I got a guy who stopped by the shop today, with a rare 85 monte carlo convertible. A private company did these back in the day for chevy. Well the latch pin that holds the top in tight while driving is worn down and wont hold it tight anymore, any body have any idea where i could get this type of latch. In case the photos dont explain it The male end (dicky) with the ringed edges goes into the fixed angled hole all while pulling the t handel the curved inner spring load c cut than goes against the male end and wont let the top fly up. anybody have any idea where to still get these??
Do these latches still exist??
- Thread starter mad57
- Start date
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
No idea where to get the part but your characterization of an '85 Monte as "rare" and 1985 as being "back in the day" makes me feel 100 years old.
I was 31 years old in 1985. What are you, 17?
K'ledgeBldr
Well-known member
For as long as you've been messing with those things (MCSSdotcom)- you should know better than anyone.
Have you tried to contact any coachbuilders still in business? Maybe adapting some of the newer/better hardware that is available? Or rebuild/construct what you have(?)
Have you tried to contact any coachbuilders still in business? Maybe adapting some of the newer/better hardware that is available? Or rebuild/construct what you have(?)
bigbubba
Well-known member
Who did the conversion? Have you checked to see if they are still in biz.?That would be my first step. Is their a brand on any of the parts?
rsanter
Well-known member
machine new ones
bob
bob
Last I heard ASC (American Sunroof Corporation, I think) had a presence in Bowling Green KY. They used to make some or all of the soft tops for Corvette & Cadillac XLR. They might still do the Corvette parts for all I know.
A quick google search makes it look like their HQ is in San Diego. Of course they may have had nothing to do with this Monte.
A quick google search makes it look like their HQ is in San Diego. Of course they may have had nothing to do with this Monte.
Northstar
Well-known member
I would check with a local custom interior shop. Those would have been non-brand specific parts and I don't think there's any ultra-specific parts on ragtop conversions.
Its a buddys car he loves this thing the aftermarket company is out of business, We even know the head upholstery guy who made the tops for these back in the day he doesnt know where to get them either. no name on it at all, im gonna try welding the ridges up a bit and shaping them back down to add the steel thats worn. thks.
Having never seen a latch like that by ASC or Hess and Eisenhardt, I looked up '85 Montes. They were built by Matrix3 and seem to be long gone as a company. The door jamb may have a sticker that says M3 instead of Matrix3.