Convertible Rear Deck

[Steve Z.]

Do '66 convertibles have 2 foam cushions glued to the inside of the rear deck to stop the latches from rattling ? If so what do they look like, dimensions etc.
Thanks,
Steve

[Michael H.]

Re: Convertible Rear Deck

Steve,

Interesting that you should ask this question. I broughgt up this same topic here on this board about a year ago but got zero response. It's my opinion that there was indeed a pair of foam or sponge blocks glued to the underside of the deck lid for cars originally equipped with soft tops. The problem is, we will likely never see any of these blocks as they seemed to depart early in life. All that remains years later is the glue spot. I'd like to hear from anyone that still has one of these still attached to the deck lid. A pic would be even better. I've owned a few cars over the years that still had one or both still in place but never bothered to photograph it.

[Steve Z.]

Re: Convertible Rear Deck

Last time I had my car judged there was a 2pt deduction taken because I did not have them. The new '66 judging manual ( #4 )does not mention the cushions. Some of the corvette vendors do offer a replacement but do I really need it.
Thanks,
Steve

[Kent K.]

Re: Convertible Rear Deck

Steve,

You only need them providing (1) you don't drive your car with its top down, (2) you have other means to prevent the deck underside paint from damage caused by convertible top hardware and (3) if you mind loosing points during judging. Since there is no healthy description of those pads other that something to the effect of two foam pads approximately 1" square, I located what appeared to be an appropriate foam from some old 1/2" to 5/8" thick packing medium density foam and cut my own squares for my'67 convertible. People have said they might be too soft and not the expected color but have they seen originals? They function to protect the factory paint. Just my $0.02.

Regards,
Kent #6201

[Jack H.]

Some say yes, some say no...

The anti-rattle pads are NOT called out in the AIM books I've looked at despite what some JG books say. That seems 'fishy' to me since for the pads to work properly they have to be affixed with a correct orientation...

A few years back, I went to a local Corvette shop that had a collection of something like 100+ rear deck lids (they'd bought out a Missouri based Corvette 'bone yard') and I flipped through 'em. Maybe 5-8 deck lids showed evidence of residual glue where the pads would have been mounted and one actually had a pair of pretty rotted out pads still in place.

But, the majority (few of these used deck lids had been repainted on the bottom side) showed no evidence of having had pads installed. So, in my book, this is still a 'mystery' item. Was it a running change that never made the AIM? Was it a dealer installed item to answer buyer complaint(s)?

If either (or both), you'd think there'd be a documenting audit trail either in the AIM or via dealer service bulletin...

[Mike M.]

Re: Convertible Rear Deck

my 65 fi vert has the pads but my 66 showed not glue slop. mike

[Page C.]

Re: Convertible Rear Deck

My late 1965 has the pads.
Page Campbell

[Loren L.]

'63 #15018 had them; 1" X 1 1/2" yellow;

'65 21083 (hardtop only) did not; '65 #23561 had been repainted on the underside so it is unable to provide a reference.

[Donald T.]

Re: '63 #15018 had them; 1" X 1 1/2" yellow;

My 65 (mid-May build) had original paint under the decklid, and did not have the pads or evidence of the adhesive. Who knows after 40 years though.

[Mike M.]

Re: Convertible Rear Deck

PS: my 65 fi roadster, that i bought in 69 from the original owner, had 19,500 miles on it it 69. its got 20K miles on it now. the underside of the conv cover is obviously untouched. it came with a correctly dated hardtop as well as a correctly dated soft top rear window and it had provisions for the hardtop attachement. i'm certain the soft top is factory original and only 99% certain the hardtop came with the 65 when it left st louis.one of the the foam blocks is still attached on one side, the other side foam pad is history. mike

[Michael H.]

Re: Some say yes, some say no...

Jack,

I agree, I think you have it correct. I do think these pads were installed at St. Louis on some cars but definitely not on all cars. I have no idea why. Their purpose would have been to prevent rattles from the lock assy. (and they do rattle without the pads)

I looked in a 66 AIM many years ago for info on this but, as others have mentioned, there seems to be nothing in print. It won't be the first time we've seen things like this though. Sometines operations on the line occured without instructions from the AIM/engineering. Sometimes it's the other way around. Things that were supposed to occur, didn't. Never ending mysteries of the Corvette.

[Kent K.]

Follow -up with Photo

Steve and others,

The attached photo is what we made and used on my '67, Ol' Blue, that received the Duntov during the 1994 National Convention at Seven Springs, PA. If incorrect, could someone please post the correct decklid underside foam pad information?

Thanks,
Kent #6201

[Jack H.]

Re: Convertible Rear Deck

My '65 (BB two top car) was a late April build and there was no evidence of any anti-rattle pads having been installed. One tidbit of interest came when I pulled the hardtop's headliner and found the same job number (388) as was seen on the body written in chaulk along with the car's color (maroon) which pretty much proves the hard top is original to the car.

Anyway, the issue of the anti-rattle pads (did all cars have them? when/what time period?) remains a mystery to me and I personally don't look for them to be on each and every car...

[Steve Z.]

Re: Convertible Rear Deck

At this point I guess I will just leave my deck as I found it, no foam cushions.
Thanks for the info,
Steve