C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Tool-less hardtop "quick" release

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 17, 2014 | 09:40 PM
  #21  
pianoguy's Avatar
pianoguy
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 10
From: Apple Valley MN
Default

Very cool idea!!
Reply
Old Nov 18, 2014 | 04:10 AM
  #22  
Joe C's Avatar
Joe C
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 765
Default

Originally Posted by 1stVetteFinally
Man, why couldn't Chevy just use some quick disconnect method like t-tops use in the first place.
Originally Posted by PSU69
You guys keep forgetting. Engineers don't design cars. Accountants do.
sorry, no flames, but you guys really need to read Dave Mclellan's book, Corvette From the Inside. this horse was beat to death here - https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...really-gm.html
Reply
Old Dec 25, 2014 | 01:22 AM
  #23  
DrDyno's Avatar
DrDyno
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 914
Likes: 277
From: St. Petersburg FL
Default

Madmax032, Looks like you went from the bicycle seat tightener for the rears, to ***** like the fronts. Any particular reason and... can you get them tight enough by hand?


Reply
Old Dec 27, 2014 | 07:44 PM
  #24  
madmax032's Avatar
madmax032
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Bourbonnais IL
Default

Originally Posted by DrDyno
Madmax032, Looks like you went from the bicycle seat tightener for the rears, to ***** like the fronts. Any particular reason and... can you get them tight enough by hand?


Sorry for the late response:
I could not get the rear ***** tight enough by hand to prevent them from loosening themselves. The top creaked and popped when I had the ***** in the back too. While the front ***** work fine, I still would rather switch to the bike seat binder clamps, though I haven't designed those front ones quite yet.
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2014 | 12:36 AM
  #25  
DrDyno's Avatar
DrDyno
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 914
Likes: 277
From: St. Petersburg FL
Default

Originally Posted by madmax032
Sorry for the late response:
I could not get the rear ***** tight enough by hand to prevent them from loosening themselves. The top creaked and popped when I had the ***** in the back too. While the front ***** work fine, I still would rather switch to the bike seat binder clamps, though I haven't designed those front ones quite yet.
So, the bike seat binders worked best for the rears?

The reason I asked is, based upon your original posts, I ordered six of those bike seat binders from your Chinese connection. It took SIX WEEKS for me to receive them and now I'm not sure, based upon your most recent pics and posts if they're worth using. Thanks in advance for your continued input.
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2014 | 01:06 AM
  #26  
crowz's Avatar
crowz
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 127
From: Ashland Alabama
Default

Cool idea. I had the same issues with my 86 coupe. I used an allen wrench best I remember when I first bought the car as it didn't come with the tool either.

What I went with later that solved it for me was a lithium rechargeable ratchet I bought at walmart. Kept it in the storage bin in the hatch area. I could pull the top or tighten it down about 60 seconds if I was in a hurry. Zero effort and it never backed out on me when I used it to tighten the bolts down.

Id charge it overnight every 6 months. Never ran down on me.

Still have the ratchet just not that car anymore
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2014 | 08:01 AM
  #27  
DrDyno's Avatar
DrDyno
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 914
Likes: 277
From: St. Petersburg FL
Default

Originally Posted by crowz
Cool idea. I had the same issues with my 86 coupe. I used an allen wrench best I remember when I first bought the car as it didn't come with the tool either.

What I went with later that solved it for me was a lithium rechargeable ratchet I bought at walmart. Kept it in the storage bin in the hatch area. I could pull the top or tighten it down about 60 seconds if I was in a hurry. Zero effort and it never backed out on me when I used it to tighten the bolts down.

Id charge it overnight every 6 months. Never ran down on me.

Still have the ratchet just not that car anymore
Yup, me too. Have a Ryobi, a couple of B&D's and a Harbor Freight special. However, having spent some recent time in C5's and C6's, I've been looking for a more "elegant" solution. Don't think there is one... think you've got it right, Crowz!
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2014 | 07:53 PM
  #28  
madmax032's Avatar
madmax032
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Bourbonnais IL
Default

Originally Posted by DrDyno
So, the bike seat binders worked best for the rears?

The reason I asked is, based upon your original posts, I ordered six of those bike seat binders from your Chinese connection. It took SIX WEEKS for me to receive them and now I'm not sure, based upon your most recent pics and posts if they're worth using. Thanks in advance for your continued input.
I ordered another set of the binder bolts from that seller and I think that they took almost 4 weeks to get to me which is pretty sad, let alone 6 weeks which is terrible. Fortunately, they all look good so hopefully I can create the front ones this week...

edit: I just realized that I may have misled you with the front *****. I originally made ***** for front and rear but being unhappy with the rear ones, I created the binder bolt solution. I just have not gotten to replacing the front ones with binder bolts yet, though the larger front ***** work well enough as is so I am not rushing.

Last edited by madmax032; Dec 29, 2014 at 07:57 PM.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:13 AM.

story-0
10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: 10 Corvettes to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:31:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

Slideshow: Corvette and Porsche 911, how two icons conquered the last 25 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:18:33


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-4
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-7
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE