Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

[Jack P.]

Thirty some years ago I put a German Haartz Sonneland canvas top on my 66 roadster. I was tired of the cheap vinyl tops of the time, and as I drove my car all the time, I wanted a top that would look good and last.

30 years later and 150,000 plus miles, it was time for a new top. I have some pictures to share with you of what I found under my old top.

I knew that one of the rivets on the frame was not working as the weatherstrip on the drivers side would not line up, leaving a gap between the window and the two window weatherstrips that bolt on.

First I must say that the material used (tackboard) 45 years ago is far superior to the "fiberboard" sold now. The original board was fiber board sewn between two leather strips.

I found some rust that I have to deal with . The problem that many face with their tops is the nylon bushing that centers the rivets. When it breaks, the top mechanism does not work correctly and you will have uneven weatherstrip problems.

It usually is not the rivet as I found out, but the bushing.

Next, you can order the rivets from most vendors, but none listed the nylon bushing. Without it , you will not be able to fix the problem and be able to set the rivet.

Jerry Sullivan of "Sully's Tops" www.SullysTops.com 1-800-451-3998 Fresno, CA

Gave me a call and he has the bushings. He actually manufacturers the rivets for the vendors who sell them. Funny they don't list them.

He put them in the mail and said, " send me the check when you get them" Very nice man and I would use him for any parts that may be needed to restore the top frame. He is a 17 year NCRS member


Setting the rivet. You need to clamp the rivet, and frame tight, block the rivet and smack the end of the rivet with the hole with a big hammer. Flatten it a bit and pine it over.

I will let you know how that works, I ordered extra rivets just in-case

32 year old top



Bottom , top , sides , rivet hole , rust areas , straps , fiber tack strip of frame









Original tack strip





Rivet and nylon bushing



Weatherstrip kit and padding to be put on after canvas is installed



I am having the top installed after seeing the way the tacks have to be driven. Speedy did it 30 years ago for me and he will do it again on the 12th.

I hope the frame comes out OK, I am doing the work and I am always leery of my work.

I will post some more pictures as I get to work

Jack

[Tom H.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

Looks like a nice little project. I'm sure it will come out fine !!!

[Bob R.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

If they don't make the bushings any more what are you going to use?

[Jack P.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

If they don't make the bushings any more what are you going to use?

Hi,

Jerry Sullivan of "Sully's Tops" www.SullysTops.com 1-800-451-3998 Fresno, CA

Gave me a call and he has the bushings. He actually manufacturers the rivets for the vendors who sell them. Funny they don't list them.

He put them in th mail and said, " send me the check when you get them" Very nice man and I would use him for any parts that may be needed to restore your frame. He is a 17 year NCRS member

[Paul J.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

Jack, now we know why you needed the third latch.

You said you were getting the top fixed on the 12th...as in December? Oh, that's right, you drive the car in the snow with the top down as I recall.

Paul

[Jack P.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

Jack, now we know why you needed the third latch.

You said you were getting the top fixed on the 12th...as in December? Oh, that's right, you drive the car in the snow with the top down as I recall.

Paul

Who ? Me? Drive in snow.................



Top gets here from CA on Friday, Car is to go to Speedy on Monday, hope the weather is OK, having just a frame will not stop the rain or snow, but then, most of the tops didn't either.

Just a little work on frame, rust proof it, cover it, and not look again for 30 years

Sounds like a plan

Jack
Jack

[Jack P.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

Just finished up the frame this afternoon. I drive the car to the installer tomorrow. Weather is going to be cold but dry.

As show in pictures, my frame needed two nylon bushings replaced. The hard part is the setting of the rivets. You can order the rivets from the usual vendors, but it is not the rivet that goes, it is the bushing. You need a special setting tool and the ability to block the rivet. Palmers Springs Shop, making springs and carriages since 1860's had a 70 year old part worker who could set it for me.
A large hammer and anvil helped.

Sully's Tops in Fresno CA was the only place I could find to get the bushings. Jerry makes the rivets for vendors.

Rivet and bushings




Before



After



Sandblasting rust




Old frame



Restored frame on car ready to top installation







Tomorrow pictures of top on car

Jack

[Jack P.]

