roof panel carrier, good or bad?

[kdlp]

My '81 Corvette was built with the roof panel carrier and according to the "Black Book" from '80 through '82 there were about 9000 Corvettes built with this option.

Does anyone else with this option have a lot of paint cracking around the carrier mounts? (See pic) I'm thinking about pulling these out (4 of them) and filling the holes when I repaint because I don't want the cracks to come back after the expense of the repaint.

To be honest the roof panel carrier is very handy. You can "tops off" cruise and still have luggage/cooler room inside. I haven't seen (in person) any other Vettes with this option so I'm hoping that others who have the carrier will drop in a reply and let me know how their paint and bodywork is doing around the carrier mounts on the rear deck.

For those who haven't seen this option I'll post another couple of pics that will better explain what it looks like.

Thanks,

Kelly
(kdlp)

 

[kdlp]

Here's a shot the shows the carrier itself....

 

[kdlp]

And another shot with the panels in place but without the straps that tie over the roof panels....

 

[Roadster71]

My wife has them on her 82 and has no problems with cracking.
Bob

 

[ChuckG]

You'll never fill the holes and not have them come back to haunt you after you repaint. Same deal with a luggage rack. Chuck