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TF-1

My top frame lock tend to gravitate to this position. One side will stay in place with the lock tite to the frame tube; as I'm sure the fabricator intended. I want a better solution...

TF-2TF-3

Hence the latch. The body is 1.5" x .440 x .375" x  long. Overall length is 1 13/16".

To keep it as small as possible I want to glue them in place. I know there is some high strength adhesive that would hold them. After looking at the options that are readily available JB Weld seems to have the best strength. About 5,000psi. That sounds like great but I wonder if it will hold in this application. I haven't had that much luck with JB Weld in the past.

Anyone got experience with adhesives?

What would you suggest?

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Nice improvement Jim.  That steel cone washer behind that arm had to go too. It kept loosening up so I made a couple out of aluminum on my lathe to replace them. It's threaded inside and the bolt comes in from  the wheel well screws on to the new aluminum cone washer. I drilled two holes in the new cone washer to fit a face spanner wrench to tighten this assembly snugly to the fiberglas and carpet. The stainless bolt is long enough to mount the bow  and secure it with a polished stainless acorn nut bottomed out so it won't come loose..........Bruce

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Bruce,

I haven't had the top bows off so am unaware of that problem. I'll have a look.  The builders could have definitely done a better job with the bows. The ends really bother me emotionally. They are just round pipe that could have been easily flattened and rounded off like your sketch.

I'm bored and was looking for something I could do.

We've had a couple of days of good weather. High 60's to 70, but the rain stays close by. We get about 60 inches a year here so the top will stay up until Spring.

JIm

Here is what I did with mine:

Convertible top1Convertible top3

I made threaded aluminum inserts to slip into the rods and used JB Weld to hold them in place.  I bought the 5/16" full threaded, stainless steel rod ends from McMaster-Carr.  I used 5/16" studs and Loctite into the threaded holes in the car with SS acorn nuts. I think it looks much more finished and the best part is that the tension on the top can be adjusted on each side.

I also remade the little cam lever with the holes drilled out of line.  This allows the lever to toggle into position and the tension of the top helps hold everything in place.

James

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Jim........When you're looking for things to do these cars provide countless hours of what I call  "entertainment".  Just trying to make things a little better and pretty ?

Rain 60 inches per year ?  I'll shut up now about the 16 inches per year we get out here in SoCal !  Of course we Gulp down nearly all of the water in the Colorado River so our gardeners have jobs !.................Bruce

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