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Topic: bolts

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bolts

Posted: 11/6/12 1:04pm Message 1 of 18
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galion, OH - USA
Joined: 5/31/2012
Posts: 413
Vette(s): 1984 base coupe 17,000 miles all original. very low production number.red on red 3853. pro num.

what would make the trga top bolts that lock it down , come lose when driving? when i drive my 84 the trga top starts to rattle, i have to get out my tool and tighten up all 4 bolts they just keep loseing up. there not striped out.




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Re: bolts

Posted: 11/6/12 4:26pm Message 2 of 18
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I'd be looking at chassis flex. The top is a lot more important than most realize in relation to chassis stiffness so if it's coming lose, the car must be twisting. Convertibles had a stamped steel X=brace added to help that problem. I'd be looking at the frame for issues of some kind that are overworking the roof. You can purchase aftermarket X-brace but other issues should be ruled out first.


Re: bolts

Posted: 11/7/12 1:47pm Message 3 of 18
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Here's some ideas in ascending order of likelihood:
  1. You're not getting them tight enough.
  2. The mounts are maladjusted, and even though the bolts are tight, the sockets aren't bottomed in the receivers, and the bolts loosen from vibration.
  3. Or maybe it's just a 30-year old POS 84. It wasn't very good when it was new. Now its worse. Put it out of its misery and junk it.




Re: bolts

Posted: 11/7/12 2:16pm Message 4 of 18
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Ignore the haters, make sure you get them good and tight, make sure they haven't been stripped, and see if anything else is flexing. And enjoy that great 84!


Re: bolts

Posted: 11/7/12 2:21pm Message 5 of 18
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galion, OH - USA
Joined: 5/31/2012
Posts: 413
Vette(s): 1984 base coupe 17,000 miles all original. very low production number.red on red 3853. pro num.
dave, why would you suggest my car might be a pos and i should junk it.  are you angry about someting or is it just because you had on at some point, and it became a pos. i realy don't understand why you would even suggest this. by all means please tell us.


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Re: bolts

Posted: 11/7/12 8:49pm Message 6 of 18
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 3/18/2009
Posts: 2246
Vette(s): 1985 Coupe-L98/Auto,Bright Red/Carmine. 1974 Coupe-L48/4speed, Medium Red Metallic/Black Deluxe.
DaveP85C4 said: Here's some ideas in ascending order of likelihood:
  1. You're not getting them tight enough.
  2. The mounts are maladjusted, and even though the bolts are tight, the sockets aren't bottomed in the receivers, and the bolts loosen from vibration.
  3. Or maybe it's just a 30-year old POS 84. It wasn't very good when it was new. Now its worse. Put it out of its misery and junk it.



I agree with #1 & #2....I do NOT agree with #3....

The bolts getting loose isn't a common issue, as far as I know....I do know they have to be pretty dang tight to begin with, since the targa top is designed to be an integral part of the chassis. If they are left loose, the chassis flex could certainly make them looser as you drive.
Make sure when you install the top, that the car is on level ground...that will help keep everything lined up.

One of the reasons I haven't had my targa off but a couple of times on the '85 since I've owned it.



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Re: bolts

Posted: 11/8/12 1:33am Message 7 of 18
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First off read it again. I didn't say your car was a POS, I said "maybe it's just a 30 year-old POS 84." Which if read correctly should indicate that I don't hold much esteem for any 84, regardless of condition, or who owns it.  I'm an equal-opportunity 84-hater. I was ready to buy an 84 in Summer of 83. I was told to wait for the 85 because it would have a TPI engine that would be introduced in the 85. I bought the 85 I still own today in June of 85, and am SOOOOOO glad I listened to the GM guy that told me to wait a couple of years for the TPI. 84's are dinosaurs compared to 85's.

IMO, my 85 is also a POS. Compared to many 85's mine is damn nice. NCRS Crossed-Flags, NCRS McClellan 98-point- something, , blah, blah, blah. But it's still an 85 C4. Which compared to some later C4 years, and any C6 is a POS  confirmed by what it would sell for. I couldn't trade it straight across for a 3 year old Hyundai.

