ALTERNATIVE TO THE SPYDER CLAMSHELL STRAPS.

NICE!  I like that, Bruce.

Those look terrific and will make for a smooth improvement. And I say that as a die-hard fan of the leather straps.

Nice work, Bruce. I’ve always had a thing for various aircraft hardware myself.

Very nice work Bruce.

I honestly don't see the need for the straps or these flush catches. My modified-by-Vintage catches latch, hold, and release just fine. The fit and finish of the new cars is phenomenal.

Delearl476........ Yup. aircraft hardware is just plain fascinating sometimes. Useful sometimes too !    I hate  Zeus Buttons ! There is one though that the button doesn't fall out when you release it.   It is spring loaded and stays put on release.

Danny....Yup, I'm not a fan of secondary releases either but having lost a fiberglas hood two days after the final paint work, I understand the value.  A clamshell flying off would not be fun for me or the person whose face it may hit is not a pretty thought !

Reading some of your comments and others on here about the hassle of walking around the car to get the "hood" open seems a little inconvenient and awkward though.

I'm thinking of making up some small-square "U" bolts and burying them in a groove cut in the fiberglas between the screw holes, then covering them up with resin level with the body again. This would give me studs on the underside to fasten the Hartwell latches.   What do you think ?  Why ?   I worry that the flat head screws I'm using now will distort the paint later.................Bruce

Just have Greg layup a metal plate with studs when he does your clamshell.

It will be just like they already do for the hinges in back, and the hood hinge and latch in the front.

I think there are metal plates in the doors too by the hinges and latches.

@DannyP posted:

Very nice work Bruce.

I honestly don't see the need for the straps or these flush catches. My modified-by-Vintage catches latch, hold, and release just fine. The fit and finish of the new cars is phenomenal.

My Beck originally had a couple of pieces of stainless strap hand formed for the latch posts, so one of the things I had Carey do was install some actual latches when I dropped it off in my way home to Utah.

He warned me that they were originally drilled a little off, so they had a habit of catching when released.

It actually worked out perfect. I replaced the original abomination of a handle with one of Greg’s nice billet ones and when I pull it, both latches release but catch and it requires a little nudge with my thigh to release the passengers side followed by a pull back towards me to release the driver’s.

I don’t know if it’s enough to keep it from popping open and I never intend to find out, but it’s kind of a nice “safety feature.”

More photo's of my attempt to bury the fasteners of my alternative clam shell latches.

I cut a groove between the holes making sure it was deep enough to be able to bury the little 6-32 "flat" u-bolts I made up  so they could be covered up with resin. (how's that for a run-on sentence ?)

I took a trip down to Vintage Motorcars to take a close look at what the actual positioning will be in relation to where the clam shell meets the body. Now that I know this I will make another attempt to cut the holes for the latch in the perfect position on  my mock-up. This will insure the real cuts will work properly.

While there, I talked to Gregs primary fiberglass guy. He said that my idea of burying that little u-bolt into the clamshell isn't a good idea and will eventually crack loose and disturb the paint surface.  He saw that I had used countersunk flathead machine screws and sand that was better. Even better, he recommended just using SS buttonhead Allen machine screws. WoW !  Thats even better as far as I'm concerned ! Easier too !  My original worry was that the flathead screws would disturb the paint finish when tightened. I'll show some final photo's when I finish the final prototype.

By the way, Greg now owns the entire compound including the liquor store up front by the street. He just finished putting 6" concrete on the entire area adjacent to his shop. I really looks nice too ! I was told that next is all the blacktop in the total remainder of the property and then new fencing installed in a more secure and logical manner. I forgot to take some photos when I was there................Bruce