Side curtains, yay or nay?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Side curtains, yay or nay?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jared Buckert on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 11:19 am:

Just thought I'd bring up a subject I haven't seen a lot of discussion on. We're going to be getting into the winter months before we know it, and I was wondering about everyone's opinions on side curtains on the open cars. I have thought about getting a set for my roadster. Just wondering about the pros and cons.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 11:36 am:

Jared,
We have them on all our cars. I was surprised how much they help in cold and wet weather. Out N runabout is especially cozy with the curtains on, due to the small area protected.
Rob




Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Baker on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 11:50 am:

Rob you have some nice cars.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 11:54 am:

We have them on our '14 Touring and '26 Roadster, but there are differences.

On our '14 Touring we have original side curtains like Rob pictured above on his '13. Visibility is somewhat restricted with these.

On our '26 Roadster Pickup we have "modern" style side curtains. They are clear plastic throughout, providing excellent visability as well as protection from the elements. I don't have a picture of them to post, but just imagine clear plastic on the full length of each side. They work great!

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 11:55 am:

We don't have any, but then again, our Winters are rather mild compared to yours. In the Winter, we have found riding with the top down is warmer than it being up. It lets the sun warm you. The windshield blocks the majority of the wind. The worst wind is on the back of our heads. She has long hair. I wear a skully.:-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Carnegie on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 12:03 pm:

They are nice protection from side wind in addition to rain and cold, but the plastic is hard for me to see through. I would like to have a set made with plexiglass or perhaps even tempered glass (if this is possible).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steven Thum on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 12:50 pm:

In the rain or the cold side curtains are a must for the wife. My car is a 25 touring and I will carry them to the covered bridge tour next week. Last year it rained for 3 days and the curtains helped keep us mostly dry.

Steven


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 03:48 pm:

On my '27 roadster wind wings make huge difference. I also have side curtains, but often the wind wings are all I need

Tom
Laminated safety glass might be a lot easier. Relatively easy to drill holes in it. With tempered anything like that has to be done before tempering


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike_black on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 08:11 pm:

I just got a set in the mail today for my 15 touring. Any "gotcha's"to watch out for before I start hanging them? They came with pieces of cloth rolled between them and the instructions basically say "install". Should I use the cloth as a "first attempt" then, when that's correct call it a pattern and transfer all the holes and fasteners to the final product, or just go for it?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 08:15 pm:

Here's and earlier thread with a pdf file from Mac's with instructions:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/331880/363775.html


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 08:19 pm:

James,
Thank you.

Mike,
I think using the cloth as a pattern is a good idea. Mess sure twice, cut once, or was it the other way around .....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul Mikeska, Denver CO on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 08:58 pm:

If you tour much side curtains are a good idea. You may never need them, but you will wish you had them if you get caught in a heavy storm. I once spent about 2 hours in a parking lot somewhere between Petit Jean and Fayetteville in a 23 Touring in an absolute sideways downpour. Had an umbrella open inside the car to try to keep from getting soaked. It did not work and I was not feeling the love. I have side curtains for my 14 Touring and the only time they have been on the car was the day I fitted them. Go figure.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William L Vanderburg on Friday, September 20, 2013 - 10:28 pm:

You could use that cloth for that purpose, but it's most likely there to keep the plastic windows from getting scratched when they are rolled up.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 03:19 am:

I had side curtains on the TT truck, and also on the '15 Studebaker I had. Loved them. The side curtains stayed up most of the time.
On the other hand. A lot of the touring I have done has been in speedsters and the boat-tail roadsters with no top at all. After a couple snow trips and a few downpour tours, I can go either way.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 07:50 am:

We have a 26 touring and drive it year round in WA state. No side curtains. I love being part of the weather. One dresses for the outside temp and all is groovy. However, there are times that I found I wished I had them. On a big tour away from home one doesn't want to miss out and can't just wait for a dry day. Normally rain is not a bother for me. The exception is the severity of the storm. Side blowing rain with goodly sized hail (on the wife's side, ouch) is an issue if you are out on tour. That is when I wanted side curtains and was envious of the guys that had them.

