C2 convertible tops - again

[Chris E.]

Has anyone actually tried to install the special order Al Knoch windlace? My car is coming home from the top shop today and I had a conversation with the shop yesterday trying to clarify how it ACTUALLY goes in.

The issue I'm trying to fix is to get the windlace tucked in like the factory did it.

Anyone?

[Kenneth F.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Hi Chris, Tom Crockatt, 909-927-6329, and John Kennedy, 801-295-7870 are very knowledgeable. Tom has done a lot of tops for NCRS people and John is the interior and top person listed in the Restorer. They have both helped a lot with my 1962.
Ken

[Stephen L.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Jerry Fucillo had a thread awhile back about this with photos....

[Wayne W.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Original one.

[John H.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Here's a photo someone posted as being the original windlace treatment...

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

John,

Here's the other side of that same car:



An original factory top seen at the 2007 National. You can see the windlace tuck-in in the front and notice how straight it is above the window.

Cheers,

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Chris,

Here's my first attempt with a homemade windlace using a 3/8" foam upholstery bead. Looked pretty good, but it didn't seal right in the front.



Changed it to a 1/2" bead, and it sealed. But the corners didn't look as good.

Maybe a trick is , if the bead is larger than 3/8", to taper the ends of the bead so that it fits nicely in the slot in the frame at the corner.

They probably didn't do that at the factory though. That's probably why the original tops always leaked in the front.

[Chris E.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Yup, thanks everyone. I had all of those old threads printed out when I took my car into the shop that installed the convertible top.

I gave the top installer a brand new Al Knoch top with the special windlace. The installer had done TONS of convertible tops, including C2 Corvettes. He had trouble understanding how to "tuck under" the windlace. So, I called Al Knoch and actually got the man himself on the phone on a 3-way call with the installer.

Here's what I wound up with.






I wish this process was easier. Especially since the deduction for this improperly installed windlace will be AT WORST 2 points. As I read the judging sheets, and I may be wrong, it shows "stitching and binding" as 7 originality points and 7 condition points. Going with the standard NCRS guidelines of roughly 20% for each category of Configuration, Date, Completeness, Installation and Finish, this seems to me to only be an Installation issue. In other words, the part is complete, the finish is correct, there isn't a date issue (since the windlace isn't dated) and the configuration is correct because of the thickness of the windlace. So, given all of that, 20% of 7 originality points is 1.4. Since the majority of the windlace is installed correctly, and just the ENDS are installed wrong, by my logic, the deduction for this is 1 point.

If, instead of "stitching and binding" the windlace falls under the "color and material" section, my same argument above holds, except the numbers shift from 1.4 to 2.

Thoughts?

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Chris,

You asked for thoughts! I think regardless of the points deduct, the windlace looks wrong, and to be polite, like crap.

I can't believe that Al Knoch is putting this crap out as the special windlace. It doesn't even match the windlace that he shows on his installation video, with the unstitched ends that you trim and which could be installed with the correct tuck under.

Your windlace also looks to be to big and installed too far forward.

I was thinking about buying a new Al Knoch top with the special windlace. But after seeing yours, no longer.

Just my thoughts

[Chris E.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Well, before we throw Al Knoch under the bus, the installer was another component here. I know next to nothing about INSTALLING a convertible top, but know what it looks like when it is wrong or right.

[John D.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Chris,

Not to change the subject here but i like the look of those tires on your car...what are they ?

thanks

john

[Chris E.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Firestone FR380 MUD AND SNOW (isn't that funny). They're all season tires, and they actually SAY M&S on the sidewalls.

Tires Plus was running a deal, buy 3 get 1 free.

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Well, before we throw Al Knoch under the bus, the installer was another component here. I know next to nothing about INSTALLING a convertible top, but know what it looks like when it is wrong or right.

Chris,

Why don't you send a copy of that picture of your installed windlace to Al Knoch, and ask him to compare it with the one he has on his own 67 installation video. A world of difference, I think he has it correct on the video.

[Chris E.]

Re: C2 convertible tops - again

Chris,

Why don't you send a copy of that picture of your installed windlace to Al Knoch, and ask him to compare it with the one he has on his own 67 installation video. A world of difference, I think he has it correct on the video.

I'm planning on it.