68 hardtop from hell!!!!!!!
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,290
Likes: 357
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
68 hardtop from hell!!!!!!!
Guys, I could use some help before I lose all my hair!
I have a late (May) 68 vert. I just found out I have the 3/8 threaded holes for the convertible top rear bow, as well as the hardtop rear bows. I just blew 40$ on the 1/4 inch ones only to find out this was for an early 68 ONLY (my fault). I have the 3/8 NOS "studs", not the studs w/ the cone shape on one end, I mean the straight studs threaded on each end. Problem: they will not fit down the receiver in the deck..the spring in the receiver is in the way. Does this mean the straight studs are ONLY for 69 and up, due to the fact I hear GM moved the spring on later cars? Do I need to use the 3/8 (later 68) threaded / cone end studs (same ones for the vert top) for the removable hardtop? In other words, are the straight studs useless on a 68 deck receiver due to the placement of the spring in the deck receiver?
This hardtop was just restored after "airlifting' off my car on I-95 in February of 1985.......If anyone wants some NOS rear studs (threaded on both sides), let me know......thanks, john
I have a late (May) 68 vert. I just found out I have the 3/8 threaded holes for the convertible top rear bow, as well as the hardtop rear bows. I just blew 40$ on the 1/4 inch ones only to find out this was for an early 68 ONLY (my fault). I have the 3/8 NOS "studs", not the studs w/ the cone shape on one end, I mean the straight studs threaded on each end. Problem: they will not fit down the receiver in the deck..the spring in the receiver is in the way. Does this mean the straight studs are ONLY for 69 and up, due to the fact I hear GM moved the spring on later cars? Do I need to use the 3/8 (later 68) threaded / cone end studs (same ones for the vert top) for the removable hardtop? In other words, are the straight studs useless on a 68 deck receiver due to the placement of the spring in the deck receiver?
This hardtop was just restored after "airlifting' off my car on I-95 in February of 1985.......If anyone wants some NOS rear studs (threaded on both sides), let me know......thanks, john
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
I just looked at my rear decklid and I don't understand what spring is getting in the way of the stud. Are they already attached to the hardtop or have you tried inserting the studs into the receiver by themselves? Have you tried inserting the studs with the decklid open, just to see if they will go in? Have you tried inserting the studs while pulling the release lever that will open up the receiver?
I do believe that studs were the factory attaching hardware, but honestly I don't see how you can use studs with the soft top in place. There is very little clearance under the deck before a stud would hit the soft top. Not to mention the difficulty of reaching under there to put a nut on the stud. Much easier to just use a pin, or even a standard hardware store bolt. I have actually used hardware store bolts. You have to pull the release lever to let them drop in (unlike the sharp headed pins that will just drop through on their own) but they work.
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,290
Likes: 357
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
I just looked at my rear decklid and I don't understand what spring is getting in the way of the stud. Are they already attached to the hardtop or have you tried inserting the studs into the receiver by themselves? Have you tried inserting the studs with the decklid open, just to see if they will go in? Have you tried inserting the studs while pulling the release lever that will open up the receiver?
I do believe that studs were the factory attaching hardware, but honestly I don't see how you can use studs with the soft top in place. There is very little clearance under the deck before a stud would hit the soft top. Not to mention the difficulty of reaching under there to put a nut on the stud. Much easier to just use a pin, or even a standard hardware store bolt. I have actually used hardware store bolts. You have to pull the release lever to let them drop in (unlike the sharp headed pins that will just drop through on their own) but they work.
I do believe that studs were the factory attaching hardware, but honestly I don't see how you can use studs with the soft top in place. There is very little clearance under the deck before a stud would hit the soft top. Not to mention the difficulty of reaching under there to put a nut on the stud. Much easier to just use a pin, or even a standard hardware store bolt. I have actually used hardware store bolts. You have to pull the release lever to let them drop in (unlike the sharp headed pins that will just drop through on their own) but they work.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
My 68 was a May or June car and had the skinny pins. The receivers looked like DZRicks. Paragon does not distinguish 68 from other years for this part in their catalog.
Last edited by 71rdster; Aug 5, 2007 at 12:43 PM. Reason: gram.
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,290
Likes: 357
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
mine must be the earlier recievers that i had heard rumor of. my car is a may car, which i've leaned was a transition month for some parts. my spring is in the center of the reciever, not on the side like this one. thanks for posting the pics! Take care, john