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I have stripped the mounting bolts on the passenger side. Well, one was already stripped the other is starting to soften now as well. Any suggestions on how to solve this problem. I don't seem to be able to remove the S plate that has the threaded holes to replace it. Short of using bigger bolts is there a better solution to this issue?
B pillar mounting holes for the conv. top.
B pillar Mounting holes for the conv. top.
Last edited by Beltran; May 21, 2019 at 09:34 PM.
Reason: fixed photo
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
you could drill and use a time sert. They are solid versus wound wire like a helicoil. very pricey but maybe your best bet if you want to use the same bolt
My '72 driver side, I cut a hole midpoint on the door latch surface, allowing access to that hollow area where the bolts were placed.....removed the old nut/mounts, and made a plate of 1/4 inch steel and two threaded holes to attach the bolts holding the top through allowed for the positioning adjustments.....
covered my square hole in the door jamb with a piece of aluminum, glued in position.....
I'm afraid I am not enough of a mechanic or machinist to know how to make these work but having a convertible I sure may need to learn one day.
Any chance you found a U-Tube video or some other instruction to assist a guy like me that is willing to learn but unfamiliar with the process?
Thank you and glad you told us and found the solution.
Best regards,
David Howard
AllVettes4Me
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
They are just like using a helicoil. There is a second bit to chamfer the hole to to get the top of the insert flush with the metal surface. If I do mine I'll take a few pics. I know I have one that is close to stripped.
I did not use the chamfer bit. Could not get it in there without making the hole through the B-pillar huge. But it didn;t need to be exactly flush. it worked excellent without that step.
4 step process. Really quite simple. biggest challenge I had was that I did not have the bits that fit the tap, and then the tool to insert the 'insert'. These were the square ended tools. I had to improvise with slightly oversize sockets and an 8mm crescent wrench.
Convertible top mount issue
