My Dad bought this 1989 Convertible I-roc as a kind of restoration project a while back. He took it to get repainted and for some interior cosmetic work. The car then sat in a garage for about a year or so. I am now a full time college student and I’m trying to get this car ready for personal use as transportation to work and school. I recently finished installing the replacement convertible top, it was during this process that I had spent the most time working on the car and I began to notice for myself just the amount of small things that were missing on the car that is giving me big hassle.

There is namely two things I cannot seem to find anything on the internet for help on.

The first flaw is just simply a missing part, it is the rod type of part on the rear bow that inserts into the hole on the bed off the car to lock the top into place. Here are some pictures, Part that’s missing




If anyone knows the name of that missing part or where I could purchase it, would be greatly appreciated. I know it is a skinny hooked rod type of part but I’m just not sure or knowledgeable on the car to know.


The Second flaw is this,


the turning crank mechanism that locks the front top, only the left side lines up properly into the hole. The right side which is pictured above, doesn’t align properly and just simply refuses to budge. I really don’t know what to do about this.

Apologies for the long post, but hopefully it gives some insight to what I am dealing with, I could really just use some help and advice. Anything is appreciated, thanks!

 

Oof... That sounds like a recipe for disaster. A thirdgen as basic transportation? Yikes. As practical cars go, a thirdgen is pretty terrible.

The missing latch is what I would refer to as a "Striker". Similar to the ones the door latches engage, but it'd be pointy to push in to latch.

The front latch plate looks to be adjustable. As in loosen the two bright silver bolts, and move the plate over till it lines up, and retighten the bolts. Best guess. Party on.

 

I had a third gen as a daily driver for 10 years with minimal issues and never got stranded.. granted it was 6 years old and had 26k on it when I bought it in 1993.. Driving any 30 year old car now as a daily driver can be daunting and as you’re learning, parts aren’t as readily available..

Add a convertible on top of that and I just hope you are somewhere without winter and too much precipitation..

I think you’re looking for the rear bow lock bolt (which is what it’s called on older Corvettes). I’ve heard it called tonneau lock pin or rear bow lock pin.

The quickest solution I could find after extensive searching out of curiosity would be to buy a new frame ($500), remove the pin and re-sell the frame to someone who needs it but has a pin on their old junk frame.. You might even break even on the deal..

You could also just search for someone parting out a convertible that may have it or look for junk yards that might have any thirdgen convertible..

I think ASC made the C4 convertibles as well so it is possible the lock pin is the same.. I think the Vettes has two of them though.. those might be more readily available.

You’re other issue I agree with Drew that you should be able to re-align the front bow latch bolts..

Good luck with the top.. those parts can be tough to come by..

 

 

You'll want someone with the same year, or close to the same year convertible to supply a pic. Various little things about the convertible conversions changed between the start and the end, parts for a 92 for example may not fit a 91, parts from a 91 may not fit an 87, etc.

 

Here’s a pic of my 88 bow lock pin..



As drew said there were at least 3 different style tops for third gens..

87-88 (slider Tonneau release 87-88 front bow and window)
89 (handle Tonneau release 89 front bow and window)
90-92 (handle Tonneau release 90-92 front bow and window)

Some of these changes were made at the end of some years as well (for example: a late 88 might have an 89 top and tonneau release, etc)

The lock pin could be the same for all the years, but you’d have to compare..

 

 

It almost looks like you could make a part to fit out of one of those Corvette pins if you can get it welded to a bracket and if it was the right size to lock in there..

 

 

No prob man!

Be even better if I had one..

There’s a guy on here My82roc who was selling some convertible parts.. I got my Tonneau release slider from him which they don’t make a repro of.. was really quick, easy and reasonably priced..

 

 

 

It’s probably 1.5” but I’ll get an exact measurement tomorrow when I’m out in the garage

 

A half competent amateur machinist with a lathe could probably turn the pin from bar stock. If all else fails.

 

I do have several of these lock pins.Thanks for the referral

 

No problem!

Guess I don’t have to go out and measure now..

 

How much do you want for 2 of them?
PM me!

 

I'd take 50 shipped for 2 of them

 

 

I have owned my 88 IROC Convertible for the last 13 years and it is still my daily driver and has never left me stranded. I am a maintenance horse so I take care of things regularly. I take the IROC on long drives 900+ miles each way to Iowa, Arizona, Vegas, Fargo, Idaho all the time and without a thought of reliability. I personally rebuilt the original engine, balanced and blueprinted and all these years later is still does not leak, I had the auto trans rebuilt at the same time and upgraded the internals. I am the third owner and one of my brothers owned it before me... Originally an Arizona car now Colorado and still no rust. Just picked up a tuner car for zooming around in but my IROC is still fun to drive adn will have it for years to come as one of my kids will inherit it.
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