I am replacing the top on the '24 roadster. Some time back there was a discussion on the forum about replacing the tack strip that is used to secure the lower edges of the top. I have not been able to find the discussion. What is a good modern material that can be used to replace the tack strip?
Call Kubels and get some of the plastic stuff they sell.
The white plastic 'wood' sold at the big box stores works well as long as you don't need to attach anything with a wood screw. The material cuts easy, bends easy with the aid of a hair dryer, and holds tacks and staples well. Screws do NOT hold very well.
Ron Dupree
My brother Jon offers the following: "If screws won't hold, you can be sure that tacks and nails will also eventually work loose. The plastic won't give the flexible sheet metal the support that wood will. Your $$$ paint job will appreciate your using wood here. No reason not to."
The moldable plastic Fordwood (Cubells) sells is very nice and workable. I bought some and used it for my 21 touring rebuild. Worked great for me. You use a propane torch to heat and bend or shape it. Very tough and good stuff.
I used the white PVC "wood" plank from Lowe's, ripped to correct size and bent to form with a heat gun and a lot of little C-clamps. Don't know how it'll be in 100 years, but, it works good so far!
All of the above is good advice, but not for a '24.
The later cars didn't have an external tack strip, and I believe that this is what folks are suggesting...the wood is entirely inside the body. What is shown above is new wood in a '23 prior to its being trimmed down to the correct reveal above the sheet metal.
25 still had a wood strip to tack the top and upholstery to.
here is a piece siting on the side panel. Jim
James
thanks so very much for the education!
It appears that the top of the body is folded over to support this nailer?
I own several T's but have only rewooded my '23 and assumed that since '21 they were all the same. Again, thanks for setting me straight, and to Cecil, and all, I apologise for getting this so bolixed up.
Here is a pic of the top of the side panel that shows the shape of the metal there. Jim
Here is a pic of the top of the side panel that shows the shape of the metal there. Jim
Jim
thanks for taking the time to post that picture. That's exactly what I imagined it to look like. I've done a bunch of research in the past two days and it appears that there are two versions of sheet metal...the one that I have which definitely takes wood on the interior, which the sheet metal tacks flush to...the wood structure is its own tack strip...and then there's the version that you are illustrating which takes the tack strip. regards, scott
Cubells and FORDWOOD has been mentioned. Where can this be procured and what is it? Been out of town for the last 10 days and need to sort this tack strip problem out.
Website for Cubells
Look up each wood drawing, and click on price list, the tack strip is the part they make of black heat forming plastic, use a heat gun to shape. Fasten with stove bolts as you bent it to shape.
http://www.fordwood.com/
What's the flexible tack strip Lang's sells (listed as one word "tackstrip" if you search their web catalog). Is this the same stuff Cubell's sell?
I think Lang's tack strip is the same type Mac's sells: http://macsautoparts.com/early-ford-pickup-tack-strip-1-2quot-x-3-8quot-wide-tac kstrip/camid/FP1/cp/JS0R3CHL1130013E/
It's hard rubber, so not the same as Cubells wich need heat to conform to the shape & adds some stiffness after it has cooled down. The later type body with the shelf for the tackstrip formed in the metal already has some stiffness, so the additional stiffness from the wood or plastic doesn't seem all that necessary? I have found a large dimension fan belt intended for some machinery that takes both screws and tacks with some difficulty - I hope it'll work for the upholstery in my 26 roadster