So, in five years of driving year round, there have been a few days they would have been used. Mostly, I am better off with the other stuff I keep under the seats. A blanket is one of the items we often employ if the wife gets chilled.

One other issue is the comfort of the rear seat passengers. In the touring we are well protected from wind in the front seat, but all the air goes directly onto the backseaters. They may want the side curtains more than the driver does.

I am happy without them (the side curtains), but may build a set one day just for ducks.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Coiro on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 08:45 am:

My '15 Touring didn't come with side curtains—at least not when I bought it. Didn't figure it was any big deal as I was only going to drive the car on sunny weekends. Well, then there was this one time at a car show that the heavens unexpectedly opened up and we had to drive home through a downpour. And what you see here happened several times on the way home. Oh, it felt like John the Baptist had been turned loose with a fire hose!



Suddenly, side-curtains seemed to make a lot of sense.

But seriously, folks: The side-curtains I've seen cut visibility down to a sliver and they'd naturally be used at a time when wind and rain are already compromising safety. I've been thinking about having a set made from clear, heavy-gauge plastic. No, that wouldn't be historically correct, but if you're going to be traffic-jamming in rainy weather, maybe that's the safer way to go. There's an automotive shop not too far from me that makes and repairs convertible tops and they work with this transparent material.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 09:34 am:

I made a set for my '25 runabout. They are nice when you need them. If you intend to buy a pre-made set, don't expect them to fit perfectly though. I made mine from the original Ford drawings, and still had to do some fitting to get the fastener locations just right.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 09:47 am:

I have a custom set of side curtains on order from Classtique Upholstery - I asked them to maximize the clear areas (as much as practical) for maximum visibility. I'll post pictures of them once I get them and mount them on the car (1923 touring/pickup).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kenneth W DeLong on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 10:08 am:

The 1914 i bought about 16 years ago came with side curtans which i have never used!I have ran the car in winter at 7 above zero but dry roads.If i get cought in the rain ok,but i do watch the weather for go or no go.At this stage of life i can't afford another Ford so i take care of the one's i have! Bud.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 10:34 am:

Side curtains are a big help, having a clear windshield would be nice if it was standard on the car.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Enos Wiseman on Saturday, September 21, 2013 - 11:09 pm:

I have the curtains and when it get"s cold enough to use them I think I'll probably be backing Mr's T in for the winter. I did have them on in the early spring and it was a bit to hot.T with curtains


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jared Buckert on Sunday, September 22, 2013 - 11:04 am:

Sounds like the general consensus is to have them and pray you never use them. I wasn't too worried about heat, but having them in a downpour would be very handy. I was worried about the windows fogging up when they're installed. I do like the idea of using clear vinyl and making some not-quite-authentic side curtains that add some safety.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Sunday, September 22, 2013 - 01:12 pm:

The side curtains on the ambulance can be unhooked from the top fasteners and folded down to see over them, I do not have any problem with the windshield fogging due to the design, but my glasses tend to get wet some times. The nice thing about side curtains is that if the weather gets bad enough, you can always pull over and wait it out and still stay dry.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gene Carrothers Huntington Beach on Sunday, September 22, 2013 - 01:55 pm:

I don't have any for my Torpedo but on our many tours except ONE my wife got wet and one time nearly drown. To my good fortune the storms always come from her side when we're driving. Luckily she does dry out and she has something unique to tell her friends about driving in a Model T but I usually end up being the bad guy for not having curtains.

