1927 Model T Touring Putting the Top up

[44tonner]

I'm new to Model T's and new to the forum. I've owned this car for 3 weeks and purchased it with the top down. The PO said there pins for the top when you put it up. Today a friend and I did get the top up and yes we found a hole on each side for a pin. Found the pins in a bag under the rear seat. What I would call the third bow that goes down behind the rear door and pivots has the hole in it. The hole is wrapped in cloth/web so there is no hole on the outside.

If someone has a similar top, a picture or better description of the pin and how to install it would be most helpful.

Thanks in advance

Gary Greenwood
Leslie, MI

[John Illinois]

This helped me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js88RV7u9hY

The front bow is held on with wing bolts in the windshield stanchion

John

[Tom D]

Here is some more information, including some from a Ford bulletin.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/11 ... 1289750140

Tom

[Norman Kling]

Your description doesn't seem right. The top should be a "one man" top. There should be no pins in the top bows but you can stand in the back seat area and pull up first the front bow, then the second bow and everything will just fit right into place. The only place there are anything resembling "pins" would be the top of the windshield posts. There are brackets on each side of the front bow which fit right over the posts. You might have an easier time with those posts if you loosen one side of the top windshield so you can wiggle the post. Then tighten the wing nuts on both brackets and also the windshield post. There should also be three snaps on each side of the Gypsy curtains at the back bow. See picture below
Norm

fitting top2.jpg (57.06 KiB) Viewed 2030 times

[Norman Kling]

Note, that video posted by John is for an earlier year T the 27 does not have those pins but everything folds down or up without moving anything. However even with the "one man" top, it is easier with two people. If you do it in as rough a manor as in that video, you will very soon break the top irons and have a real mess of your top. The 26-27 can easily be folded or raised by one person in good health from the back seat like I posted in my picture.
Norm

[Mark Gregush]

If what are being called pins are really the winged bolts and the bow covered with fabric is the front header bow, could be the top clamp brackets are missing.
https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mode ... style.html

[CudaMan]

Here is what the front bow attachment looks like on my 1924 cut-off touring (now a pickup). Since this picture was taken I have nickel plated the windshield pivot wingnuts and painted the top clamp wingnuts black.

[Mark Gregush]

Same clamp was used 1923 to 1927.

[44tonner]

A picture is worth a 1000 words. Here are pics of the pins.

[Norman Kling]

My car is a 26. If yours is really a 27 then it has a different top than mine has.
Norm