I know this may be a polarizing subject, but please, lets not make this a ******* contest. If you don't have something constructive to say, please don't say anything. I am looking for top (roof) options for my tudor. Intentionally, I'm not mentioning any preferences so as to not squelch any ideas. What have you done? What have you seen done that you like? What would you NEVER do? What did/did not work as planned? Gimme some ideas....Photos are encouraged!
I hate ribbed roofs on 30's cars. I'd recommend a nice smooth steel skin from a van or SW, with original style vinyl over the top of it. You get a tight and billow proof roof, with an old look. One time we did fill the top (no vinyl) on a 28 sedan, and we used a skin from a 72 Suburban. Not sure how close that matches to a 31 sedan.
As straight as your sedan is, id put the stock type top on it. when filling the roof on a A you get weird section where the visor bolts on on the front and and then ends up welded to the filler panel on the top. Personally i like the idea of filling the top opening with a sheet metal panel and then putting the stock type corse grain vinyl on it. It all but eliminated the possibility of it ballooning up at highway speeds since you have glued it to the top filler panel. Plus you don't have to deal with what to do or how to fill the top tack strip area at the top of the rear quarters behind the quarter windows. Here is a link to how @Just Gary did it on his 28 its pretty much the same on your 30. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...e-6-steel-roof-covered-by-stock-vinyl.636247/ and another pic to think about for the tack strip on the rear quarter.
Brett, I'm doing just what Jason likes. The thread has lots of pictures & commentary. My opinion: You're researching options in the wrong order. Most of the donor cars that other HAMBers will suggest are waaay older (e.g. '50's & '60's station wagons) and were shredded years ago. Instead of asking for recommendations, and then looking for those specific cars in a local junkyard, I'd recommend you make a plywood template of your roof's contour and take that with you when shopping for a donor roof at your local junkyard. You'll probably find a suitable donor for cheap $$ that nobody would've ever considered. It's just not cost effective for junkyards (near me in VA anyway) to retain anything over ~20 years old. That's why I put a Toyota minivan roof on my Tudor.
I'd say either an original top for a traditional look or a smooth fill, also the headliner attached to the original top bows.
That's one of my "alternate" options. I've done a little Google-ing and found this...Can't post the screenshot (rodent explicit), but you'll get the idea! https://www.sunroofsource.com/28-31-ford-model-a-sedan-tudor-sliding-ragtop-40x70/
I really want to pull the wood from the top and leave it be since I can't afford to build a roadster, but my wife really thinks rain/snow would put a damper on weekend cruising.....
And the sun! I've left of couple of my Model A's open and it was crazy hot on a long trip, you couldn't get away from it until the sun went down lol... I like the vinyl top best, plus there's no bodywork involved lmao! I use a sheet of luan over the bows. Foam over it, vinyl over foam, hidem welt around the edge and you're done. If you were closer I'd sure help ya, and if that didn't work I have a top skin from a Tahoe saved out behind the shop just in case I buy another A' or if somebody else needs it. I think I spent about $150ish on the last vinyl I put on.
@Dino 64 's '31 coupe has the stock wood ribs resting on the stock lip, all covered by a removable snap-on canvas top. It wouldn't protect you from hurricane Ian, but I rode in it during light rain/heavy fog and it was fine. ... And you can remove it for the wind & sun effect.
Same here. 20+ years ago on here I was collecting parts to make a coupe version of an A400 using a sliding top with B400 style Qtr windows.
I don't have any photo's but a old pal of mine used a sheet of stainless steel and pop riveted it into the opening, it actually turned out pretty nice, he used black fender welt around the opening between the stainless and paint. HRP
I like the idea of the insert being removable. Even if it does not ever get removed. What I have seen done on A sedans that I really like is the use of original style rubber going all the way around the sides to the insert. Then a removable insert in place in the center. lexan tinted works or aluminum either with beads rolled or smooth. I have even seen one with light metal (painted) with louvers. I did not ask the man what material he used but he informed me that he had two inserts, one with and one without louvers. They were held in place with pan head screws and he swapped them out for rainy/snowy season. edit damn it: I meant to mention that last I checked that rubber like grainy material that was original is being repopped and can still be purchased from JC Whittney
I welded in a mustang roof with factory hatch open sun roof in a 36 five window when I was a kid. Don't do that.
A couple years ago a group of us were on a short road trip, maybe 4 hours tops. My buddy in his freshly built Model A coupe with open top had his hands sunburned so badly they were blistered by the time we got to Austin. Poor ******* had to buy some "driving gloves" to use on the rest of the trip. Kinda funny to us but he was hating life I guarantee it .
@porkn****** i think Nathan Stewart has done a few like that. Can’t recall his hamb handle at the moment. Attached the fabric top with marine style lift a dot snaps. We are going to do our A similar with the material over the edges to the rain gutters and back strip etc but the center snaps off
I don't have pics of the roof, but on my 31 coupe roof, I filled the roof then installed a [gasp]Juliano kit but shaped it like a 32 34 front and back and it looked sweet. not one comment from anyone, as in What the hell. Also, the girl in the photo with me, married one little boy and a girl in her belly.
Used Volare station wagon roofs in a bunch of Model A sedans.Work great in 28-9 ,have to be a careful fit in 30-1..probably can't even find them anymore they all got crushed.But if you can find one,get one without a ROOF RACK!
I had a set of friends that knew of a Corvair van that was sitting and they sawzalled (if thats a word) the roof out of it. It fit very well. I covered it with 1/4" foam and had a vinyl top installed. It looks stock, but, you get the advantage of having a solid roof.
I replaced all the wood framing with oak and made a vinyl soft top that snaps in. just standard snaps down the sides and rear but fasteners that you must push the ****on on top to release along the front. Also the front and rear has thin aluminum strips sewn in to keep it from lifting. The vinyl top is two layers so it is finished on both sides. It unsnaps and rolls up to be stored on the package shelf behind rear seat so it is always ready to be reinstalled incase of rain. We run with the top off all summer and it goes on in the fall.
@46international Does your soft top just cover the opening, or does it extend to the Tack strips (side and rear)? And by mentioning "package shelf", is this on a coupe or sedan? I have a sedan. Pics?
It just covers the top opening, does not come down to the drip rails. I filled the tack strip area. Mine is a sedan but I moved the rear seat forward a few inches to place the gas tank behind the seat so that left me with a small package shelf.
I seam sealed and screwed a steel roof skin cut from a 59 Edsel sedan (could be any donor car with the right crown) into the factory wood surround right up to the factory roof tack slots around the roof opening. Then I glued a piece of 1/4 inch high density foam to the steel insert and stretched and glued a piece of Model A roof vinyl to the foam and stapled it to the wood around the edges. I covered up the stapled edge and the roof tack slots with reproduction 33/34 Ford top insert trim.
My old bossman flush fit an aluminum panel in a 32. Bolted in along the roof insert area. The panel was covered in German convertible top material. It fit very tight to the body. No tack strip. Looked killer
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