I must get busy and make some and I like the idea of having larger windows even though they may not be era correct. The important this is visibility and functionality. Just think how many times you have them on during a show... Never.
The other question is where to store them? During the Kanab tour I saw another Torpedo that had them stowed inside a round tube mounted crosswise on the deck between the gas tank and the body.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Sunday, September 22, 2013 - 02:50 pm:

I go to more tours than car shows. This is the Texas T Party in 2009 near Tyler, Texas. It rained for 4 days straight, with temperatures in the 50's. I put the side curtains on the '17 right after this picture was taken on day 1 of the 4 day tour. They stayed on for the rest of the week.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Sunday, September 22, 2013 - 07:25 pm:

Side curtains are a pain in the rear when on a tour, when you're getting in and out often. Other than that, they are great! (If you have a '26-7 car, see the next paragraph.) I had a set made for my '15 Touring and used them often. I had much larger "windows" put in them than the originals had, and I could see out very well. When it's raining, or cold, they make the ride much more enjoyable.

On the "improved" cars they made a significant improvement in the curtains, and that is that they open and close with the door(s). Much more convenient than the earlier setup.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Rosenkrans on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 11:06 am:

We have a set on our '26 Touring which go on usually in November and stay on through April or so. Seems to make a big difference when driving while its cool out.

We had them on when we went down to Florida for the Winter Tour in Daytona last year, but I took them off the first night. It ended up being cool in the mornings all week and I wished I'd kept them on.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike_black on Friday, September 27, 2013 - 12:46 am:

Got the rear ones on fine. My searches through old forums here seemed to reveal some indecision on what is really correct for the front of the front curtain for a 1915 touring. I've got some of the little hooks that can go under a windshield hinge bolt or 2, and the curtains have a strap at the lower front corner to wrap around the sidelamp mount. Looks like the top front corner would get a female grommet and the male murphy fastener would mount on the inside of the front bow near the corner pointing toward the rear of the car making it accessible from the front seat while inside the car. Is this close to right? (Seems like it'd be functional). Would another strap in the middle to go thru the hinge be more correct, thereby eliminating the need for the little hooks? I guess to sum up this post--How does the front of the curtain attach to the car?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Townsend ; ^ ) Gresham, Orygun on Friday, September 27, 2013 - 01:09 am:

Mike-
For 1915 the front side curtain did not have the little hooks on the side of the windshield. They had a strap that went around the side lamp.

When they introduced e-lectric starters on the open cars, the side lamps went away, so they started to put on the little hooks.

The Murphy fasteners on the inside of the front bow are correct.

: ^ )

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By samuel pine on Friday, September 27, 2013 - 05:19 am:

Wonder if anyone has a 23 touring car print. I'm
going to make my own.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Friday, September 27, 2013 - 07:25 am:

The side curtain on the passenger front door of my '15 is modified. It has the removable support rod from a 1926 touring, and so the side curtain opens with the door, making ingress / egress much easier.



Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Friday, September 27, 2013 - 10:23 am:

The only thing I can think of that Ford must have done, is to use a fixture for each and every car to line up the bows, so every car would come out the same, and use the same side curtain fasteners. Today, I think a person would be foolish to buy a pre-made set of curtains, unless the fasteners were left out. Then the new owner could install them where they have to be.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Friday, September 27, 2013 - 10:58 am:

My understanding is that is exactly how the pre-made curtains come - all sewn, With all the correct fasteners loose in a bag and a diagram showing suggested locations. You have to locate and install the fasteners yourself.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Darren J Wallace on Friday, September 27, 2013 - 04:53 pm:

Is there any documentation as to where the fasteners should go as per ford specs? I have a set of curtains for my '15 touring, and I've never installed them due to lack of another car close enough to take photos of that I can be assured they're correct. Or is there a "correct" (?) :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Friday, September 27, 2013 - 05:07 pm:

Here's an older thread on side curtain fastener placement:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50893/75085.html


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike on Friday, September 27, 2013 - 06:49 pm:

I'd love to have some for my '26 touring but they're awful expensive. Are there any patterns or kits for do-it-yourselfers?
Mike Sal


