ENCSDOUG

After tearing out the carpet in the rear section of my 72, I found 2 chrome metal brackets attached to the back side of the fender wells. What are they for? Seat belt guides?

ignatz

I'm guessing you don't have a rear window tray? Those would probably be the pivots, although I don't remember them being chromed. A picture?

ENCSDOUG

I do have a window tray. The brackets were hidden under the carpet. They appear to be possible tie down points. They're soaking right now to get the old carpet glue off. They are U shape around 2" long & 1/2 " tall. They look like this but shorter.

http://www.zip-corvette.com/72-74-se...-hardware.html

ENCSDOUG

Yeap that's them although I'm missing the one on the bulkhead. Thanks!

Peterbuilt

They should be on TOP of the carpet.
The strap keeps the tops from falling out if you flip your Corvette upside down. LOL!

ENCSDOUG

I kind of figured they should be on top of the carpet. The previous owners had them under. I'm in the process of replacing the carpet.

kansas123

so that's what that stupid thing is! I never tried to find the two in the back since i didn't know what the center one was; I hope my shop that's replacing the carpet puts them back in, just so they're there; probably won't ever use them for that purpose, but would be nice that they are there,

0Willcox Corvette

marshal135

Hey Alan,
when did they change from 2 single straps to a single hold down?
My 68 has 2 separate hold down straps.
Thanks,
Marshal

ENCSDOUG

There were (2) rubber spacers on each screw. Mine were in bad shape. I found a vendor who sells the install kit that includes the spacers. They are used to keep the tie downs above the carpet.

ENCSDOUG

Ok, you guys helped me on what I found under the old carpet which turned out to be footman loops. Now I found (2) what appears to be black foam sitting above both rear tire wells. What are they used for and do I need them?

Mooser

Foam blocks about the size of a bar of soap or big foam chunks (which somehow I relate to a map of Texas even though they aren't even close) or ???
Maybe a picture would help
M

ENCSDOUG

Yes, that's about what they look like. A map of Texas. They were easy to pull out. Don't think I'm putting them back unless there is a significant reason they should stay.

sray454

Those foam blocks ( Texas shaped ) slip in above the the carpet on the front side of wheel well and are for sound deadening.

ENCSDOUG

Alan,
Mine were about a 1/4" but were made of hard rubber. I was able to pull them off the screw with pliers. Not sure if they were original or not. I'll find out when my parts come in from ZIP. Using material like copper or metal would be better as you explained. They're being used as spacers.

KapsSA

Probably doesn't apply to earlier C3s as someone would have mentioned it but on later C3s the 2 rear "loops" are under the carpet with a slit in the carpet for the strap bracket to go under and attach to the loop.
79

0Willcox Corvette

Original cars varied in the use of the spacer and the number of loops but all cars from 1968-1976 used the metal spacers only. If you have a plastic spacer it is not original.



Original T-top Straps Bracket and Spacers pictured above.

1968-1970 cars used 2 straps, 4 screws and 4 spacers

1971-1976 cars used 3 straps, 6 screws and 6 spacers. The two rear strap brackets used two spacers per screw as shown above, the forward bracket used 2 spacers. While the assembly manual doesn't show the spacers used on 1976 it is wrong! We have taken three samples from cars for our verification.

1977-1982 cars used 3 straps and 6 screws (shorter) and No spacers. Design changes to the rear floor incorporated a bump in the fiberglass instead of using spacers.

A common issue with reproduction screws was created by an error in the GM parts book. The parts book listed the wrong screw size #10-32 7/8″. This is not correct. The correct screw was NOT A machine screw it was a tapping screw and can be found on our website. Some vendors have corrected this but I just looked at two that are still selling the machine screw.

https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...68-82-ea-26588

Alan- I have bids out on the spacers right now. I know they are being made already but they are not correct either. Close enough to work though and you'd never know it. But I'm bidding out the exact size and material. The original size of the spacer was 1/4" long, 5/16 od, 3/16 id.


-Willcox

Mooser

5/8 OD? Wow, were/are mine ever wrong
M

0Willcox Corvette

I'm trying Alan.. But it's hard!!!
Short cuts are the easy way out... I'm trying for the real deal first. It's like the door panel upper screws and/or the wiper relay. The screws are wrong and that relay has been garbage for years now. If you are going to put the effort into it... do it right.. huh?

Mooser.. yeah.. they are pretty small. If you look at the picture above those are original spacers and they are not much larger than the screws that hold them down.

- Ernie

Peterbuilt

Call me Bubba but a couple of washers from a sink faucet repair kit are good enough for a part that no one will ever see.