Need assistance, convertible top latches

[dragracer]

Hello,
I ran into a problem when transfering hardware from my old rusty front bow to a good one i bought from a member on this site. It seems the spacing on the bolt holes for the top latches are different. I have a 79' CS2 and the spacing of the holes on the latches is about 30mm. I measured the spacing on the holes of the new(used) bow and they measure about 40mm. Both bows look the same otherwise. Theres no way i can use my old latches with the spacing of the holes on the new bow. There really isn't room to drill more holes and retap the bow for my old latches.

The question is, does anyone know if Fiat changed the spacing of the latch holes on models beyond 1979??????? If so, does anyone have a set of the wider spaced latches for sale on this site. I'm very much in limbo right now. I've got my new top ready to be installed but there's no reason to proceed any futher if i've got a problem with fitting latches to the bow.

Please chime in and offer any insight that i can use to correct this problem.

Thanks in advance.

[carl55]

Hi
Yes they changed the hole spacing. I believe it was 79 when they went to the wider spacing. If that is so and you have the narrow spacing it could be an early 79. Or I could have it backwards.

Carl

[dragracer]

Hi
Yes they changed the hole spacing. I believe it was 79 when they went to the wider spacing. If that is so and you have the narrow spacing it could be an early 79. Or I could have it backwards.

Carl

Since i now have a bow from an 82 with the wider 40mm spacing, if i use the proper latches, will the existing catches for the 30mm latches on the windsheild still work????????

I've got a pair of the 40mm latches on the way thanks to Ralph.