1960 Soft Top - Rear Bow Weatherstrip

[Joe M.]

How is the rear bow attached to the tack strip, staples or screws with trim washers? I attached the rear bow w/s with staples 7 years ago, but I thought I read somewhere that it should be with screws and trim washers; maybe that was for a different year of car.

I was unable to secure the ends of the w/s where they cross over the stainless steel trim piece that wraps around the back of the seat. The staples were pushed out and the w/s raised up the first time I latched it down and never figured out the trick to stop it. Any tips or suggestions?

[Joe M.]

Re: 1960 Soft Top - Rear Bow Weatherstrip

to the top

[Stephen R.]

Re: 1960 Soft Top - Rear Bow Weatherstrip

Don't know if it's correct or not,, but I used staples and a pneumatic stapler on my 59. Also removed a ton of old staples from the tack strip, but no screws. Worked fine. guess they don't call it a tack strip for nothing.

[Joe M.]

Re: 1960 Soft Top - Rear Bow Weatherstrip

i purchased a $35 electric stapler from Home Depot and was not satisfied with its performance and returned it. I would have to shoot it four or five times before it would shoot a staple. I tried to purchase a pneumatic staple gun, but could not find one at Home Depot or Lowes that would shoot 3/8"x3/8" staples (size used by Al Knoch). The models they carried would only shoot a 1/4" crown staple and shortest length was 1/2". What size staples did you shoot?

[Stephen R.]

Re: 1960 Soft Top - Rear Bow Weatherstrip

Here's some info I got from the CF. Also Check Ebay for a used gun.

stapler http://www.amazon.com/Fasco-F1B-7C-1.../dp/B003WSI7IY

staples http://www.amazon.com/Fasco-F1B-7C-1.../dp/B003WSI7IY

This particular stapler uses #7 staples (the ones above are 3/8").

Other Fasco staplers use #80 staples which are a little bigger.

Do a search for "empire staples #7" for other sizes, if you use this stapler. Don't use more than about 60 psi, and be careful with the used guns. There is a rubber plunger that is the main moving part, and will usually be no good on the used units.

Mike Coletta