'36 Phaeton top/windshield seal

[J Witt]

My phaeton has a front top seal that is a rolled canvas foam filled bead about 1/2 inch in diameter, held down with a chromed metal strip screwed to the oak front frame.

This canvas bead doesn't quite fit to the windshield frame, and the one time I've been caught in rain, there was a copious leak across the top of the windshield ( into my wife's lap).

Does this sound like the correct seal or if so, is there a better way to get this joint sealed up?

Thanks,

John

[DavidG]

While there might be a better way to create a seal, what you describe was what Ford used originally. That weatherstrip should fit snugly to the top of the windshield frame. It could be that the contour of your header bow isn't exactly equal to the curvature of the top of the windshield frame or that the weatherstrip was installed too far forward on the header.

[RobR'35]

Is the bead so to speak suppose to actually fold up under and sit on the top of the windshield frame and between the wood header?
Anyone have a detail or picture to show the proper placement of the seal bead?

[Terry,OH]

RobR: 35 Cabriolet top of the windshield metal frame has a recess for a foam rubber seal. The metal cover on the header has a convex ridge that depresses against the rubber seal. The photo below shows the convex ridge in the metal headed cover. The phaeton is very different than the Cabriolet.

[RobR'35]

Interesting and thank u.
Though the car I own is a '35 Roadster. Hence why I was curious of the sealing detail. '35 and '36 open cars are very similar to my understanding.

[DavidG]

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With regard to the question as originally posed, '35 and '36 phaetons and roadsters are identical.

[J Witt]

On my Phaeton, sounds like the seal is a little too far forward, from the above descriptions. When the top frame is clamped down, the bead is just touching on the forward edge of the windshield frame. I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

[G.M.]

I use adhesive backed foam insulation tape. It comes in almost any
thickness or width. I don't remember the exact size but in the order
of 1"X3/8", or it could have been a little narrower to fit in a small.
recess on the metal header I can't remember. 33 years ago my 39
convertible leaked, after 130,000 miles on 1,200 mile trips I don't
get any leaks in that area. G.M.

[RobR'35]

Metal header? My Roadster header is wood, looks oak or ash.
Would u be talking of a cabriolet or convertible sedan?

[DavidG]

A steel header panel was only used on cabriolets and convertibles sedans, not on phaetons or roadsters.

[G.M.]

Originally Posted by DavidG

A steel header panel was only used on cabriolets and convertibles sedans, not on phaetons or roadsters.

And convertibles. G.M.

[DavidG]

Ford did not use the term convertible for any of its 1936 body types, except for convertible sedans. Perhaps you're thinking of the club cabriolet with an enclosed rear seat rather than a cabriolet with a rumble seat.

[RobR'35]

Anyone have a good detail print that Ford would have produced or good pics to show this area as Ford originally intended for it to seal?
On the '35 Roadster I own I too have the same sealing problem as J WITT.

[weemark]

I can take some pics of my '35 roadster later tonight. I have never had any water come over the top of the windshield/under the roof.

[RobR'35]

I am and I'm sure Mr. J WITT and others would like to get to the bottom of this sealing issue.
I wonder if Don Rogers has info,details on this too.
He seems to come up with great Ford prints/details from time to time.

[weemark]

sorry for the quality of pics, its not easy holding a light and taking pics at the same time. the seal on my car is a round piece of foam which has been covered in the same material as the roof. the foam fits the header quite tightly and follows all the contours really well, there are no gaps. When the roof closes the foam doesn't sit in front of the windshield it sits on the front edge and get squashed when the roof is tightened down, ive tried to take some pics showing the roof as it comes down a little bit at a time so you can see where the seal gets squashed.

I have tried to show the line in the foam seal so you can see where the front edge of the windshield sits, as you can see from the 2nd pic the line goes right across the seal in the same place. ive also taken some pics from inside so you can see there are no gaps between the seal and the windshield, ive tried to do the same from the outside.

if anyone wants more specific pics I can see what I can do.

I hope these help.

[RobR'35]

Thanks for the pics!
How is that bead part fastened to your header?

[weemark]

do these help? where the red line is on the pic is a recess cut into the header which is maybe 3mm deep, its about 6 or 7mm back from the front of the header and the seal is nailed into this recess. the yellow line is where the two pieces of material opens up, the nails are inside this piece of material and they are hidden. there is maybe 1.5 to 2 inches between the nails which hold it on.

[RobR'35]

Great pics!!
I've never seen the bead fastened that way. To me it makes more sense to do it that way. Better sealing and the material isn't in the way for the for the windshield wiper arm.
Thanks a lot!

[Don Rogers]

I think that weemark's photos tell most of the story. The weather strip bead sits in a groove in the header bow and is held in place by a metal strip. See photos of bead in grove and metal strip

[weemark]

Don I don't have a metal strip in mine.

[J Witt]

Sorry not to get back to this. My wife fell and cracked her tibia and we've been consumed by medical stuff and a disrupted household. Stay tuned though, and thanks for all the comments.

John

[Bruce/CT]

Hi DavidG and others,

The shear mention of the 1936 Club Cabriolet in post # 12 raises the hair on my neck. How does this gem ('36 Club Cab.) differ in this location from the 35-36 Phaeton? I do have the thin metal plate that covers the header but the fabric was trashed.
Thanks, Bruce/CT

[DavidG]

I differ to Don Rogers as I have no first hand experience with a Club Cabriolet nor a '36 body parts catalogue with me at present.

[Don Rogers]

Bruce, Here is a side by side comparison of a cabriolet/Conv sedan header and a roadster/phaeton header. The Cab header is more complex. There is a full metal cover on the bottom of the header bow that fits into the groove on the top of the cabriolet windshield header. this and a rubber gasket seals the header bow to the winshield header. The roadster/phaeton by comparison uses a canvas weather seal attached to the header bow and its sits on top of the windshield frame.

[Bruce/CT]

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Don,

Thanks. Now I know why I didn't have a canvas weather seal.
Bruce/CT

[aandkt]

I just found this thread on the metal piece used on your roadster. Do you or anyone have pictures of the metal piece application on a 1936 Cabriolet?
I realize it is 5 years later but........
Thanks

[DavidG]

The photo on the left in Don Rogers' last post (#25 above) shows at least part of a cabriolet's steel header panel.

[Don Rogers]

Here are pictures of the header bow and header panel for the 35 and 36 cabriolet and convertible sedans.

[dkd35]

Any one reproduce the canvas seal for the roadster?

[DavidG]

Any upholstery shop with a sewing machine could make it as it is just like windlacing (dense round sponge rubber core tightly wrapped in fabric), in this case top material, sewn together.

[dkd35]

That's my idea and even stick a tiny rubber vacuum line in the canvas to replicate the way it was.