View Single Post
Old 01-03-2013, 09:31 AM   #36
Doug in NJ
Senior Member
 
Doug in NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Princeton, NJ
Posts: 965
Default Re: Why the insert fabric roof and not steel

After replacing the wood, fabric, and moldings on my S/W roof, I was amazed how complicated and fiddly the process was. Especially for such a delicate part of the car that might have to be replaced more than once!
I saw a description of the roof of another early 30's car (Oldsmobile?), and I was surprised by how much simpler (and more leak-resistant) it was. The fabric was stretched around an inner wooden frame, sort of like an unfinished artist's canvas, and the assembly was set into the roof opening, and caulking was applied to the joint. It seems like this would be easier to repair, and the fixed wood inside the car body would not get messed up from all those tacks (for both the fabric and the molding) getting repeatedly removed and replaced.

Doug
__________________
My '31 S/W sedan project:http://31ford.dougbraun.com
My restoration diary: http://dougbraun.com/blog
Doug in NJ is offline   Reply With Quote