Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

[Gene M.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

Jerry,
The original top shows another feature that the "repop" does not have correct. The front wind lace has a tapered cut on the ends of the rubber bead that the sewn seam follows. The "repop" is straight, non tapered which does not allow a smooth correctly fitting wind lace at the corners. True, one can rip the seam, modify the rubber and restitch the seam correctly. But I should be correct out of the box.

Again I ask if anybody has photos of a replacement top that fits correctly?

[Joe R.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

Guys,

I believe this thread illustrates a trend in NCRS judging. Don't get me wrong as I am a supporter of NCRS judging but there comes a time when we may be looking for something that doesn't exist and will never exist.

Example: Al Knock has been making and selling these tops for decades! The front weatherstrip has been too large all that time and it's NOT going to change. This front weatherstrip has been a topic of discussion since the early 80's. Has it changed-NO!

We could be talking about batteries, belts, hoses and a mountain of other reproduction items. Under a microscope they are all wrong and will never change.

Shall we take this HOBBY (yes I know it's not a hobby to some people on this board including myself) and put it under the microscope????

We will run people away from the NCRS by the thousands (and this has happened). Newbies to Corvettes and the NCRS have them restored and get their heads served to them on a platter at judging meets when they should be there getting help in the restoration of their Corvettes.

That's why we have more than one point section on "Originality"!!!!!

There is no section that says "how does it look under the microscope?"

Thanks for indulging me this AM!

JR

[Gerard F.]

Great Tip

Gene,

That's a great tip on the front windlace.

Some time ago after getting frustrated with those big humungous windlaces with the blunt ends. I decided to make my own out of upholstry foam rubber bead and top fabric (couldn't find the crushed grain stuff).

I found that if you leave the bead too long at the corner, it just doesn't tuck under the top right. If you cut the bead too short (which I did) you get a little fold in the windlace where it tucks under.

Now if one cut a wedge out of the bead at the end, and tapered it at the end, it would probably tuck under just right and similar to the original pictured above.

Thanks for the tip. If I can find some of that crushed grain material, I might just try it with the tapered bead.

BTW, as I was concerned with the thickness of the front windlace, I actually made two of them, one with 3/8" foam bead first, and the other with 1/2" foam bead.

I found that the one made with 3/8" bead was too small, in that I actually had a gap between the windshield frame and the top front edge with the top latched up. So I took it off and redid it with a 1/2" bead. This one I think fit just right with a slight compression of the windlace between the windshield frame and front edge of the top. And even though it may look too big, it seals the front well for driving.

Geez, never thought I'd become a fanatic

[Gene M.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

Jerry,
I like your idea of recreating the windlace. Try wrap a thin strip of felt around the 3/8" rubber to give you a little thicker windlace but not as big as the 1/2" rubber. Wrap it with a long narrow strip of material glued to the rubber with the seam adjacent to the sewn seam. It may look better (not as thick and more tucked in) and still give you the seal with the windshield frame. The felt helps keep the whole thing smooth looking around the corner.

[Mike M.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

OK Jerry, I'll set'm up and you knock'em down.
Excellent photos of the "End Tuck" and "Arrowhead".
I have similar shots of a black top which, as you point out, shows better detail between the two materials.
When I get back to my conputer I will post them.
HaND

[Martin T.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

I have an Al Knoch top still in the box from a little over a year ago. Should I be concerned? I will not be having the top installed for another six to eight months (it is being stored per instructions from Al and Dale).

[Mike M.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

Jerry,
as promised, I have located the pics of the windlace material, tuck and arrowhead.
HaND

[Mike M.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

The second pic of the windlace and tuck, I posted earlier in " '63 Soft Top Header".
Program will not allow reposting earlier thumbnails into later threads.
HaND

[Wayne W.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

As mentioned the front windlace is just tooo fat - have attached photo of original top.

Caution on the rear wireon section also. It seems that the 64 (may also include 63 and 65) is expected (by judging) to be longer than original.
Ran into a guy who got hit on his top as being to short, so he purchased a longer wireon and installed that. You guessed it - next show it was tooo long, but now he has hole in the middle of the top. So take some time and determine how long the wireon should be for your year.
Now Knoch has been made aware of these problems so a fix may be in.

Finding the correct original length of your wire on strip is about the easiest part of the top install. There should never be a question. Originals were fastened at the tip with a long screw that went completely through the top bow and was trimmed off. Finding that hole on the underside positivley locates the original position. Just another item that is not correct with reproduction top kits. The supplied screw is too short and is never put through the top bow.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

Mike,

Yep, the difference in fabric of the wireon really shows up on a black top.

I guess you can't repost a thumbnail from a previous post. But you can copy the shortcut from your attachments, and post it as an image:



Going to put this screw back in place for next time.

[Mike M.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

Thanks, for the tip Jerry.
First posted under "63 Soft Top Header" in September.
See if this works.
The pic pretty well says it all.
HaND


https://www.forums.ncrs.org/attachme...33318&uid=7599

[Mike M.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

I should have mentioned, this is a 16M original mile '67 Bow-Tie car.
I also took the same pic of a 40M original mile '64 and they are practically identical.
HaND

[Gerard F.]

Re: Kennedy pattern - Knoch Tops??

Mike,

Works pretty good. If you "copy the shortcut" from your attachment file, or from the thumbnail, or link in the previous post you can then insert it into the text with the "Insert Image" icon. Works just like you are posting a photo from another site.

Even I can do it from your post above:



Cheers