The Model A Coupe

It seems that the big issue with the 30/31 coupe top insert is the groove on the sides and rear of the opening........ how to trim. I'm not into nailing an aluminum molding 130 times and then beating the molding closed with a V block-no! Hidem will not do a 2 1/2" radius curve without buckling.

My answer (the plan) is to use landau top molding. This is an aluminum base and a vinyl trim that snaps over the base. The groove is unacceptable since the base sits in the groove and the molding cannot be attached.

First you trim the top fabric below the level of the paint just outside the screws.

Next you mask a 1/2" opening from the metal edge to the fabric. Use fine line vinyl tape and 1" painters tape with the 1/4" fine line
on top of the blue on the inner and outer edges.

Using a small filler plastic, I spread the clear silicon over the painted edge/metal/fabric groove.

This is a mess! After field testing the material on the fabric and the paint to insure no reaction we are ready to begin. I used clear DEVCON home silcone adhesive #12045.
You must be fast and have plenty of paper towels as it gets all over everthing. Do 1/3 of the car at a time, 12" per pull and then get all of the related tape off in less than 8 minutes. Do the rear first. Clean-up with mineral spirits.

When you make a mistake (and you will!!) , DO NOT go back. Disregard the bad spot and come back and repair it the next day. Going back to smooth your error in more than 2 minutes and you are dealing with unmanageable sticky gummy stuff (how do I know that??????). Get the tape off NOW and you will have a clean line. Wait until you are all done and the tape will bring the silicon fillet off with it.

This step seals the groove and provides the correct base height for the aluminum. Do not be too concerned over how perfectly flat this fillet is, the aluminum base levels it as you screw it down.  
Click to see at full screen.

 

1/2 Done

I started the attachment in different areas to prevent moving the material and creating a bulge in the top. Actually moved around the car working a little here and there.

 The secret for me on this installation was CONTROL.
No hammering or setting of tacks next to the paint. I needed to find a perfect #1 phillips head screwdriver and then just carefully take your time.







About four hours of screwing and nailing and I am pleased with the result.

I hope to be trimmed by the end of the week.

The Fabric

The fabric selected is a brown landau vinyl top material by Haartz. Plenty of UV protection, an acceptable brown tone, and a smooth washable texture. Washable is important in the desert southwest where fine alkalai dust impregnates a woven fabric to the point that you cannot remove it.

The material was stretched on the wood frame twice three months ago. I actually got it to stretch 2" in in 54" width.

NO tacking for me! I predrilled the new top wood (HARD WOOD!!) to prevent breaking screws and used #4 x 1/2" stainless flat head screws on the sides and rear. The front of the top uses 1/2" wire nails in order to end up flat with the material.

 

 

I honestly don't know what this tool is, but its tool steel and polished it finds the holes just fine. My Dad had a small box of these and I actually think they might be teeth for an old cotton picker. I can remember Randy and I hiding in the mouth of a cotton picker when we were little, and the tines on those huge rollers didn't seem to hurt us.

 

You find the hole in the metal groove with the tool and press firmly. The indentation is the target for the needle which locates the predrilled hole. If you are a little off you can move the screw in that direction and screw through the fabric. The same game for the wire nails across the front.

Back on the Job

Domestic projects have caused a significant delay in the Model A.

This delay was welcome as I was very apprehensive concerning the 250 holes for tacks/nails very close to the nice red paint. The fabric installation uses about 125 and the trim another 125.


The concrete crew left part of a roll of 20 mil plastic which was just right for a pattern of the padding.

I got the padding from Bert's in Denver. I try to buy everything that I can from them because they DO Model A's and not just sell parts. Very knowledgeable guys.

Cutting this fluffy stuff was easy with a rolling razor cutter.

The third layer of fabric just below the padding is convertible top fabric. This has a rough woven texture and holds on to the padding well and should prevent slippage. No Glue required!

I elected to chuck 200 #6 tacks

Taped and shielded from me, I think we are ready to begin. 

A New Top

I thought I would just have the top done by an upholstery shop......VOID. Its either "didn't they use chicken wire in these??" or " I will only do this by installing a metal top in the car and then Landau the new metal. Probably will scratch the paint!"

So here we go........we start with the new structure and new paint, I can do this!

The first step is to block the bow/side rail joints to be sure that no irregularities exist. Then block and trim the bows and related headliner listings.










