I saw this canopy latch when I decided to build an 8 and was impressed by its beautiful simple engineering.
Mike can be contacted on 812-305-2568 or search on the VAF forum for an up to date email address. For UK builders I asked Mike to post to Vans to go in one of my shipments and paid by Western Union as he did not have PayPal at the time. $30 in 2007
PREP
The latch is not a complete kit you will need an AN3-14A bolt, AN970-3 large washer, AN960-10L thin washer (to get the cam to hang freely), AN960-10 and AN365-1032 lock nut. You will also need some 1" x #6 screws and lock nuts - I opted for AN525C-6R16's. Mike provided one latch and a spacer but as I wanted to have two positions I bought some 200mmx70mm x 12mm Nylon 6 sheet on ebay. 70mm works out perfect for between the seat back weldment and the finished latch weighed exactly the same as the two peices supplied. I made two.
FITTING
The instructions are good, though the amended DWG 44 is not so good - but not really necessary if you look at photo 1. You have to remove quite a bit of the bushing (red arrow).
