Thread: Top for my roadster

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Originally Posted by C9x

I think I have it.
Hiding the rear bow where it drops down toward the cockpit pivot point.

I think LB calls that the Gypsy top style.

It looks good, no doubt about it, but I thought that style would impinge on the side view looking out so opted for the more open appearance.

Yes I drove a cabriolet Deuce and did not like the fact that the top prevented me from having decent visibility to my sides. I would favor a style that is more "open", like yours. I saw a for sale add in paper picturing an original HF roadster with a top that was quite open on the sides but the bow was not showing. Regretably I don't know who made that top. I did save the classified showing the photo of that roadster for sale (which was picture with that cool top on). Maybe I'll just call the seller and ask . It could also mean that this was a hard top, not a folding one.

Originally Posted by HiboyGal

Yes I drove a cabriolet Deuce and did not like the fact that the top prevented me from having decent visibility to my sides. I would favor a style that is more "open", like yours. I saw a for sale add in paper picturing an original HF roadster with a top that was quite open on the sides but the bow was not showing. Regretably I don't know who made that top. I did save the classified showing the photo of that roadster for sale (which was picture with that cool top on). Maybe I'll just call the seller and ask . It could also mean that this was a hard top, not a folding one.

One thing you can do when starting from scratch is to get the top irons mounted then install the oak bows by wrapping them with masking tape in the location you think you want them.
The masking tape makes it easy to slide the bows up and down on the irons so you can get an idea of how the top's lines will flow.

Once the oak bows are on, run several lengths of masking tape from rear cockpit rail to windshield header.
Covering half of the top will be sufficient because it's the side view you're checking out.

The side view of my 31 with masking tape that mimics the hood line will give you a good idea.
The tape will be fairly straight, but in this pic the grille shell came back a touch which allowed slack in the tape.

Once you're happy with the top's lines, install the oak bows with stainless sheet metal screws - with phillips heads.

I made a point to drive my 32 around for a few days after I'd decided where the oak bows should go.
Wrapping a little black electricians tape over the masking tape adds some strength and the masking tape prevents the black stick-um from transferring to the oak bows.
It was educational to have the top irons on and see how things like entry and exit worked out.
You'll find you have to do a slightly different maneuver when getting in or out of the car as compared to what you do when the top is off.

C9 and all of you guys: Once again you impress me with both your knowledge and your coolness (and yoru willingness to help others). I wish all forums were like this one! I previously was posting on 'another forum' (which I am not at liberty to mention hehe) and I had to run for my life, seems the only thing some of their members were interested in over there was to pick on you and they come across like total jerks. I am so glad I found this Deuce corner, where I feel welcome and I get great help from experienced Deuce owners!

You guys ROCK!

Faith, you hung in there longer than I would have. You were taking a real beating.

Don

I don't understand the mentality on some of the forums... I think Sigmond would say some of those guys have "Rod Envy" !!!

I have noticed that when people show up with a nice Hot Rod they seem to get bashed by those who some how feel they have to prove themselves...

Glad you like it here with us!!!

Dave Brisco

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Faith, you hung in there longer than I would have. You were taking a real beating.

Don

Here's another one that helps in the cold/rainy weather.

A pair of windwings.

These are made of Lexan as noted in a post above.
They mount to re-pro WW clamps from Vintique.

Note that the Lexan panels are not as long horizontally speaking as the stock 32 WW panel's.

Stock length WW's work ok, but impede entry & exit a touch.
The length on these works well, do not get in the way when entering or exiting and the nice part is, they still allow airflow in the summer.
I used to take the WW's off in the summer.

I also had a set of glass WW's and they were so heavy that they tended to slide/pivot down out of the WW clamps, especially in cold weather.
Lexan is much lighter than glass and the WW's on the 32 are about ten years old and as you can see still very clear.

One last cold weather hint . . . besides getting a heater.
Heaters do well even in an open roadster, especially so for the passenger since it dumps heat right in their lap and the driver also gets some heat.
The heater in my 32 is from Al's Carponents and works well.

The pic shows rear quarter windows that mount to the rear oak bow with longer sheet metal screws and a machine screw & nylock nut at the bottom.

Airflow tends to come off the WW's, turn in and enter the cockpit near the rear of the side window opening.
Taller people are not too bothered, but shorter folks get hit with cold air right in the ear.
The quarter windows keep the airflow out of the car

The Quarter windows you see were the prototypes.
Constructed from 1/8" Lexan.

They worked ok, but since they are center mounted, airflow caused them to buzz at highway speed.
Over a period of time they would probably start breaking, plus the buzz is a pain.

The ones in the car now are made from 3/16" Lexan.
The 3/16" is stiff enough to resist buzzing from airflow.

The quarter windows do a good job during the winter - down to 16 degrees F is my personal record - but are removed in summer to improve airflow.

I can see the coupe guys out there wondering why all the effort to set up a roadster for cold - or hot - weather running.
Kinda simple, cold weather comes on for several months here in Arizona and in fact in Central California where I used to live.
Kinda nice to be able to run it and not get eat up with the cold.

And . . . I have yet to see a hot rod coupe running in cold weather.
Here or in Sunny California....