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike_black on Saturday, September 28, 2013 - 01:03 am:

Mark is right about the sack of fasteners that you have to install, but you better order lots of the screws--none were included. I think I'm done! They're not perfect, but, I'm satisfied. My favorite quote from all my research of T's over the years was,"....it was a model T, it was never a Packard or Cadillac." I remember that and can accept the minor imperfections that happen along the way. Considering all the info I could put together, looking at the pics and comments in this thread, and in the thread referenced from 2008, and the instructions, the rear curtains are kind of "self positioning". It's not hard figuring out where you need to put the fasteners--it just takes a lot longer to do than you think it should, and someone to help hold is a must. The front ones are kind of the same, but, you need to decide how you want to attach the front of the front curtains. I put a male murphy fastener on the inside of the front bow and the female part on the curtain. The bottom of the curtains came with a strap to wrap around the lamp bracket and fasten back to the curtain. I marked the curtains where the center of the windshield hinge is. I'm having a friend sew a 1 inch wide piece of cotton webbing to the inside of the curtains at the marks. It will then feed through the w/s hinge where it will be wrapped around itself to secure the center of the front of the curtain while driving. Next week I'll take some pics and post here so the next person may find this job a little easier to do. Keep in mind while you're doing this, that (unless you do it like Royce) you'll have to get inside then finish buttoning up. You'll also have to undo them from the inside enough to get out, so check things out as you go--you don't want to find out when you're finished that you put the fasteners where you can't get to them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Schedler, Sacramento on Saturday, September 28, 2013 - 02:54 am:

I have some clear plastic curtains for my Runabout. They are hard to install when they are cold. I think the shop that made them didn't match the snaps exact enough and when it's cold the plastic will not stretch at all. Nice visibility though.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Saturday, September 28, 2013 - 03:26 am:

Hal - My '27 depot hack that i bought from the family of the late Pete Cosner of the Long Beach Club came with a beautiful set of custom made side curtains. They are about 75% clear plastic and 25% black naugahyde and they fit very well, however they are a "bear" to put on even in warm weather and much more difficult in cool weather. The secret is to use an electric hair dryer to warm the side curtains section-by-section as you snap them in place. Even with the use of the electric hair dryer, it is a very difficult and slow process, but they sure fit nice once they're on! It's one of those things whereby once they're installed sometime in October, they STAY ON until Spring!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Val Soupios on Saturday, September 28, 2013 - 09:16 am:

The last time I used the side curtains on my '10 was eight years ago just before I retired to Florida. It's rarely cold enough to need them and there are plenty of covered gas stations to hunker down under until the rain stops. In Florida if you don't like the weather just wait 10 minutes!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Saturday, September 28, 2013 - 09:20 am:

Here is a photo of my '25 pickup. I made the curtains from the Ford prints, and used originals too for guidance.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Saturday, September 28, 2013 - 09:47 am:

What's the little flap on the bottom of the front curtain for? Paying tolls on toll roads?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Saturday, September 28, 2013 - 10:28 am:

To be able to hand signal


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Saturday, September 28, 2013 - 12:04 pm:

Ahh, I should have thought of that, thanks!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 01:06 pm:

I received my new side curtains from Classtique yesterday, see attached pics. I had asked them to maximize the window area without destroying the general look, I think they struck a good compromise.


curtain01

curtain02

I am starting to locate and install the fasteners, both on the curtains and the body & bows. One question I have concerns the tabs at the bottom of the windshield frame. Mine are located under the rear of the two bolts at the bottom of the frame, do they belong under the front bolts?

curtain03

There appears to be enough material on the front curtains to locate the eyelet to match either location.

