MTFCA Forum

I have taken my 1927 coupe body off the frame. I will be taking the body to other locations for paint removal and painting. The top is in fair condition. My question is: "Should I leave the top in place until I reinstall the body to the frame." The reason I ask is: "Will leaving it in place help prevent any distortion of the body as it is handled/moved around?" I realize I will have to think about possible paint issues at the interface with the top.

Visualize a vertical plane through the body at the door opening with the top removed. The floor of the body is the only structural element resisting distortion during handling.

Your thoughts will be appreciated!!

The 26-27 coupe is an "all steel body", it does not use any wood for structural integrity. Take the roof off, clean, derust, and paint under it.

BLB27 wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 31, 2021 1:51 pm

The floor of the body is the only structural element resisting distortion during handling.

The floor was not holding our T together, as it was rusted through. The top piece which you have not found yet will hold it together.

What do you mean by “fair condition”? Can you post a picture? I have a 1926 coupe with a top I installed 50 years ago and I have a 1926 Fordor with the original top and both are fine, especially since they are both garage kept and have never been driven in the rain. Tops last a good long time and if you don’t have to replace it, you shouldn’t. A top on an improved ‘26-,27 Model T is pretty difficult to to replace, especially if the interior is upholstered and there is a headliner. I would suggest that, if the top looks decent, has no tears, is not rotten and keeps out rain you should keep it. A coat of vinyl restoration dressing which will preserve and reinvigorate the vinyl will help to make your top look better and last longer. You don’t need to remove it to paint the T. Cover with Kraft paper, mask it off and work around it. Jim Patrick

Jim, I haven't learned how to post photos. Hopefully, I will soon with some help!

I would like to keep the top. It actually is in fairly good condition. I have several questions that I hope you and others can help me with.

1) I will have the the interior upholstered. Will having the top in place make installing the upholstering difficult? I assume replacing the top and installing the upholstery at the same time makes every thing go much easier.

2) If some time later, I have to replace the top will that be difficult with the upholstery in place?

Not difficult at all if the roof frame is in good shape and can be kept. You can remove the old vinyl and replace it with new vinyl roof covering. I installed my headliner and upholstery after the top was installed. The headliner was tacked to the vertical surface of the wood frame and the tack heads were covered by the wall upholstery panels. If however, the frame must be replaced, it will be more work, but it can be done, if you carefully remove the headliner tacks and tack it to the new frame.

You could save a lot of money by upholstering your T yourself. Back in 1972, “Carter’s Cut and Cover” made a great upholstery kit for the 1926 coupe. With no prior upholstery experience, I completely upholstered my ‘26 coupe myself and the panels fit perfectly and the job turned out great. Unfortunately, Carter’s Cut and Cover went out of business when the owner passed away. I understand that “Classtique” (www.Classtiqueupholstery.com) makes a good upholstery kit and you could do it yourself. Top wood kits can be purchased from www.fordwood.com. Jim Patrick

How concerned should I be about the coupe body being distorted while moving/handling it during preparation for painting, during painting and installing it back on the frame? Should I leave the doors on it during these procedures?

No issues with moving a 26-27 coupe body with doors on or off, top on or off. Lighter without the doors. No additional bracing needed, no special sub frame or support needed. The all steel coupe body if in good shape with no structural damage or rust out will not twist or distort being picked up and carried by two or three people, nor being transported in a trailer, or sitting on two saw horses.