Thread: fOLDING TOP ?

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anyone here ever built a folding top ?
something like a factory convertible fold -... "type"
but it'll be manual . small tube bending and sewing , & lots of figuring ........ ?
just wondering if anyone here had tried it or accomplished it .

just really bored guys.... and this is a project that the " BrothEr'n-law " is about to get started on and thought I'd throw it out there , maybe get some sites to check out or maybe some stories or ideas .

maybe hook up some hydraulics to it later if it turns out nice , and sturdy . Maybe even try one on my blazer and Buick ? .......
lots of ideas bouncing around in my head ......

Thanks 4 read'N
T L

One of my many projects is a 40 Studebaker. It was a four door sedan. It is now a two door convert (phaeton style). Lots of work. I used a convertable top frame from an early Mustang for a base. It is a manual type unit with counterweight springs that tuck into the quarters. Lots of cutting/measuring welding..

BOBCRMAN@aol. " so you took a early Mustang top and modified it to work ? " that'D be cool !
I figured it'D be alot of compromising and making it fit ..... but that'd be a good way to go , " maybe look for something close to the width I'm needing and go from there , thanks BOBCRMAN ! "

was reading up on carson tops and such ........ maybe something in a" lift off" type but doesn't seem to fit my needs , " for long trips it wouldn't be practical " ..... I drive my stuff all year round .

by the way do you have any pixs of this project your talking about ? ..... you wouldn't mind posting ? ...... and what would have made it easier ..... for you to build ?

Thanks for the reply

T L

I have built a few tops.......some looked like carson tops, and others like a regular convertable top.
It is really easy and pretty cheap.
All you need is electrical condutit pipe, a electrical conduit tubeing bender, and a tubeing cutter. Then go to a boatshop and buy Top bracket hinges. The conduit fit's perfect, you just measure the width of your car..........bend tubeing to a 90' and cut to the heighth of the windshild. Slip the end into the swivel hinge and tighten the set screw. And if your doing like a carson style top, start your first bow behind the door.....and you can run a piece of masking tape from the top of the windshield frame.....to the first bow.....then you can run the tape beyond that to figure out where your going to put the next bow to achieve the profile that you want.
Then all I would do is have the upholistrey shop make a top, with sleaves that will snap around the bows. And put snaps around the base of the top, and on the front of the windshield frame, so the top wraps over it. And when your not useing the top.........just snap the covers over the snaps that are on the body. They come in many colors......or you can paint them to match your color. I useally pay about 175.00 for a water proof top in black or white.....with a narrow oval mailbox slot rear window, made out of clear vinal.
Some boat shops can do your upholstrey for you......Iv'e found some to be even cheaper than a regular upholistrey shop.
Hope this helps.

Sorry I don't have pics and right now the car is a distance away (I am in the midst of a 200 mile move).

I used the Mustang frame because I wanted a functional top and I had it in the barn, leftover from an old restoration job.

I have built functional tops from elec conduit before, but they were for roadsters etc. This is a long top and I already have an insane amount of time in the conversion of four door sedan to two door convert (extended front doors eight inches, welded shortened rear doors into the body sides etc.). I just wanted to be able to use the top like a more modern vehicle. I still have to finish the top well, behind the rear seats and design and cut the side glass.

I have a local dealer that gets the rubber seal for the top of the windows to top frame and I have also been able to get the seals from JC Whitney.

Marinas and boat builder/maintainance places are great places to get Hinges, fasteners, lunch box type top latches and small framed windows for the rear.

Thank you guys very much , that gives me a bunch of ideas to check out .

I'm just trying to keep things rolling while I've got this down time , to get some stuff worked out , and maybe ........... " Maybe " help the BrotheR'Nlaw out ........ ? ....... we- will- see ,

but thanks again...........
I need to get some measurements 1st , then go check out the "YaRds" < ( love that part !!! ) and I know of a few old boat yards also ," living close to the river and lake " , do some read'N, checking out some parts, so I know what's available , and hit the marinas around here to see who the good guys are and start bugging'N um .......... maybe luck out and get a short windsheild to go with this ..........

and BOBCRMAN@aol. don't worry bout them pix , " moving suxs!!! I don't want to add to it. " .....

I looked around the net for some pixs to give you a idea of what the BrotheR'Nlaw is trying and I'll post 'em just give ya a idea , " you already know what I"m do'N "
he was going to make it a truck ( that idea I liked! wood stake bed , primer plan motor, useful - funny ! ) then , a buggy , then a lowrider, now this...... was going to put a big block in it then a motorcycle motor , then Bla,BlaBlaBla blaaa ........ you get the idea ......
so we'll see ........ but I'll use this idea on either the Buick or my blazer.



T L

Treekiller---I too am doing some research on folding or Carson style convertible tops, as I will want one for the roadster pick-up when it is finished. An interesting website is "www.topsters.com" in British Columbia, Canada. They make a convertible top frame that doesn't fold, but can be quickly? broken down and stored in a roadsters trunk. I am facing some rather unique issues because of the fact that my roadster pick-up body is actually made from a cut down sedan body, so consequently doesn't have conventional roadster windshield posts. I am learning as I go here, having never had a roadster before, except for one which had a DuVall style windshield frame that I built, with no top.

Measuring the cockpit of my 32 roadster and comparing it to the 31 on 32 rails roadster cockpit, they're very close to the same size.
The 31 is 2" shallower in vertical depth and the windshield is approx 1 1/2" to the rear measured at the top.
The rear cockpit rail to dash front at back of cowl is about the same.

Looking at a couple of ways to go here.

1. Get a set of aftermarket top irons for a 32 and cut the single forward horizontal strap on each side so as to bring the front header back to match the 32 windshield posts (chopped 2") that I'm using on the 31.

2. Copy the 32's top irons making the abovementioned forward horizontal strap the correct length to start with.

Making your own top irons doesn't look to be too tough, specially with a set of irons to copy.

One other way I've thought about doing it would be to get the aftermarket oak bows for a 32 and build a welded top.
If you ran a polished stainless strap down to the tab on the cockpit side rail and let the varnished oak bow show, it would look very much like a regular top bow setup.
Assuming you want to go that way.

In any event - if you build your own top - take note that the standard Ford tops overhang the cockpit side rails to an extent.
Makes it easy when you wash the car and also keeps rain out as long as it's not blowing sideways.

A lot of the home-made top frames I see (and many of them are very well done) the top is narrower on the sides than the cockpit side rails & door and rain goes straight in.

As a small fwiw, the 32 windshield posts are easy to adapt to the 30-31 A stanchions and making your own 32 style windshield frame isn't too difficult either.
The combination of 32 windshield posts, 32 style windshield frame (rectangular instead of round tubing like the A's) and a 32 top make for a very nice looking car imho.