HOW TO CARE FOR MY TOP?

[Paul B]

I HAVE A 1913 MODEL T TOURING WITH A PRETTY GOOD TOP ON IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY & DON'T KNOW THE BEST WAY. I BELIEVE IT IS "COBRA" DEFINITELY NOT CANVAS. WOULD ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO CARE FOR IT? THANKS, PAUL

[Erik Johnson]

The best thing you can do for a roadster or touring top is keep it in the up position as much as possible. So, when you are done touring for the day and put the car back in the garage, put the top back up if you had it down when were out and about. Avoid storing the car with the top down.

Other than that, you can occasionally clean it with a sponge and a solution of neutral cleaner (soap) and water.

[Paul B]

THANK YOU ERIK FOR THE REPLY. THAT SOUNDS GOOD & WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING. I EVEN BOUGHT A SPECIALLY MADE TRAILER TO KEEP FROM LOWERING THE TOP WHEN TOWING. WHAT WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT A PROTECTANT / PRESERVATIVE? ONE OF THE ARMOALLS OR SOMETHING?

[Dean Kiefer]

Paul, you can also rub bees wax on the thread seams to help preserve the thread.

[Paul B]

VERY GOOD TIP, DEAN. I WILL TRY IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY FEELINGS ABOUT PROTECTANTS FOR THE TOP ITSELF? REGARDS, PAUL

[Paul B]

STILL WAITING TO HEAR COMMENTS ON USING WAXES, PROTECTANTS ETC. THANX, PAUL

[Henry K. Lee]

Care for a top is simple, keep clean with soapy water, rinse with cold water by hand. Sponge bath. As others have recommended, bee's wax the threads. When storing, top up and cover with an old sheet or very light cloth. Never use a product like Armor All, Son of a Gun, etc. These are not endorsed by any manufacture of materials. They actually will cause great damage down the road as they retain UV light which breaks down the natural resins in vinyl. look at dash boards in cars, they are satin toned, gloss is not good for vinyls.

Hope this Helps,

Hank in Tin-A-See

[Paul B]

THANK YOU HENRY, THAT SOUNDS LIKE GOOD ADVICE. PAUL

[HaroldRJr]

There was a post that appeared in the forum today entitled: "Who Stores Their Car With The Top Up?) and I made a comment to that post regarding the fact that dust & dirt that accumulates between the folds when the top is down is very abrasive and is the single most cause of wear in a convertible top. FWIW,....harold

[Paul B]

HAROLD; YOU CERTAINLY ARE RIGHT ABOUT THAT. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM PICTURES, FROM UP IN CANADA & PAID SOME "EXPERT" TO EVALUATE IT FOR ME. THE TOP WAS DOWN WHEN I GOT IT & HAD SO MUCH MILDEW ON THE UNDERSIDE YOU COULDN'T SEE THE FABRIC! THE SUPPORT STRAPS WERE ROTTED INTO FIVE SEPARATE PIECES.

[D Stroud]

As far as I'm concerned, ANY product that has silicone in it will NEVER come close to any vehicle I own. Several years ago, I was watching one the car related shows and they were featuring one of the main companies that reproduce the rubber moldings for doors, trunk lids, windows, etc. for the the older cars. The guy said flat out, DON"T use any of the so called "preserveratives" that have silicone in them on rubber. It is one of the worst things for rubber and vinyl, it causes it to break down, contrary to what the sellers want you to believe. The "so called" tire shine products have really BS'd the younger generation. When has anyone ever seen a new tire that shines? It cracks me up when I see a vehicle that has those "nice" shiney tires drive on a gravel or dirt road and they come back looking like they are whitewalls. Ever tried to get that crap off of your tires? Besides that, if you are going to do any painting on anything, silicone causes all kinds of problems if it gets on what you are painting. Just repeating what I have heard and seen. End of rant. Dave