MTFCA Forum

I purchased a top from Classtique Upholstery, and I am now looking at getting it put on.
I am nervous about doing this myself.
Is there anyone in the Vancouver, Washington / Portland, Oregon area that I could take the kit to and have them install it?
If there aren't any recommendations for a shop to do it, is there anyone in my region that would like to lend a helping hand.
I am pretty handy. My wife and I did the upholstery on the seats a year ago, they turned out pretty good.
I know that this is a long shot, but I thought that I would ask.

Michael Frice
1915 Model T Touring
1930 Model A Fordor Deluxe

I had my 1917 top installed by a pro who had done it many times before. He showed me that the key is to set up the framework exactly where you want it, using wire, clamps and thin wood braces, etc. Once the frame is set you place the pads and then stretch the top over and commence to attaching it. If I remember correctly you leave the back until last. You want to stretch it when it's warm to soften the top. He prefers to do that part outside on a sunny day.

If your bows aren't wrapped you will have to do that first. My wife sewed a sleeve which i was able to pull over the bows and secure in place. She cut the fabric on the bias so it wouldn't wrinkle in the curves. I don't see any bows in your photo. I had sockets but no bows. I bought a beautiful set from Jonathon Anderson that were marked showing how far into the socket they had to be mounted. Speaking of sockets, I removed the old rotten wood from the bottom of each socket and filled the section below where the bows fit with epoxy resin. It protects from rust and adds a lot of strength - important if the sockets are old and thinned somewhat from rust,

Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in.

Tim's suggestion to fix the framework first is right on. It is the foundation of the whole job. I use the thin timber laths trick, tacked to the underside of each bow. That way they can stay there during the job, until you need to remove them. It can take lots of time to set each bow in the correct position. G clamps are your best friend. I set the back bow first, checking height side to side, and layback beyond the body line. Two short timber laths are set to hold it in place. Then you can work forwards with the others. If you do this work, it will save you some money, but any faults will be on your card.

A well fitted top is the crowning glory of the car. A professional fit will highlight it. A well done home fit may well do the same.

I believe the back panel goes on first. Otherwise the top panel will be under the back panel on the last bow, facilitating water intrusion between the two fabric layers.

Allan from down under.

Give Chuck Pavao a call 971-322-6821 Newberg Ore.Area he would most likely help coach you thru let him know I told you Matt Madison

I used to do upholstery on collector cars for 35 years. Installing a top on a 1915 is easy if you do not want it to look good, but if you want it to look like a new top should it is very difficult. To keep the bows vertical, with a correct slant at the rear, with no pulls in the top material is very difficult. I see few tops that are really correctly installed and look good. Most people do not have the correct tools to get a top installed correctly, or the knowledge. Also, many top bows are not ready for the top to be installed. They need to be virtually perfect for the top to look good.
I guess it depends on how fussy you are about the top.

Message sent.

Thinking back and looking at the photo, I have to agree with Allan that the back piece needed to be on before the rest. The installer was upset he couldn't get a more snug fit but I'm satisfied with it, especially since I didn't have to buy the top. When I bought the car there was a cardboard box, bound with wire, never opened, under the back seat. It had a 1989 postmark. When I opened it, there was the top. Because of it's age I thought I'd never get the wrinkles out but an hour or so in the sun and they were gone. The top was in a JC Whitney box with no indication who actually made it. Four years later it is still looking good so no complaints here. I made side curtains for it this spring with the help of an Amish upholsterer. I have yet to put them to the test but I think they'll do the job.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions and DM's. I didn't have a chance to start it this weekend, but I think that next weekend is free.
I have my bows and they are in pretty good shape. I sanded them down earlier and re-painted them. We have all of the parts laid out on a large table and will give it a go. I will be contacting Keith directly for guidance.

Dont cut any corners on the bows & irons. They must be excellent including the tack wood around the body. They are the base for the top.
It takes more time restoring the bows than the actual top installation. At least that was the case on my 14 roadster & all the other T top kits I have installed, come to think of it.

Well, I finally went for it. It has been done for a while now; I am just getting back to the forum to post about it.
Thank you everyone for your encouragement. You were right, it wasn't hard, just a new process to me so I went slow.
It came out pretty good. I see a few mistakes that I would do differently, but it looks pretty good.

That looks great, Michael! Great job!

Keep crankin',
Eric

Sure is a neat job. Much better than some I have seen. Well done.
Allan from down under.

Looks great.
I sent you an email.
: ^ )
Keith