Thanks for the help.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 01:09 pm:

By the way, when I saw that my driver's side front curtain didn't have a flap, I panicked and called Mike at Classtique. He told me that the original curtains only had the flap on the passenger side to allow you to reach in and unlatch the door. He did say a lot of folks request flaps on both sides, but I didn't know enough to ask for that. Since my pickup has electric stop lights and turn signals, I won't need to be sticking my hand out the driver's side anyway.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 01:41 pm:

Mark:

The curtain hook goes on the front bolt and helps a wee bit to wrap the curtain around the side and across. If you take your time and fit the curtains you then will have an illusion that you are going to stay nice and dry and you will indeed be nice and dry - until it starts raining :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 02:42 pm:

I've got side curtains for my '12 Touring and never had occasion to put them on. Well, you know, southern California is like that.

The thing that I've wondered about is carbon monoxide. If the exhaust pipe nut ever works its way loose while you are driving with curtains, what are the chances of doing yourself in ? Or is the air leakage even with full curtains so plentiful that monoxide wouldn't be a problem ?

I remember when my Mom & Dad still had the car that one day my Mom was complaining that her feet getting really hot. My Dad kept telling her it was her imagination. Finally, she asked him if the charred wood and smoke were her imagination also. So he stopped and put the fire out, then tightened the exhaust nut.

Dick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 02:51 pm:

Thanks, John, I'll move the hooks to the front bolt.

I'll post pictures of the pickup with the curtains on once I finish the installation.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 03:41 pm:

When it rained on the way home from a show, I was sure glad I had them under the back seat of my, then 14 touring.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Will Copeland - Trenton, New Jersey on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 05:18 pm:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By samuel pine on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 06:50 am:

Thanks to all here I got one side done, and could
not resist the temptation to show my buddie. Big
difference even with one side BUT velcro dont work
A days work down the tube. My center with the glass
gone. Retracked my ride with my pickup no luck.
Try again with daylight.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 09:15 am:

Our new side curtains came in handy at Hershey this year. I drove onto the grounds each day (and back to the hotel at night) and the curtains kept me (and the interior) snug and dry.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 09:21 am:

Wow Rob, now that's what I call maximizing the window area! They look great.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 09:32 am:

Many years ago we had a Model A Phaeton. It was our daily driver and we used the side curtains in the winter time. I usually left off the one on the drivers front unless it was raining. Quite hard to do hand signals with it on.

It is difficult to see through them even though they have clear plastic, it is somewhat wavy.

Now having 3 open T's, we don't use side curtains. We rarely drive in the rain and unless we have a very strong side wind, don't get wet.

We do live in Southern California and go more than 6 months without rain, then only occasionally in the winter months, and very unlikely to have below freezing temperatures even at night, so our experience would be much different from those in a wet or cold climate.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 10:15 am:

You don't need them. (until you need them).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 10:35 am:

Mark,
We decided to opt for functional instead of original. Earlier in the thread there are pics of our 13 T and 06 N with curtains using "traditional" sized windows. These (K) are much easier to see out of. Also the car is so large there is a lot of room for big windows too.
Rob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 11:49 am:

I was able to locate some of those early clips at Chickasha last year like Mike Walker posted. A friends 1912 touring uses them for the windshield. As far as correct curtains go, Ford has the prints for most years, but I would still not use their dimensions for the location of the fasteners. They are very close, but can be slightly off.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randall Strickland on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 11:10 pm:

Sure was nice on Leef peeper tour!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison_Rice Minnesota on Friday, October 25, 2013 - 12:12 am:

Here in Minnesota, where men are men and sheep are nervous (oh wait, that's Montana) we ride on snowmobiles at -30 degrees fahrenheit, even though our heads are frozen, we still use side curtains. In January the side curtains cut down on the mosquitoes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Friday, October 25, 2013 - 02:46 pm:

Hey Mike,
I thought chicken wire was the best way to stop Minnesota mosquitoes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike_black on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 12:57 am:

