I just finished putting a top on my 24 Tudor using the padding that came with the kit. Don't really like it; the top material just doesn't lay right around the edge where the drip rails go and the hidem welt. I took the original top off, and it had little or no padding, just the muslin. Right now I'm tempted to remove the vinyl and take off the padding. Opinions please!!!
Mike,
The Top on the closed cars didn't have much padding originally.
See this photo below. You can almost count the roof slats. When I did our car I used a very thin wadding ( No more than 1/4 inch thick.) Regards, John
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Instead of cotton, I prefer the Dacron (??) material used for quilting--you have to split it, as it's too thick for top padding as it comes. I've never had it lump, or give "funny spots" in a top, and you can feather it out to the edge so you can get a nice clean curved edge with the material.
However, you probably won't see the slats like i this picture. Very interesting photo!
T'
David D.
PS
Lookit the back fender on the Tudor in the foreground!
T'
David D.
I have had very good luck using a double layer of polyester quilt padding. It does not matt yet will almost disappear when under the roof material at the edges.
The Dacron wading is what I used also . My wife does quilting. It is over 25 years since I did it and it is still as good as when it was installed back then. I haven't got a picture of the complete top but here is one showing how it feathers out at the rain gutter and the welt on the back of the car. Regards, John
Here is a link to a previous Forum thread that has some Top instillation content.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/218024.html?1308247477
Mike,
Was the padding that you used natural (cotton) or man-made (Dacron)? If the padding was Dacron polyester fiber, take it out. It will never look right. It is too springy and will always look "puffy" because it doesn't compress like cotton.
If you have an upholstery supply store near you, buy some good old cotton upholstery padding. It usually comes in one thickness which is usually too thick for top padding. It's also too narrow. The cotton can be split in half, thickness wise, if you carefully peel it in half. If gets too thin in spots, you can fix it by simply peeling a strip of cotton to make a patch. Mend it by pinching it and patting together around the edges of the patch. Do not ball it up.
The cotton width will be approximately half the width of the top. Do one half first, front to back. then do the second half butting the second half against the first half then pinching the halves together.
I do not let the padding continue down the sides and rear of the top past the center of the radius of the top sill. As the padding begins to go from horizontal to vertical, it should have a tapered edge so that the top covering does not bulge out above the drip rail when it's installed. This can be done by carefully peeling the edge of the padding away. Slight variations are o.k. because the padding will compress and the variations will disappear.
The muslin layer against the top slats is correct as far as my experience goes. I have never found original chicken wire in a Model T top. If the muslin is new, install it as tight as you can and then spray it with a fine mist of plain water (do not soak it) while the car is in direct sunlight. this will shrink the muslin like a drum skin. If the first layer is right, the rest of the layers have a good foundation and will usually give good results.
I hope this helps you. Sorry if I rambled a little.
Best Of Luck,
Mike Spaziano.
Just for consideration. My sadly not yet restored 1927 Paige had a crude felt material under the top material. It looks a lot like the felt carpet matting that was commonly used about 40 to 70 years ago. Check with carpet installers. I've gotten some that I have been using for years as upholstery stuffing from them. They still find it, and they have to pay to dispose of it.
I am hoarding some in case I ever get around to restoring the Paige.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2