67 vista

I got a roof rack for the vista, does anyone know where to drill holes for the mounting brackets. I looked in my assembly manual and it was'nt any help. Also, how is it fastened to the roof. I've heard they were called nutserts . I'm not sure if I will install it yet , going to take some pics with and without then decide.

 

I took mine off shortly after I bought the car to clean under the rack. I want to say they used well nuts. Rubber body with a threaded brass insert. The dealer-installed wind deflector was held on only with sheet metal screws. The luggage racks may also have been a dealer-installed option.

 

They were installed at the factory, if ordered, at the dealer as an afterthought.

 

Well nuts are available at McMaster Carr.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#well-nuts/=i84wau

For a 70 wagon, I believe you use the 1/4-20 thread thin metal units - pn 93495A310. May be the same for older?

Mickey Carr rocks.

Best,
Tom

 

You can also find well nuts at Lowes or Home Depot in the specialty fasteners section.

 

Thanks for the info on the well nuts, I have a Lowes and Home Depot near me.What I need now is the location of the holes in the roof. By the way I just got the Vista back from the paint shop. The dash has to be painted and all the interior metal pieces too. Then it will be wet sanded and buffed. The paint is slick just has a little thrash in it. I'll try to post some pics later today.

 

Well, for what it's worth, my rack is slightly skewed. The forward screw of the central stanchion is centered about 3.6 inches from the front edge of the upper roof. You would probably do better by carefully positioning the rack on the roof and marking the holes. The straps that hold the longitudinal strips have tensioning screws built into the stanchions. Make sure your back off the tension before you mark the hole so they can be pulled tight.

Just a side note on GM's fit and finish on the 67 Vista Cruisers: ever noticed that the trim strip above the woodgrain on the front passenger side door isn't aligned with the rear trim? My car is like that even though the doors are properly aligned. All the body creases are where they should be. I thought is was a defect on my car, but I saw a VC restored to showroom condition with the same problem. There must have been a problem with the tooling at least in the Lansing factory.

 

1967 Vista

Paint is on needs to be wet sanded and buffed

 

I like the two-tone paint.

 

Drilling holes in the roof with a new paint job ? Scares me! I would have predrilled before the paint job. Maybe lay a blanket or something on the roof and then carefully place the rack to mark the holes.

 

It scares me too.I had planned on getting this done before the paint went on but that did'nt happen. I will put tape on the legs before I set the rack on the roof and see how its looks.

 

I would be less worried about scratches in the paint from the legs than from chipping or lifting of the paint while you are drilling. Do the drilling before the paint is too hard so it will give a little when drilling.

 

Use a good step drill. A standard bit will grab when going through thin sheet metal. Mask off the general area where the hole will be drilled, mark the spots on the tape, use a center punch, and drill through the tape.

 

1967 vista

I went to lowes last weekend to look at the well nuts. Do they install from the top? Does anyone have any pics to show proper install. There"s a brace under the roof to prevent install from the under side.

 

Yes, they go in from the top. When you tighten the screw it pulls the threaded insert inside the well nut up causing the rubber to bulge and grip the hole.