To help those in the future, searching the forum for info, I'm adding these additional pics. Having never seen the inside, or even the outside closeup, installed on a 15, I was grasping for info. I stumbled through the install--they're good enough to suit me. First and 4th pic is fastened, inside right front, w/me holding it out so you can see the webbing I sewed to insert through the windshield and tie around the hinge or strap. 2nd pic is just the view of the inside left rear. 3rd pic is view of the inside left front showing the mounting location of the fastener on the inside of the front top bow. (Descriptions may not ref the correct pic, since, my preview only gives me numbers)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike_black on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 01:04 am:

OK--1st and 3rd are the same. Here is the pic of the inside left front.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 10:03 pm:

Mark, what John says is correct. The lower clip goes on the front bolt, and there is one more on the windshield screw above, but it is longer, and curves around the windshield frame. They hold the front part of the curtain on, and then there are two or three more on the top bow. I sure had a lot of fun making mine, but I don't see how a kit could ever work, because there is no set way nowdays of locating that rear bow. Just 1/8" off would mess up all of the locations for the eyelets in the curtains.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 09:58 am:

Thanks, Larry, I relocated the lower clips to the front bolt and I do have the longer clips that curve around the windshield frame. I'm in the process of locating and installing the remaining fasteners, but can't finish yet because I'm waiting for some extra fasteners from Mac's and Langs. I had to cut some notches in the driver's side front curtain to fit around my side view mirror and spare tire carrier. I also added a short extension to the snap at the top front corner of each front curtain to reach the mating snaps on the ends of the top rain shield. I hope to have everything wrapped up (pun intended) by the end of next week, at which point I'll post pictures of the finished installation.

hooks01

drivers_side_curtains

passenger_side_curtains


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 11:52 am:

Another aspect of restoring T's is trying to get everything right. Ford used some fasteners made by Anzo. I guess they used them all along, but apparently they are no longer in business. It would be an interesting research project to find out about that company. I've been lucky enough to find old stock Anzo parts at swapmeets, and even had a pair of staking tools reproduced to install them with. The lift the dot fasteners they make today are the closest fastener you'll find.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By john kuehn on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 04:12 pm:

Curtain question.
Did Ford offer them as standard equipment when you bought the car or were they optional.
Just wondering since this is a curtain thread.

It seems like I've read Ford had a base price for his cars.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 07:39 pm:

Side curtains were standard equipment on cars with folding tops, and on Town Cars for the front seat.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 08:17 pm:

If you tour a lot and have a touring car then I have an idea I would share with you folks. I have a 1923 Touring that is my "driver". My wife and I tour a lot and usually we attend week long tours in the summer and weekend tours at other times too. Side curtains are a real pain if you get caught in a sudden cloud burst which is 100% of the time for me and Renee'. You then must pull over and get folks out of the back seat so you can get your curtains out and start putting them on while you stand in the rain. Now clearly it is better to find a place to park "under something" so you can stay dry while you put them on but absent that - here is something that helps. I do NOT put the curtains under the back seat. I also do not put them in a box on the running board since it would be raining when we needed to get them out. A touring car generally has 2 front curtains that are somewhat large and 2 rear curtains that are a bit smaller but all 4 are pretty close to same height just wider from front ones to back ones. We lay the 4 curtains on top of each other with the largest curtain on the bottom. We then roll them all up into one roll keeping the roll somewhat tight but also laying them so that the various buttons and latches are not laying on top of the plastic windows. This isn't difficult if you remember which curtain goes on top of which and which ends go to the left or right. Just roll them up so that you end up with a sort of "bed roll" like cowboys used behind their saddles. Now buy 2 saddle top tie down leather straps from Lang's. These are the narrow straps that hold your top to the top saddle when the top is down. Slip those straps up under the top material at the highest top bow that is behind the driver and in front of the rear people. Hold the rolled up curtains up against the bottom side of that top bow and buckle the straps under each end about 3 or 4 inches in from the end of the roll. The curtains then are high up out of the way and not even visible in a typical side view of the car. If it starts to rain you reach up and unbuckle the ends and start putting the curtains on while everyone is still seated in the car. You may have to get out to finish them up but it is way faster and less hassle than storing them under the back seat with greasy parts and greasy tools and it leaves the back seat compartment free for tools. You don't have to wind up the curtains super tight and small to make this work. About a 4 inch diameter roll or so works fine. I have had them this way in my touring car for more than 10 years and I doubt any of you noticed it when you were on a tour with me. You will likely have to punch an extra hole in the straps since you will be cutting the ends off shorter once you wrap up your curtains. That top bow works perfectly to hold them on my '23 touring. They simply do not block the view of anyone in the back seat nor the rear view in the mirror either since they are up higher than the rear window tops that your inside rear mirror is looking through.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Monday, October 28, 2013 - 01:44 pm:

