Technical Keeping the weather out of a snap top on a Tudor questions

That's too funny. On the cold end, I have turned my heater on and still had the top down to keep my toes warm with some fresh air.

 

Looks like Nathan hasn’t logs in in a year or so, I’ll look threw his pictures here and on Instagram and see if I can find something to share.

his are made from boat tonue <- I will always spell the wrong - cover material and held in place with lift a dot snaps. Says they don’t leak a drop and he would know. I’ve seen his crew running in a lot of rain a lot of times.

I’ve had similar questions as I plan on a removable top on the A sedan we are working on and have it apart enough to plan for this sort of thing g down the road

 

tonneau

 

So many vowels. lol thanks Trent

 

A few Nathan has done in Ohio

 

He has made mention of a wire in the front? I also notice he’s using hidem’ on the front of the customer cars. his personal car- now painted this is an old photo- doesn’t seem to have anything other than tight snaps

 

I think @metal man is Nathan’s Pops and checks in more often maybe he’ll see this and weigh j .

 

Wow these pictures are excellent sir. Llooking at the opening one, I see a channel in the wood header along with what looks like either a lip or a rubber seam along the sides right behind the snaps. Both water management tools are attached to the body as opposed to the fabric. I wonder if the hidem and the wire are just ways to stop wind buffeting the front edge of the fabric and lifting it up between the snaps.

 

One more option before you make a move. I used an aluminum L channel screwed to the from header. The screw holes are slotted where it attaches. The channel hangs out over the roof a 1/2 inch. The top material has a hook channel sewn to it like one that holds a modern seat cover to the frame. ( same on rear of car) pull the top forward, hook it, loosen the wing screws inside to lower it down and snap the sides. I like the Velcro idea too. I just thought it wouldn’t hold.


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I used snaps (except on the front edge)to attach my removable top covering but because I used vinyl and it stretches a lot I had to sew in aluminum strips in at the two ends this holds it tight and straight at the front and rear. If I had it to do over, I would use something that stretched less like that "sunbrella' I think it is, I think they use it for boat tops.
Anyway, on the front edge I used those post type "roadster side window" clips. They are sold at restorer vendors as "correct" side curtain attaching points. They are a post that goes through a grommet ringed hole and you must push the little button in the top of the post to release the small wing that pops out to keep it latched. Just look at a Model A restorer catalog and you will find them.
With all that being said that Coupe up a couple of posts looks VERY GOOD, with the "lift the dot" snaps. I was looking at those but was worried that they may not hold at highway speed, at least on the front edge.
Now about keeping the water out in the rain, my set up leaks, leaks a lot but not more than the leaks around the windshield and doors so I guess it is ok. don't get me wrong it is not too bad in a light rain, but in a HARD downpour it will leak.

 

Here are some pics of mine. Keep in mind, mine is kind of amaturish. Mine is vinyl as well and it does stretch! I love the pics of the coupes the guy in Ohio did!


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I guess they didn’t load.


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@Cliff Ramsdell anything to add to this?

 

I had an OT daily driver half convertible for a bunch of years, in northern Illinois. Front half was a hard roof, covering the front seat area. There were no back seats. The rear half was a removable soft top. Kinda the best of both, really. You got sun protection from the overhead roof, with an open back. The only down side was storage. If you took the roof off, you had to put it somewhere.

The top had a rubber U channel in the roof, and the top had a matching rubber seal that fit in to it. That, and post style snaps, held it on fine in all weather without leaks.

In addition to everything else, think about how you’re going to tension the top to stop it from flapping. Pickup truck bed covers may be inspirational here.



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@Tim, thanks for the heads up. While I don’t consider my setup to be weather tight it is weather resistant and works much better than the snaps across the front like my old top.

You can scroll down on this page of my car build https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/rebuild-of-my-1928-model-a-tudor.1135981/page-7
and see what I did for the top. Like @Tman showed I used an awning rail for the front and stitched a piece of brake line inside the top material.

Hope this helps with more ideas.

Cliff Ramsdell

 

I just don't drive in the rain. lol

 

im in planning mode for a top similar to the stewart upholstery stuff in posts 35 and 36. the thing i dont hear or read much about are snaps versus lift-a-dot 's. just wondering what the pro's and con's are . i know it basically boils down to personal preference but was hoping someone might chime in.