Would you leave your car here ?

Now the wait, Speed is only 75 years old, I think the car will be done soon..... :rofl:



He was waiting for his 60 year old helper to come in

He did the top on my car when he was 45 years old, hope his work is still just as good as it was in 1981

Jack

[Timothy B.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

Jack,

In the thirty years since he did your top are you sure he didn't change his name from SPEED to SLOW..

[Jack P.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

Jack,

In the thirty years since he did your top are you sure he didn't change his name from SPEED to SLOW..

I stopped in to see if any progress was being made on my top, Speed said yes and told me , "Don't come back until I call you"

I asked him when that might be? He said " when I do "

I slowly backed out of the door, saying " Oh that's good, I'll wait for your call.

I must have been really silly to think I would get my car back in the same day, he did hint that it might be on Friday.

Of course, I asked him when that might be on Friday ? he said "when I call"

Jack

PS I did get a peek, looks like he still does good work, just a little slower now

[Timothy B.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

Jack,

LOL....

Just having a little light humor, I hope you don't mind..

[Jack P.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

Jack,

LOL....

Just having a little light humor, I hope you don't mind..

You need a sense of humor when you own a corvette, also when you play golf

I am laughing all the time

Jack

[Jack P.]

Haartz German Sonnaland Canvas

You've waited a reasonable amount of time Jack, so go in and have a peek. And......take pics, can't wait to see the new chapeau! Did you go vinyl or cloth again. What supplier did you use?

I used the same material (30 years ago) a soft canvas that is used on jags and mercedes. It lasts for ever, I poked holes in my top with all the stuff I put in the back and always had the top pushed down to close deck.

Old Top 30+ years




The back window is the first to go, and I have replaced it twice

The new top will look just like the old one, just new. It is double lined, and the stitching is perfect.

You can get the top at ( AutoBerry ) I believe they make a lot of the tops for vendors. The top was made in CA by this company,

They have all the patterns for different make of cars, and you just pick the style car and type of fabric you want.

It takes about a week for them to make it and send it to you.

I bought the high end fabric and it was $375 for the best.

$100 less for regular Haartz Softtop canvas $275 and about $175 for vinyl .

They do not sell pads or any hardware. Just the top.

I was impressed with the workmanship. If you do not need a vinyl top for judging, you will be very happy for a long time with this type of top.

Putting it up or down will not wrinkle it or hurt it.

Jack

Ps Autoberry site

Web site http://www.autoberry.com/


63-67 page

http://www.autoberry.com/details.php?products_id=220&

categories_id=

[Peter M.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

Jack:

Your great write-up and photos would make a super article for the NCRS Restorer. You should consider sending all the details for your completed project to Vinnie Peters for future publication.

Does the CA shop (Autoberry) that made your top also make tops for Al Knock? Also, will they imprint the correct stampings into the new plastic window?

[Jack P.]

Re: Have you looked at your convertibe top frame lately?

Jack:

Your great write-up and photos would make a super article for the NCRS Restorer. You should consider sending all the details for your completed project to Vinnie Peters for future publication.

Does the CA shop (Autoberry) that made your top also make tops for Al Knock? Also, will they imprint the correct stampings into the new plastic window?

Hi Peter,

I wish that I had taken better pictures of the top removal, what happen is, I went out to the garage to look at the top, for that day I was going to remove it. I was in my pj's and one little poke , led to another , and before I knew what happened, the top was off, I was covered with rust and dirt, and no camera.

Later I got dressed and finished the job. Most of my work was on the frame. I believe a lot of bad things are going on to a lot of frames out there. If you are ready for a new top, and you are going to be driving your car, and are past the judging race, a cloth top is the way to go. You can do it yourself or like me, I can't put tack nails in just right or get the folds just right, and I will be looking at the top for a long time, more importantly, my wife will be looking at the top, and she did not want to see my sewing work.

They look good, last forever and give a nice touch to our cars.

I do not know if they make the tops for AK. I believe anyone can copy the design or shape of a corvette top, once the pattern is made, it is a matter of choice of materials. I know that they did a very good job of stitching and the canvas is the top of the line of German canvas.

I am still working on my 48 state trip story......................should make good reading

Jack