Fabric Top/Seal Question

[marc hildebrant]

Group,

My Model A fabric top is held down with a metal piece that is nailed down. On the part between the metal and the fabric is a bead of some sticky "goo".

Does this "goo" stop the water from getting into the car ? Or, is it a "belt and suspenders" way to prevent water ?

I would think that the metal is making a pretty good seal with the fabric all by itself.

Marc

[marc hildebrant]

Now Fordbarners......I just know that someone knows the answer.

Marc

[BCCHOPIT]

need pics

[Doug in NJ]

The replacement fabric you buy today has pretty deep grooves, and I would not trust it to seal by itself. I recently finished installing the moldings on my S/W sedan. Last fall I had installed the fabric. It was quite a project, and I think the roof design requires all the help it can get in the sealing department.

Doug

[marc hildebrant]

Doug,

Good point. Did you then apply a sealant between the metal and the fabric ?

I have a "tar" type of sealant between the fabric and the metal. It has some gaps in it due to age.

The use of this extra "sealant" applied after the metal is nailed down is my question...i.e. do you need it.

Marc

[Doug in NJ]

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Originally Posted by marc hildebrant

Doug,

The use of this extra "sealant" applied after the metal is nailed down is my question...i.e. do you need it.

Marc

When I installed the fabric, I used a polymer sealant (Ace Hardware's Lexel clone) between the fabric and the body. (I chose this because I had some lying around.)
When I installed the moldings, I used butyl rubber caulk between them and the fabric. This stuff is very flexible- it has the consistency of bubble gum.
I haven't yet worried about putting any extra around the inside edge of the molding. Actually, after I nailed down the molding, I had to wipe off a bunch of the butyl caulk that oozed out from under the molding.
Once the glass is installed I will probably spray the roof with a hose and see if there are any sings of leakage. Only then will I install the headliner.
You really want a good waterproof roof, because any water leakage onto the headliner could leave an obvious and ugly stain.

Doug