Projects NOT THE TYPICAL '30 ROADSTER BUILD

Sorry about your pops. Glad he is doing ok. Watch out for the covid fog. Had a neighbor who had covid and she was really bad memory wise for about 2 months afterward, but she did come around. Nice work on the carpeting!

 

Thank you Brian! It really feels good to see it come together.
I look at the before and after pictures and have a hard time believing we did that.

 

I was asked to put a picture of the repop latches.
Here you go...They might work well with a set of repop lock mechanisms but didn't work with the stock locks.

 

Door panels are all done!!!
Those door pockets kicked my ****...Looked a lot easier to do, at least on my mind they did
At least now I have a place to keep my registration and insurance card.

My pops officially completed the entire interior for this little roadster. Very proud of the work he did.




Tried to keep all the metal bezels to properly trim the ends of the door panels.



All horizontal lines seem to match well and there was no need to use screws to install the panels. A little steaming and all the waves and wrinkles will be gone.
My dad is now sewing together the door check straps to keep doors safe.

Very satisfied how it all came out and very thankful to dad for getting it done. I don't think I could have done it this good.

Tomorrow, we are heading to buy the canvas material for the top. My dad and I are super excited to trim this top and get some side curtains done. for it
We were installing the frame for the top this afternoon and realized it no longer fits...I was afraid this was going to happen. It looks like it needs to come down another 2".
If you recall, I leaned the windshield posts, even more, after everything was done and that angle changed the dimension of the frame.
I now need to re-chop the frame or tilt the windshield, a bit forward, when running with the top on.

If I re-chop the top, I am afraid the headroom might not be enough to sit comfortable while driving, the rear window space might get too small, the wood bows will need to be modified again, and I will have to re-chrome and powder coat the frame again....but I love the idea of that low, lean, sinister look of a chop top...
I might have to leave it alone and just tilt the posts forward when closing the top...
I will throw the seat in tomorrow and see how much headroom I got left. If I recall correct, there wasn't much room left....and I am only 5'-7" in a good day

 

That Covid thing is no joke. Dad is all good now back to himself, Thank God! We sure are keeping a close on eye on him and making sure he takes his time to fully recover.
I truly think working on the roadster helped him to a faster recovery. All he could think was getting back to the sewing machine.

 

Paper templates always start so ugly but soooo much cheaper than screwing up the canvas.
The "original" paper templated I had changed do much with the chopped top, but there is light at the end of the tunnel...



Header bow done and 1st top pad going up...Let's see what this weekend brings

 

I'll give you a perfect reason to utilize a trunk rather than a rumble seat setup. I'm a short drink of water and can't lift my iced-down Yeti over the quarter panel and into the trunk area without removing paint. Since it is MY ROADSTER, it has a trunk. I'll offer a brewski to you if we ever meet, straight from the trunk ! LOL

 

Gary, I will take a brewski anytime!
Very happy I went with a trunk. I think I will get a lot more use out of it.

 

Beer….
It’s not just for breakfast anymore!

 

Amen!!!

 

New jewelry installed!!! Well as a matter consider them jewelry...these cinch studs are expensive and fasteners for the side curtains are even more expensive!!!

All the top and curtains hardware is coming from Cl***tique. Upholstery It is getting harder and harder to get the correct hardware but Mike has it all in one stop shop.

The tools to install the grommets and fasteners for the curtains are next to impossible to find...but I am not giving up and the search is on!!!



Header panel, Top pads are done, and now ready to start installing the rear curtains and top deck! Getting closer and closer...
Dad is doing a great job piecing together all the paper templates. He is also sewing his own single fold binding since we couldn't fins a color that would match the interior or even a fair match to the rest of the of the upholstery.
Looks like we will also end up doing our own wire-on for the front and rear of the top so everything can match.



This is the tool kit I am looking for, Model A curtain fastener stud tool kit....If anyone has one and willing to sell it let me know.
If any one knows the makers and model numbers of what originally was used back in the day, I will welcome that too. Maybe I can find me some vintage originals.

Plan B is to start making my own. Got no lathe, no experience in tool making, and no clue of how to even go about that...but that is plan B.

 

Roll of the dices I used an old shower curtain and tape as the material to model how I wanted the top on my roadster. Hey we do what we need to do to get the job done right! I like the way you used the leather around the back of the wood where the studs are. My top is pulling up a little in some areas and leaving the wood exposed in some places and not in others. I was thinking of painting the back of it the same black as the body but this gives me another idea. You can just see it in this pic.

 

I've noticed people used two types of trim back there. A flat trim, same as what I used and a hidden welt or double welt.
The hidden welt looked too bulky for me and it required nailing to the tack strip, which I didn't want to do since I am using an original tack rail and it had too many nail holes already.I was afraid it wasn't going to hold up well.
The flat trim I used finished it well, and is not bulky. I used contact cement and the cinch fasteners keeps it well in place.

I think either one of those trims might work well for you. Remove your fasteners add the trim and re-install the fasteners. The hidden might be too bulky and it might cause your top not to fit, unless your top is a bit loose and it can stretch over the welt and into the fasteners.

 

Some good ideas. Thanks!

 

Unfortunately, my dad went back to the hospital last week as the blood infection came back. Good thing we caught it on time so he made a quick recovery just staying in the hospital for a couple of days.
He is home recovering and away from the garage until we know he gets a full recovery and the infection is fully gone this time. Blood test results are trending in the right direction.