With all of the information on the net, I will do a 5 layer insert. This is old school, but so am I.

With a paper pattern of the insert (metal edge to metal edge) I taped the car and installed the first layer for sound deadening. This is one layer of "Warm & Natural" cotton quilt batting. This is stapled down with a simple fine line stapler.

The next step requires better paint protection, so I cut the middle (paper pattern) out of a $2.50 soft blanket from the local Thrift Store and taped that over the first tape line.

I really like Nick's paint, and this seemed a little wimpy to a clutz like me. The CEO was absent, so I scrounged around the house for more protection. I snagged a hidden PINK blanket (she will never miss it) and added it and another layer of tape.

Now it seems better protected.

A buddy stopped by while I was taping this one on and said " You're going to get in trouble when she gets home!! But it does look kinda sporty if you like PINK".

Now comes the chicken *#@/)^. I hate this stuff but the old timer Model A guys swear by it. We are nicely padded now (warm and soft too).

Even after rolling it out on the driveway several times and duct taping the sharp ends, it still looked like a potato chip.

Three hours later, it was tight and smooth and retained by nails.

Now comes the air stapler to secure the wire as stretched. Cut and trim to the inside metal edge again.



The third layer in "the plan" is Haartz Cambria convertible top fabric. This is a very nice, tough, non-stretch material I found at the upholstery supply.

 
Waiting two days for a warm full sun day, I built the stretching frame for the Landau vinyl.
Now the car sits in the sun to heat and relax the material prior to streching and stapling in place. Not much stretch in the Harrtz fabric.

The Landau fabric heated faster the the top fabric, so I stopped and stretched it to the frame while the top was heating. This is the first of probably 3 stretches.








Click on any picture for full view.

Stretching side to side and front to rear, the third layer is fitted to the inside metal edge and stapled in place. Pain in the *@#(^%$  since the stapler is now hitting previous staples and the wire.






All stapled in place and tight as a drum!



Trimmed and untaped.Now waiting for the 1/2" polyester padding from Labaron Bonney and searching for a trim component that I find acceptable.

It Runs !!!

A multitude of details. Fresh engine, fresh turbo 350, FRESH EVERYTHING!

After a last complete circuit evaluation (defective new starter switch), I got out the beads, placed them in my old tithing dish, poured 5 gallons of  Chevron "Ethyl" in the tank and waited for my friend Teak to show up.

I was nervous trying this by my self but I armed Teak with a 5 lb. fire extinguisher, 7 quarts of ATF, and a cobbled up funnel to the Lokar dipstick tube. I cable tied the funnel to the radiator support rods.
We placed the rear axle on jack stands (don't want this in the spare bedroom) and hooked up the battery with a quick release clamp.

I cannot tell a lie, there were a few glitches........

After about an hour of trying to get it to idle correctly, the points in the distributor finally just closed up...all stop??

Who ever had the idea that the blower was cool never considered working on the points. We finally adjusted them to an eyeball .016". Teak only has one good eye so he held the distributor cap up and I cleaned and set them. No match book covers but a genuine Mark IV, First Generation 1945 Eyeball (brown).

Wow, that was nice, can adjust the carb and everything.

Ended up with 10 1/2 quarts of ATF in the trans. The wheels go one direction in "DRAG" and the other direction in "RACE". How cool is that?

Every thing got better yet after the overflow tubing fell off the radiator resevoir and we got that issue addressed. It does seem to run a little warm (HOT!!) so I may need a swamp cooler for the front??

BIG +++ today. 

Interior Update

The last two weeks have been dealing with door glass and reproduction parts! If there were a choice, I would recommend repair or rebuild for some of the components in the "A".

I installed the door glass with all new hardware then finished the door panels and installed those. This involves a number of sequenced reproduction components, some of which don't quite fit correctly. Each problem fix affects the next components........A nightmare!

Covered the cowl panels yesterday and installed today. Looks good.

We used 1/4" sew foam on the panels and the seat just barely touches the door panels when the door is closed. I would have preferred 1/2" sew foam but was concerned the the contact would wear on both pieces.

For those who consider $8 to $12k for doing this from absolute scratch out of line, I can tell you that there are at least 100 manhours in this job even for an experienced trimmer (200+ for me). Just add it up at whatever the hourly rate.