw fiberglass than to drill through it.
FWIW: the 77 AIM will show the hole cuttng and mounting for the optional 77 V54 rack. Might not hurt to look at the diagrams.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 6
From: Chester Virginia
thanks for the sheet...interesting that it shows screws rather than bolts. Was this before Wellnuts were around? I kind of like the Wellnuts. I have it installed correctly now and have had the car up to just under three digits with luggage on it when I first put it on. Works fine.
Lance
Lance
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,841
Likes: 3
From: Halifax, NS, Canada
thanks for the sheet...interesting that it shows screws rather than bolts. Was this before Wellnuts were around? I kind of like the Wellnuts. I have it installed correctly now and have had the car up to just under three digits with luggage on it when I first put it on. Works fine.
Lance
Lance
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 6
From: Chester Virginia
luggage racks
Some of us think exactly the opposite of your views for some model years of our C-3's and think it actually adds to their looks.
It's a subjective thing. I personally love the C3 shapes but think the modern vette shapes are not at all attractive.
Functional, yes, very. Attractive as art, sculpture, appearance, not in the slightest.
Lots of C3's owned by lots of people just for the lines. Modern cars sure have better engineering so it must be the shape and appearance of them.
It's a subjective thing. I personally love the C3 shapes but think the modern vette shapes are not at all attractive.
Functional, yes, very. Attractive as art, sculpture, appearance, not in the slightest.
Lots of C3's owned by lots of people just for the lines. Modern cars sure have better engineering so it must be the shape and appearance of them.