Jared Buckert:

One thing that I have not seen mentioned that means a lot to me is that I feel a little bit more secure with the items inside the car when I stop somewhere. I always try to pick a restaurant with a big front window so I can watch the coats, gloves, hats and other items inside the T. When you are in strange town and don't know where this type of café is I find that I feel much more secure with the side curtains buttoned down.

picture


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Monday, October 28, 2013 - 07:21 pm:

I finished installing all the fasteners for the passenger side curtains today on my 1923 touring/pickup, so as promised here are some pics. I'm happy with the way they turned out, I'll likely finish up the driver's side curtains tomorrow. Before anyone uses these pics as a reference for their car, please be aware that these are custom curtains that I ordered from Classtique Upholstery, they have more clear window area than original factory curtains.

curtain01

curtain02

curtain03

I ended up using a slightly different mix of fasteners than what Lang's and Classtique supplied. Here is a list of the total fasteners I used:

2 short hooks under front bolt of lower windshield frame (1 on each side of the car)

2 longer hooks under middle windshield frame screw (1 on each side of the car)

6 female "lift a dot" sockets on the rear curtains (3 per side)

4 double height "common sense" male fasteners (2 per side) (mount with 2 screws each)

8 standard height "common sense male fasteners (4 per side) (mount with 2 screws each)

2 standard height male "tab mounted" "common sense" fasteners (one on the front of each rear curtain, halfway up, mates with an eyelet on the rear of the front curtain)

22 "common sense" female eyelets

2 female snaps (to mate with the male snaps on the ends of the top's rain shield)

In addition, I made two short extension straps for the upper front corners of my front curtains and one longer strap to bridge the notch I cut in the driver's side front curtain for the side mirror mount. These straps used a total of 4 male snaps and 4 female snaps. Your installation may not need these extra straps.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 02:00 pm:

Ok, these are the last pics of my side curtains, I promise! I finished fitting the driver's side curtains today and took some new pictures with both sides fully fitted. Now I just need to get some soft material to put between the curtains when I roll them up to protect the clear vinyl, then figure out where to store them in the car so that they'll be ready if/when needed.

curtain01

curtain02

curtain03

curtain04

curtain05

curtain06


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 02:57 pm:

Mark - For storage of your side curtains you might want to use John Regans' suggestion: Roll them up and hang them from the underside of the highest top bow using leather straps to hold them in place.

Will they be in the way and would you hit your head on them? I don't know, but it certainly might work and is worth a try.

It should be noted that John does this is his '23 Touring and a Roadster top isn't the same....

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 03:44 pm:

Thanks for the suggestion, hanging them from a bow probably works well for a touring car since the roll won't end up directly over someone's head. John Regan, do you move the rolled up curtains to a different place when you want to drive with the top down?

I currently have my top boot stored in a wood box that fits under the tilt pickup bed between the frame rails (see pics), but it isn't wide enough to hold the side curtains without folding them in half first, which I don't want to do.

box1

box2

box3

I looked under the seat and there really isn't enough room around the gas tank for curtains. I may get a leatherette bag to hold the curtains and strap the bag somewhere in the pickup bed.

