Getting ready to install new top on my touring. Does anyone have handy a picture of the metal hold down or dimensions of strip at base of curtain? I was going to fabricate one to match original instead of using hid-em. Bruce McCalley's book does show but dimensions are helpful
Sorry no dimensions, but maybe these photos will help.
I have a couple of those metal strips, but both are for Roadsters. Therefore, my 16 Touring car was completed without the strip. Anyone had a Touring strip they want to swap for the Roadster one.
Bill
Not pretty but this is what I measured from a strip that I believe to be a touring strip.
Rich
The @ 4.60 should be @5.60. Sorry
These show up on ebay now and then.So far,I have found two for my cars. They would be difficult to repop.
Vance, Those pictures are very detailed and very helpful for me to duplicate, Thanks. Also, your '17 Touring looks gorgeous.
Richard, Wow Thanks for that hand sketch. I can't go wrong with all the dimensions! Now my buddies and I just need to develop a method to form the contour. John
Should be oval head steel screws, I think #9. My '15 has the same problem as Vance's car. The screws have been oversized many times since new.
Royce is correct about the screws. The previous photos were from several different cars when I was trying figure out how craft my own strip. I could not find a good original. I finally made one out of an aluminum strip (because it was easy to bend). Vance
Vance, Great idea. A round over bit on a 1x, secure and form over radius. Looks to be in the 10 - 12 Ga. thickness. Thanks I'm on it.
John
How late were these strips used on Runabouts? Were they used through the '22 model year until the body style changed?
My '17 torpedo runabout has that strip securing the top.
The reason I asked is that I'm wondering whether it would be correct for a '21. The body is essentially the same back to '15, when they were used for sure. So does anyone know about whether the strip was used as late as '21?
Bump.
Mike,
Is it possible you have found the single question to which this forum does not have an expert?
Just to stir the pot a bit: were there 2 types of trim strips? The ones shown above are formed sheet steel. I have a strip for the back of my 1915 project that is solid cast in cross section. It's virtually the same as the cast vertical pieces that hold the back and side panels on the roadster together. Any other info? On a related question: when did the cast strips that fit around the top of the turtle deck platform (extensions of the cast rear body strips) change to just a sheet metal part with beading? That is the side and rear cover for the rear deck. I have some of both types.
John,
Anyone here on the forum have access to a plenishing machine? If not then the member who made part of the form to contour the oval cross section is almost correct. Contour it to fit the back of the car while you are slapping it into form. This would be an easy part to make. Aluminum or steel. Hardest part is doing the csk. screw head indentions. Not hard but a die simple die would have to be made. Use a large center punch to dimple the top side into the die underneath.
"You CAN do it!!!", John. You'll be glad you did!
Anyone know the period these strips were used? Year introduced to when discontinued?
Thanks
1915-20.
Also, according to Ford, the screws are #8 x 3/4" oval head slotted.
Thanks RV,
That's about the time period I thought. Also I have the 15 strip that is solid in cross section whereas some of the shown strips are formed sheet metal. Are they both correct? If so were they used concurrently or did the solid one come first?
Thanks again
The only one that Ford shows is the sheet metal type. I suspect that the solid one may be an old replacement.
These strips were first used after Ford did away with the rear curtain with the roll up panel. The full-width leatherette, it was feared, wasn't strong enough to resist tear-out due to the perceived parachute effect, so these strips were used as reinforcements. I guess that by the '21 models Ford had figured out that the strip wasn't necessary. Or maybe they didn't much care, being preoccupied with getting the cars out the door as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Thanks Rv,
I have a related question. There are U shaped sheet metal pieces that fit over and cover the outside edges of the wood deck that extends from the rear of the roadster body side panels that the turtle deck sits on. There is a bead on the upper outer edge. I have a set that is flat on the side and has a cast bead added with screws and matches and mates up with the beading that holds the seat back and side body panels together. I also have a set of panels that have the bead formed (rolled) into the upper edge. Both types are made of two panels that meet at the center rear of the deck.
I'm curious as to what years each type was used. I presume the set with the separate beading added with screws was first. At least that's what my 1915 body has. I'm also assuming the stamped in bead type panel came later and continued until 1922 when the roadster body changed. Any info or ideas on these panels?
Thanks again
Anyone know the difference?
Thanks
I am under the impression that the rear curtain trim was used on the cars with the tack strip that runs on the outside of the body.
Thanks, Richard for the dimension of the touring trim.
Can anybody tell me what is the length of the rear curtain trim for a runabout?