In case you can't tell yet, I'm not a Corvette owner that owns one because he wants to say he owns one, or be seen in it. IDGAF about any of that. I bought mine because it was such a quantum-leap in technology from the 82. Sure, it got a lot of looks when it was new. Especially with my 24 year old lady friend at the time driving it.  But that's not why I bought it. For a measly 29K delivered, when the two of our combined annual incomes were about 30K at the time, it was a financial stretch to own it. But we did it for the adventure, because it was a cool, nothing-like-it at the time car, and it was something we could share between us and it was a big part of our relationship for many years. And by chance, we never wrecked it, I never modded it, it retained all its original soft parts, and 27 years later it has only been driven 43K miles, only 4K of those in the past 17 years.

You are obviously proud of your 84. That's fine. I tell my story regarding how I happen to own mine to show that I have a very long relationship with mine.  And an emotional one at that as the girl that helped me buy it married someone else 10 yeas later. Sure I'm satisfied (maybe even proud) with my accomplishments with my 85.  But in most car-peoples' eyes, its a POS 85. Mine too.  And I'm OK with that. 

Long-live the POS early C4's. Then junk them, because they aren't worth much to anyone else.

Save the wave,
 DP



Re: bolts

Posted: 11/8/12 9:46am Message 8 of 18
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woodland park, NJ - USA
Joined: 12/5/2009
Posts: 9
Vette(s): 1993 black/black zf6 coupe
DaveP85C4 said: Here's some ideas in ascending order of likelihood:
  1. You're not getting them tight enough.
  2. The mounts are maladjusted, and even though the bolts are tight, the sockets aren't bottomed in the receivers, and the bolts loosen from vibration.
  3. Or maybe it's just a 30-year old POS 84. It wasn't very good when it was new. Now its worse. Put it out of its misery and junk it.



I also agree with #'s 1 & 2

The 84's had a very stiff stock suspension; if you have the Z51 option I'm surprised nearly every bold in the car hasn't worked itself loose.



Re: bolts

Posted: 11/11/12 11:27am Message 9 of 18
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Northern California, CA - USA
Joined: 3/17/2010
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Vette(s): 1996 LT4 CE

DaveP85C4 said: First off read it again. I didn't say your car was a POS, I said "maybe it's just a 30 year-old POS 84." Which if read correctly should indicate that I don't hold much esteem for any 84, regardless of condition, or who owns it. 

...


 
I agree that it seems you're angry about something. Angry

 
When you say "maybe it's just a 30 year-old POS 84." the word "its" refers to the specific Corvette being discussed. So you're saying, maybe your Corvette is just a 30 year old POS 84.
 
How in the world anyone could be expected to infer anything else, or all of what you wrote in your reply, by simply reading it correctly, as you suggest they do, is beyond me.  (and I suspect most would feel the same, but that's speculation)
 
I apologize for sticking my nose into this.  Maybe I've had a bad week.  Maybe I'm just tired of people not taking the time to think about what they're writing or saying, and not being polite to one another. 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1996 LT4 Collector Edition

Re: bolts

Posted: 11/12/12 9:03am Message 10 of 18
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 3/18/2009
Posts: 2246
Vette(s): 1985 Coupe-L98/Auto,Bright Red/Carmine. 1974 Coupe-L48/4speed, Medium Red Metallic/Black Deluxe.
Let's let the comment go, folks...Dave had an opinion, as does everyone. Perhaps it was just taken the wrong way, or whatever, but let's not keep it going....let's just have a polite discussion, and leave it at that..otay? Thumbs Up
We don't want to censor anyone here....we just want everyone to be able to express their opinions without conflict, or personal attacks. If it gets personal, we will step in. Please remember the #1 rule in the Member Agreement:

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Joel Adams  
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(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

in Forum: C4 General Discussion


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