Make-do luggage rack parts?
#1
Le Mans Master
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Make-do luggage rack parts?
Should I substitute the rubber washers with plain S/S washers or just try to get 6 of these in S/S?
Has anyone done this and found a good substitute? How necessary is that raised indent?
Thank you
Has anyone done this and found a good substitute? How necessary is that raised indent?
Thank you
#2
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Mine came with a black plastic version of those you show which and no steel or stainless top. I found some stainless "fender" washers with the correct center hole (1/4 or 5/16 I don't recall) and had some thin rubber washers with the same O/D as the stainless and oddly enough the same thickness as the well-nut that sticks out and pretty much the same I/D as the well-nut flange O/D so they center up and make a flat surface for the stainless washer to rest on.
Missing the bump on the washer doesn't seem to have any impact (been on for years and off several times for various reasons) as the standoffs can't rotate and since the center is the correct size it can't slide off position
At least not for me and I've had the t-roofs on there numerous times so they've had use
M
Missing the bump on the washer doesn't seem to have any impact (been on for years and off several times for various reasons) as the standoffs can't rotate and since the center is the correct size it can't slide off position
At least not for me and I've had the t-roofs on there numerous times so they've had use
M
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cor66vette (01-27-2019)
#3
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not the best image but you can see them a little
M
M
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cor66vette (01-27-2019)
#5
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cor66vette (01-28-2019)
#6
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You pretty much have to use the rubber washers under the stainless washers, I'm not sure where the plastic "washers" that came with my rack were supposed to go but they wouldn't clear the well-nut heads so they'd sit on top and look extra strange
M
M
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cor66vette (01-28-2019)
#7
Team Owner
You need to have something keeping the vertical pieces centered on those washers. AND you need to have rubber washers under the SS washers...so that the paint doesn't get shaved away from vibration/heat-cool, etc. Surely someone has a set of the correct washers left over from when they threw the rack away. You find them and other stock luggage rack parts at most Corvette swap meets.
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cor66vette (01-28-2019)
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cor66vette (01-28-2019)
#9
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So the plastic washers (with the raised ident) don't get used. Can the rubber washers get "squished" enough to end up flat under the SS washer? Is that about right?
#10
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This is further to my holes-in-the-washer thought ...
I found 2 pics on Google of the rack mounting hardware, each showing a different type of rubber washer.
Note the different size hole diameters ...
What gives?
I found 2 pics on Google of the rack mounting hardware, each showing a different type of rubber washer.
Note the different size hole diameters ...
What gives?
#11
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Here's what mine look like
I don't think you could "squish" the rubber enough without damaging something
The washers I found look like this
The stainless washer is slightly bigger (I was going to turn them down slightly but didn't bother and it sort of hides the rubber a bit) This isn't the same washer I/D as what I used but the O/D is the same
The plastic washer with the raised bump I can't see how to use without it showing so I didn't use them
There's nothing holding the bottom from moving around but mine have only been on for 10 or so years without moving but maybe I'm just lucky
M
I don't think you could "squish" the rubber enough without damaging something
The washers I found look like this
The stainless washer is slightly bigger (I was going to turn them down slightly but didn't bother and it sort of hides the rubber a bit) This isn't the same washer I/D as what I used but the O/D is the same
The plastic washer with the raised bump I can't see how to use without it showing so I didn't use them
There's nothing holding the bottom from moving around but mine have only been on for 10 or so years without moving but maybe I'm just lucky
M
Last edited by Mooser; 01-28-2019 at 08:10 PM.
#12
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Thank you, Mooser, for those photos. They answered a few questions I had.
The rubber washers in your pics are just what I thought you used, as the holes have to be wider that the width of the wellnut heads so all lay flush on top of the fiberglass and under the SS washer. Looks like I need rubber washers with larger holes, and SS washers, or as 7T1 suggests, the real thing.
The rubber washers in your pics are just what I thought you used, as the holes have to be wider that the width of the wellnut heads so all lay flush on top of the fiberglass and under the SS washer. Looks like I need rubber washers with larger holes, and SS washers, or as 7T1 suggests, the real thing.
Last edited by cor66vette; 01-28-2019 at 09:13 PM.
#13
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Check with Corvette Fasteners they have the rubber washers
http://www.corvettefasteners.com/cat...eatured&page=2
http://www.corvettefasteners.com/cat...eatured&page=2
Thanks for that. Bookmarked the link
#14
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You need to have something keeping the vertical pieces centered on those washers. AND you need to have rubber washers under the SS washers...so that the paint doesn't get shaved away from vibration/heat-cool, etc. Surely someone has a set of the correct washers left over from when they threw the rack away. You find them and other stock luggage rack parts at most Corvette swap meets.
My suspicions lead me to believe you do not take a liking to luggage racks.
#15
Team Owner
No. Actually I like the rack on some C3 configurations: Coupes with dark colored paint. As you can see in my avatar, I have a Bridgehampton Blue coupe; I also have a luggage rack...which I use on occasion. I don't like the rack on 1974 and later C3's, convertibles nor on many light-colored cars. That's just my preference.
In other words, the chrome-colored rack looks good on cars that "show their chrome".
Hmmmm.... Maybe you can't see it in my avatar...
In other words, the chrome-colored rack looks good on cars that "show their chrome".
Hmmmm.... Maybe you can't see it in my avatar...
Last edited by 7T1vette; 01-29-2019 at 10:00 AM.
#16
Le Mans Master
Check with Corvette Fasteners they have the rubber washers
http://www.corvettefasteners.com/cat...eatured&page=2
http://www.corvettefasteners.com/cat...eatured&page=2
#18
Team Owner
No problem. My 'context' was that LOTS of new C3 buyers get a car with the rack; and that seems to be the first thing they do--get rid of the rack.
#20
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@mooser: I tried SS washers like in your photo, but the hole in the washer is a tad larger than the sleeve, and a slight void is apparent at the base of the sleeve. The outside diameter fits nicely, like yours. The washers that came with the rack are black plastic not SS, (I wish I knew that prior to purchase, but oh well) and the holes in the rubber washers are not wide enough to clear the wellnut heads. I can widen the holes in the rubber washers easily enough, I just need SS washers with holes wide enough. I've tried a few hardware stores and the washers are identical to each other, which leads me to ask if any of what I'm saying sounds familiar to you when you mounted your rack, being there doesn't seem to be that void in yours, and it looks like it's a proper fit. Thanks