C2 corvette vinal hardtop storage

[njsteve]

I would think that in order to stop the "spread" of the mounting points, you could get a long section of threaded rod and a couple of nuts and washers, and route the rod through the two lower mounting tabs, with the nuts/washers on the outside. (Or you could use another section of wooden broom handle just like you have in the above photos, cut to length with some screws and large washers screwed in each end.

This way it would act as a stop to prevent the spread.