C3 convertible door alignment pins?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
C3 convertible door alignment pins?
Converting my 77 C3 to a convertible. Are the door alignment pins required? I've seen convertibles with them and without. 1977 does have the steel beam in the doors. What issues would I have if I don't add them? Parts aren't cheap and it's some work to modify my doors. I'm planning on doing a lot of cruising when it's finished.
Anyone with some experience on this?
Anyone with some experience on this?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,710
Likes: 2,574
Converting my 77 C3 to a convertible. Are the door alignment pins required? I've seen convertibles with them and without. 1977 does have the steel beam in the doors. What issues would I have if I don't add them? Parts aren't cheap and it's some work to modify my doors. I'm planning on doing a lot of cruising when it's finished.
Anyone with some experience on this?
Anyone with some experience on this?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,667
Likes: 3,123
From: Shamong, NJ
63-67 and 68-69 convertibles all had wedges on the door and lock pillar that met each other when the doors were closed. In 70 the wedges were replaced with the more effective pins and receivers used from 70-75. I agree with MelWff that GM wouldn't have invested the time and money to develop them and use them if they didn't feel they were needed. GM never made a change to a car that was going to add additional cost to it unless they felt it was absolutely necessary.
You might be able to get away without the alignment pins. Unlike you, GM had to worry about things like the doors being hard to open or the top of the door and fender hitting each other causing warranty claims. You could also try the wedges used in 69, though they aren't as effective as the later pin and receiver.
https://www.corvettecentral.com/c3-6...f%3fcount%3d36
https://www.corvettecentral.com/63-6...on-body-283050
You might be able to get away without the alignment pins. Unlike you, GM had to worry about things like the doors being hard to open or the top of the door and fender hitting each other causing warranty claims. You could also try the wedges used in 69, though they aren't as effective as the later pin and receiver.
https://www.corvettecentral.com/c3-6...f%3fcount%3d36
https://www.corvettecentral.com/63-6...on-body-283050
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
Help! Anyone have Convertible door guide locating template?
So I bought the Convertible door guide reinforcement kit, but it didn't have the paper template to locate where to cut the doors. Does anyone have a pdf they can attach so I can print out the template? Thanks