Any other suggestions from fellow roadster and roadster pickup owners? Thanks in advance for your ideas and examples!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Miller, Sequim WA on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 04:40 pm:

Mark, the little flaps on the bottom of the curtains are so you can reach in and open the door latches.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 05:20 pm:

Thanks, Fred, Mike at Classtique told me the same thing when I called them, that's why my curtains only have a flap on the passenger side.

Update - I had ordered a side curtain bag from Lang's and it arrived this afternoon. It is a leatherette bag with a flap and two "common sense" fasteners, it holds the rolled-up curtains nicely.

bag1

For now I'm just going to leave the bag in the pickup bed, but I'll continue to scope out other locations for it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Haynes on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 06:18 pm:

Get side curtains. You never know when you will need them and they are handy keeping blazing sun off, too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 06:25 pm:

I found a better place to stash the side curtains when they're rolled up in the leatherette bag - I'm going to place the bag on the driver's side splash apron, tucked behind my spare tire. It's out of the way and less visible than when it's sitting in the pickup bed.

bag1


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By samuel pine on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 07:08 pm:

Thanks Keith, we use to put sterno heat cans
in a (I cant find this box thing with fins on it)
two cans of sterno good to go. guess i gotta make
one but I got one for the floor? but I dont want to cut my nice rubber matt. ..... took a ride tonight
and guess what a diezt lantern Heat Heat guess
my junk yard curtins doing their thing..


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 08:04 pm:

Mark:

The funny thing is that no I don't move the curtains when the top goes down. I leave them strapped to that bow and they simply lay down with the rest of the top and go back up when the top does. With regard to the roadster mounting of the curtains up there, I am not so sure it would not work just as well since the roll is smaller diameter being less curtain material and remember that the curtains are strapped snugly against the underside of the highest top bow. Not saying that it definitely will work on the roadster but a couple of pieces of rope or cord will let you try it without buying any flat leather straps if it doesn't work. The main thing to remember is that you are strapping them up there flat against the bottom of the bow with snug fitting leather straps. They don't hang down very far. Put them up there and then get into the car and see if they obstruct your view or anything. You might discover they don't bother a thing by being up there.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 08:27 pm:

Thanks for the input John, I'll give it a try! It would certainly be good to have them inside the car when it starts raining, rather than having to get out and fetch them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 09:16 pm:

John, here are some pics of my attempt at tying the side curtain roll to the top bow of my pickup. I tied the roll up to the uppermost bow as tight as I could so that it hugged the bow and didn't hang down. I ignored the hanging pieces of cord, since I'd be using straps for the final installation and straps would not hang down like the cords.

roll1

roll2


When sitting in the car, the roll is positioned a little forward of my head. This is a mixed blessing; although it doesn't hit my head, its forward position puts it in my upper peripheral vision, making it a distraction, especially if it moves at all when I'm driving.

For now, I'm going to tuck the roll behind my spare tire on the driver's side splash apron, as shown here:

roll3

roll4

I'm still open to suggestions for alternate locations / approaches, thanks all!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - 10:17 pm:

The flap on the left curtain was for arm signals. You don't need one on the right side unless you have a rhd car! I posted a photo several months ago of an original genuine Ford side curtain roll. One of these days I'm going to make some of them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Renea Aldrich in Orting,WA on Thursday, October 31, 2013 - 11:30 am:

Side curtains??? I drive a '23 in Washington, year around. I have to admit, I usually give up when the rain water pours in the windshield and drips down or the arm of my jackets are soaked.

The reason I do not do side curtains is I can not see. I was on a run a week ago and needed to back up with the top up. Could not see what I was doing so "topless" was the answer for the rest of the day.

The top has two clear windows in the back. The center strip of solid should not be there. Then there is the whole right rear corner area where there is no visibility. What do the rest of you do with this?

I was thankful the sun was out on a mid-50's foggy NW kind of day. My answer is, layer up.


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