The Ford Barn

1953fords · 10-16-2010, 07:36 PM

The strip on the back which the top gets tacked too is almost gone. I am restoring car but need to know what is used to replace this strip. It seems to be rubber and was tacked welded at the factory I think. Does anyone know anything about restoring this strip. Maybe other years had the same problem.

rotorwrench · 10-17-2010, 01:45 PM

If the old hard rubber isn't crumbling to dust or have too many holes in it you might try the toothpick trick to fill the old nail holes like they used to do on the older wood topped cars. If it is really falling appart you might have to recast it with rubber sealant type material or maybe ABS plastic like Duramix or something of that nature. I haven't seen to many convertibles of that model so I don't know what it looks like. Is it a rubber material attached to a curved metal plate or is is a metal chanel type construction curved to fit the back panel with rubber inserted? I'll have to check my parts catalogs to see if it's illustrated.

Kerby

Merc Cruzer · 10-17-2010, 04:30 PM

I just installed the top well in my 53 Merc, so I had to unstaple the top and the material is in a channel. It looks like some sort of plastic. I would guess that you could chisel it out, you could make a strip out of plywood and slide it in....you just want something that will hold the staples.

19Fordy · 10-17-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1953fords

The strip on the back which the top gets tacked too is almost gone. I am restoring car but need to know what is used to replace this strip. It seems to be rubber and was tacked welded at the factory I think. Does anyone know anything about restoring this strip. Maybe other years had the same problem.

I am pretty sure upholstery shops use a plastic type of strip to replace the original. Google 'Plastic tack strip convertible cars" and stuff appears. For instance:
http://www.thefind.com/cars/info-rear-tack-strip

rotorwrench · 10-17-2010, 06:11 PM

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19Fordy is right about that. I found this when googling. www.convertibletopguys.com/category/view/939

Now how well it fits or what keeps it secure I don't know but they advertise for the 52 to 54 tops. It doesn't rally mention the back lower tack strip either but you might give them a call or see what else google can come up with.

Kerby

10-16-2010, 07:36 PM	#1
1953fords Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Beverly Hills, Florida Posts: 34	1953 Ford Convertible question The strip on the back which the top gets tacked too is almost gone. I am restoring car but need to know what is used to replace this strip. It seems to be rubber and was tacked welded at the factory I think. Does anyone know anything about restoring this strip. Maybe other years had the same problem.

10-17-2010, 01:45 PM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,515	Re: 1953 Ford Convertible question If the old hard rubber isn't crumbling to dust or have too many holes in it you might try the toothpick trick to fill the old nail holes like they used to do on the older wood topped cars. If it is really falling appart you might have to recast it with rubber sealant type material or maybe ABS plastic like Duramix or something of that nature. I haven't seen to many convertibles of that model so I don't know what it looks like. Is it a rubber material attached to a curved metal plate or is is a metal chanel type construction curved to fit the back panel with rubber inserted? I'll have to check my parts catalogs to see if it's illustrated. Kerby

10-17-2010, 04:30 PM	#3
Merc Cruzer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Conifer, Colorado Posts: 2,434	Re: 1953 Ford Convertible question I just installed the top well in my 53 Merc, so I had to unstaple the top and the material is in a channel. It looks like some sort of plastic. I would guess that you could chisel it out, you could make a strip out of plywood and slide it in....you just want something that will hold the staples.

10-17-2010, 06:11 PM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,515	Re: 1953 Ford Convertible question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 19Fordy is right about that. I found this when googling. www.convertibletopguys.com/category/view/939 Now how well it fits or what keeps it secure I don't know but they advertise for the 52 to 54 tops. It doesn't rally mention the back lower tack strip either but you might give them a call or see what else google can come up with. Kerby