Little work has been done, still working on the top and getting fit right.
The rear curtain went up for temporary fitting and making sure the eyelets were installed in the right place. Those eyelets have been a PITA. Haven't been able to fine the right size grommet die for it.
It is a 5/16" eyelet but a typical 5/16 or #1 die doesn't fit it.



Rear window got fitted in place and looking good. I think the 1940 window is the right choice, not too small but just big enough.

 

Enjoying this build and watching roof with special interest.
Rear window IS looking good.

Carry On!

 

I'm not sure if this is convertible top worthy, but my wife has bought dies and grommets from kamsnaps.com that worked pretty well.

 

Glad to hear your watching. Stay tuned tomorrow the fun continues!

 

Thank you. I see a die that might work.

 

The rear window is finally stapled in place and operational. I located the straps and she swings open and stays put.
These fasteners keep fighting me all the way. Nothing like not having the right tools. A 10 seconds job turns into 15 minute and lot of cussing words....At almost $10 a pop each mistakes damaging them adds up quickly



I added the triangular tap as original to help the window lay flat and in place when opening/closing the top



She opens and swings! Feels good to see it from below staying put.



And now let's do the side corner curtains...but first...I need to find he gypsy studs. I ordered them a while ago but unfortunately just now realized I got the wrong fasteners...ugh!

 

Almost done.
Sewing up the rear apron and still need to add the front and rear trim and then we can check the done box for the top,



Looking at it from this angle, I am glad we matched the edge biding to the interior.



Side curtains will soon follow....

 

Impressive work on that top!

 

Thank you! Learning as we go.

 

Good lord! If that's you just learning, I need to just give up!

 

Lol. Thank you. It has been a quite the undertaking but a very rewarding journey.
A lot of respect for those who do this professionally.

 

Taking a step back from the top for moment. The wireon trim that I am using to finish the front and rear seams is not looking as I was expecting. Trying different things to see if I can make look a bit flatter. It just doesn't close nice and tight as I would like.
I might have to end up using hidem gimp but was really hoping to use the wireon...

Decided to start tracing the side curtains...as I take a moment to make a decision.
I doubt I will ever use them but really want to get them done now so all the materials will match and I don't have dye lot issues later down the road.

Same as the top, I want them to have a stock look to them and use the stock fasteners.




Making sure the rear curtain follows the rear seam at the top and follows the body belt line below...



Moving onto the template for the front side curtain...



I started with front part of it to keep it easier to move around and make adjustments.
I still need to figure out how many lift a dots the upper stanchions will need.
I will have side view mirror in both sides so that adds a bit more anchoring to the front.



That body belt line needs to match...the devil is on the details.

Hopefully tomorrow I can get the rear section of the front curtain done but first I want to figure out those curtain rods.

 

Hope everyone had a good and fun Thanksgiving holiday!

I continue to figure out the side curtains....every time I step away and I come there is some time of adjustment I end up making. You can tell by all the tape

The template for the rear curtain is a keeper but the front one is still work in progress.
I had it almost done and was very happy with it until I installed the side view mirror and opened the door...The mirror had no room to go and wouldn't allow the door to open enough for someone to get in or come out....back to the drawing board it was.

I figured I need the curtain to be a big oversize in the front but yet tight from the top so it won't sag. After some brainstorming I added a pleat to the top. That seemed to work.




The pleat allows some room and extra material for the mirror to function better.
I also changed the mirror heads to allow a bit for room.
The 2" chop mirror that I am using has a head that projects forward a couple of inches. The original mirror head is closer to the post so about of 4 mirrors I made two.



You can see how that pleat on top tucks in the material at the bottom. That "pocket" is where the mirror's head will go in when swinging the door open.



And with that, the front side curtain template is a bit closer to being ready.
Marking up all the sewing lines and windows so everything lines up from front to back. Looks like a finish window height of 5-1/2".
I am trying to keep the shape, height, and position of the windows as close as possible to what the originals were.

One thing is bothering that I had not fully realized before, with the side curtains on one has to fully open the door to do anything that would require access to the outside.
I am thinking I might add a zippered window. but have no clue how to even go about that. I am ***uming the shape of those windows will not favor a zipper either....
....Maybe I shouldn't bother with it. I don't see myself ever using these curtains anyways...
...and where do I store these? Under the seat is out of the question. The backrest doesn't fold forward and I don't think the trunk has enough room for them.

Anyone with some experience with zippered windows and storage feel free to chime in.



The rear apron finishes the back well.



I settled for hidem welt for the front and back trims. Once again, my pops came through as we had to make our own to match the rest of the trim. A little adjusting here and there and the top is fully done now.



Before finishing the templates for the side curtains I tried fitting the curtain rods...glad I did it now and shame on me I din't do it way before.
I figured they would just drop in and would simply need a bit of cutting but that was not the case
Those things were clocked wrong from where thy were made, and I had to rework the angle cuts at the bottom so they would sit in.
Using repop door skins, original inside halves, one repop latch and an original, one didn't make it any easier. I spent a good amount time until I got them where I want them. I really should have done all this before painting.



Cutting them to size was the easier part.

 

Top headers and rear curtains are done.
Installing those fasteners continue to be a PITA but so satisfying to see it done and knowing I won't have to install those fasteners again. YAY!
Front curtains to go...

 

That top is really coming together nicely! Well done on taking your time to get all the angles and shapes right.

 

Thank you. I am very happy with the way it looks. Not bad for my 1st go at it.