Convertible latch pins/bolts
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Convertible latch pins/bolts
This one will be tough to describe without pictures, so bare with me...
For the 4th time today, I put the top down on my '69, drove to work, and went to put the top back up only to find that a convertible top latch pin (bolt?) had fallen out and was lost somewhere in the car. I am referring to the adjustable screw-in piece that serves as the contact point between the latch assembly on the top and the winshield frame. It looks like a little bolt that scews in to the latch. The two outer ones (left and right side latches) are so loose that they apparently vibrate out of the latch while I am driving with the top down. They then bounce around and usually end up somewhere not visible or easy to get to like under the seat.
Is there any way to fix this? Should I put some threadlock on the bolts? Time to replace the latches?
Related question #2: Was there some sort of rubber insert in those bolts or is the contact between the latches and the windshield frame metal on metal?
Sorry for the boring question...
For the 4th time today, I put the top down on my '69, drove to work, and went to put the top back up only to find that a convertible top latch pin (bolt?) had fallen out and was lost somewhere in the car. I am referring to the adjustable screw-in piece that serves as the contact point between the latch assembly on the top and the winshield frame. It looks like a little bolt that scews in to the latch. The two outer ones (left and right side latches) are so loose that they apparently vibrate out of the latch while I am driving with the top down. They then bounce around and usually end up somewhere not visible or easy to get to like under the seat.
Is there any way to fix this? Should I put some threadlock on the bolts? Time to replace the latches?
Related question #2: Was there some sort of rubber insert in those bolts or is the contact between the latches and the windshield frame metal on metal?
Sorry for the boring question...
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 1
From: Algonac Michigan
The threaded part of the adj. bolt did have did have some rubberized coating on them to keep them in place,and yes there should be a rubber top on each bolt so the header trim won't get scratched up.
Later,
Sly
Ecklers has them about $4.00 ea.
Later,
Sly
Ecklers has them about $4.00 ea.
Last edited by sly vette; Apr 6, 2006 at 01:10 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
Thread lock would help. Original for 69 would be metal on metal I 'm pretty sure, but most replacements have rubber tips. Try the rubber tipped ones, and you may be able to screw them in a bit farther and still get a good lock when the top is up. New screws I have seen come with some kind of dry thread lock on them.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
I am definitely interested in getting the rubber tipped ones since the metal on metal makes some awful noise when I hit a severe bump in the road.
I did some searches on ecklers, but was not able to find replacements. What is the "official" name for them? Where did you find the replacements? Did you buy them individually or did you have to buy the whole latch assembly?
Thanks for the info!
I did some searches on ecklers, but was not able to find replacements. What is the "official" name for them? Where did you find the replacements? Did you buy them individually or did you have to buy the whole latch assembly?
Thanks for the info!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
