Size of Adjusting bolt on front soft top latches 1971

[Sheldon S.]

there are two sizes of the adjusting bolt for the latches on the front of a soft top for 1971. One lists as 3/8 and one as 1/2 inch. Which one is correct for 1971. I was sure the original ones were 3/8 but I got dinged for wrong size in top flight.

Thanks
Sheldon

[Joe L.]

there are two sizes of the adjusting bolt for the latches on the front of a soft top for 1971. One lists as 3/8 and one as 1/2 inch. Which one is correct for 1971. I was sure the original ones were 3/8 but I got dinged for wrong size in top flight.

Thanks
Sheldon

Sheldon-----


I don't think you should have been dinged.

1971 Corvettes, both convertible, convertible hard-top, and t-top used latch tension adjusting bolt with a 3/8" hex. As a matter of fact, bolts of this hex size configuration were used from at least 1968 through at least 1972 and, likely, through 1977. I do not have the part number for the 1968 bolt which was solid steel with a round head (i.e. no rubber contact insert). It's possible this bolt was also used for early 1969 (I'm working on that) but the later 1969 bolt was GM #3958879 and had a rubber insert. The 3958879 bolt was replaced for PRODUCTION sometime in very late 1969 or 1970 with bolt GM #3876592 and became SERVICE for all 1968+ Corvettes in January, 1971 when the 3958879 was discontinued. Both bolts had a rubber insert and were still a 3/8" hex bolt. So, your 1971 would definitely have used a 3/8" hex bolt.

The 3976592 bolt was discontinued from SERVICE in July, 1983 and replaced by the GM 1964 Fuel Gauge Dash Wiring This bolt entered PRODUCTION sometime about 1977 for the t-top latches. The 359611 became SERVICE for 68 and later Corvettes after July, 1983. The 359611 has a 1/2" hex but still with rubber contact insert. There is no way that your car (or, any 1968-to at least 1972 could have originally used the 359611, 1/2" hex bolt since that bolt did not even exist in 1971 (or, even much later).

By the way, SERVICE latches for convertible, convertible hard-top, and t-top manufactured later in their period of manufacture are supplied with the 359611 bolts. So, besides just bolt replacement for original latches, replacement of the entire latches, even with original part-numbered pieces, would be another way that the incorrect 1/2" hex bolts could find there way onto a car not originally equipped with bolts of that size.

Below are pictured NOS examples of both the 3876592 and 359611 [none for sale}.



DSCN4447.jpg DSCN4448.jpg DSCN4449.jpg DSCN4450.jpg

[Joe L.]

Sheldon-----


I don't think you should have been dinged.

1971 Corvettes, both convertible, convertible hard-top, and t-top used latch tension adjusting bolt with a 3/8" hex. As a matter of fact, bolts of this hex size configuration were used from at least 1968 through at least 1972 and, likely, through 1977. I do not have the part number for the 1968 bolt which was solid steel with a round head (i.e. no rubber contact insert). It's possible this bolt was also used for early 1969 (I'm working on that) but the later 1969 bolt was GM #3958879 and had a rubber insert. The 3958879 bolt was replaced for PRODUCTION sometime in very late 1969 or 1970 with bolt GM #3876592 and became SERVICE for all 1968+ Corvettes in January, 1971 when the 3958879 was discontinued. Both bolts had a rubber insert and were still a 3/8" hex bolt. So, your 1971 would definitely have used a 3/8" hex bolt.

The 3976592 bolt was discontinued from SERVICE in July, 1983 and replaced by the GM 1964 Fuel Gauge Dash Wiring This bolt entered PRODUCTION sometime about 1977 for the t-top latches. The 359611 became SERVICE for 68 and later Corvettes after July, 1983. The 359611 has a 1/2" hex but still with rubber contact insert. There is no way that your car (or, any 1968-to at least 1972 could have originally used the 359611, 1/2" hex bolt since that bolt did not even exist in 1971 (or, even much later).

By the way, SERVICE latches for convertible, convertible hard-top, and t-top manufactured later in their period of manufacture are supplied with the 359611 bolts. So, besides just bolt replacement for original latches, replacement of the entire latches, even with original part-numbered pieces, would be another way that the incorrect 1/2" hex bolts could find there way onto a car not originally equipped with bolts of that size.

Below are pictured NOS examples of both the 3876592 and 359611 [none for sale}.



DSCN4447.jpg DSCN4448.jpg DSCN4449.jpg DSCN4450.jpg

Corrections to my response:

There are a few typos in my response that I am unable to correct because, unfortunately, the editing time period has lapsed.

These are:

7th line of first paragraph----3876592 should be 3976592

last sentence-----3876592 should be 3976592

In addition, due to some weird characteristics of the TDB software (and, as has occurred previously)"1964 fuel gauge wiring" in the first sentence of the second paragraph should be replaced by GM #359611