hey guys, My girl just ordered a Kwik Top from speedway, I have a 28 Roadster with a 2 inched chopped stainless windshield, I want to fit that to the A-Bone but, I have seen no video's at all on fitting this set up, or even how to upholster it. Any one shed any light on this out here as it looks a little Rickety in the photos and doesnt tell you how the top secures to the windshield posts to stop it flying off when moving. Anybody help at all?
I'd purchased same to try and make a folding top for a sport coupe. Didn't work, too short and wasn't going to butcher SS. I believe the front bow would mount with regular roadster parts which aren't included. Check Bratton's website. they're strictly Model A restoration stuff and pretty sure they have the roadster front bow parts. Chopping the side bows to match the w/s is almost like getting the frame set up first, then hold a 2" piece horizontal across the angles. trouble is when the top frame drops vertically, the angles won't quite match up. I remember Street Rodder magazine did just that, but back 2002-2009. If I come across it, I'll post. but try googling "How to chop roadster bows.
I'm putting one on my roadster now. It comes with thumb screws to pinch into the top posts. I replaced them with knurled knobs from a '36, and I opened up the hole in the back of the windshield post so they actually thread into the post so there's no way it can lift up. I did a lot of cutting and welding on mine to get it to fit my 3" chop and get the profile I want. I also added a rear bow like a "bop top." It's at the trim shop now with a bunch of vintage photos so he trims it the way they used to be done, so I don't have any final product photos for you yet.
I did finish mine. I'm not crazy about how it came out, but I think it was more my upholstery guy than the top frame. I've got another guy lined up and we're going to take another stab at covering it again. I don't like the shape of the side window and it's too droopy between the bows even though it's drawn tight.
No easy feat, that roadster top! I've had three '27 T roadsters (full bodied, not 'bobtails') and the first one took 3 tries to get it to look 'right'. (My roadster was chopped 5", 'moderate' for a 'T'...But still took my rag man Mart 3 attempts, first was too low in rear...then the next looked like a 'Race Chop!??!' (Whaaat? What race?) Finally, a nice profile was gotten, with a 'B' pillar 'reverse slant' that looked like a 'T', only way lower. Wish I had a pic...
thanks guys! just got my top irons, starting to figure it out. 28 with a 5" chop windshield. wish me luck!
I just installed one on my 29 with a 3 inch chop purchase the steel powder coated version, all the hardware is stainless steel made quite well had to V-cut the side rails to get the angle proper were they meet the windshield posts also made sleeves to fit into the post stantion bosses, otherwise it would wobble now just waiting to get into the trim shop
I bought these stainless steel kit at the Lone Star Roundup Swap Meet in Austin Tx for $250 . I’m going to have to do the same thing on mine, 3” Chop and leaned back stanchions. What rear window are you going to have?
I’m hoping to run the original back window from the original top that came with the car I would like to have good vision behind me
Mine is still the same as the last picture I posted. I'd still like to reupholster it but I haven't done it yet.
The 2nd pic shows how most people do this bottom bar. It’s too low to get in and out, is it ok to do like the top picture?
I would say see if it still folds in that arrangement and then grow it and shake the shit out of it and see if it moves any more than the other way. I would guess it’s about the same.
there's a basic formula for these tops, and how to make them eyeball friendly first, the back hoop has to be taller than the wind shield header... and the center hoop needs to be taller than the rear hoop.. just a little... next the rear hoop needs to slightly tilt in ,... too much and you loose head room and drive around with your chin in you chest cause your head it's the top.. tilted out and it looks like a T bucket top... this is the tough part... making it fold down behind the seat... and not sticking out on the deck lids... those that know, know thats why the 27 ford had the stake pockets moved back so the top woould lay down...... a lot of preference and discussion goes on between the owner and builder....and a good builder will tell you what happens when you do what you want before they are done so on to the canvas... you have to sew the darts in... and you cant stretch canvas on the bias... or it duck bills and sags,, looks to me like they took a standard top... and trimmed it to fit the lowered frame???? so now the side window isn't level with the window seal... so on this car if you look at the snap where the two hoops meet,... you can see that it is pulling on the bias and sucking the dip in the top.. these cars are very hard to do right... till you do a few... then you know the no no's and the hell yeah's
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