question for 41-48 woodie owners

[41woodie]

I'm repairing and refinishing the wood on my 41. In doing so I'm trying to remove the metal brackets that secure the roof to the B,C, and D pillars. I've removed all of the machine and wood screws visible from inside the car from the B pillar bracket but it doesn't want to come off. I'm trying to remove it carefully as I certainly don't want to damage anything by applying too much pressure. Are there additional screws that come down through the top into the back of the bracket? These would not be visible from inside the car and would require removing the top material to access. If such fasteners are present I'll have to decide if removing and refinishing the brackets is that important right now. I really want to go on a fishing trip removing the top covering to find screws that may not exist. Thanks

[waterboychuck]

Here's a photo of my old woodie that I no longer own under restoration. Don't bother to remove the vinyl top material as you won't see any fasteners.

[deuce_roadster]

Probably just old varnish holding it there. My 40 (which could be different) only has the machine screws and wood screws. There are 2 machine screws that are horizontal and the upper one goes into a T nut that is covered by a wood plug and top material on my 40, the lower one has a T nut with a stainless cap. If you have all the fasteners you can see the heads of out, then it will come off.

[woodiewagon46]

Deuce is probably correct. I would just tap them lightly with a rubber mallet and they will break loose.

[41woodie]

Thanks to all for the tips, tomorrow morning it's me and a rubber mallet.

[41woodie]

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Ok for future reference it appears that although 46-48 woodies don't have a hidden screw that secures the top B pillar bracket, 41s do have one. I was unable/unwilling to remove the soft top to access the fastener and simply cut it off from the inside for now.
I'm attaching a photo that shows the fastener that I cut and where it engages the bracket.

[woodiewagon46]

So you're saying the bolt that you cut is hidden behind the roof fabric over the rain gutter?

[Mtn Wudy]

Wondering if after you got that cut if the roof assembly just slipped right off ....??

[woodiejon]

Where did all that rust come from on those brackets.You wanted to keep the top on it.

[41woodie]

Originally Posted by woodiewagon46

So you're saying the bolt that you cut is hidden behind the roof fabric over the rain gutter?

Yep, it appears to be inserted from the outside and screwed into a threaded boss cast into the bracket. Not a big deal if the top covering is removed but kind of a hassle like this

[41woodie]

Originally Posted by woodiejon

Where did all that rust come from on those brackets.You wanted to keep the top on it.

Maybe I'm being too optimistic but for a piece of bare metal that has been hanging around for nearly 80 years I didn't think it was that rusty, no flaking etc.

[41woodie]

Originally Posted by Mtn Wudy

Wondering if after you got that cut if the roof assembly just slipped right off ....??

There would be a lot more brackets and screws to deal with and it appears that the vertical pillars are mortised into the roof structure, so no nothing slipped right off other than that bracket

[woodiewagon46]

Yes, they are mortised into the main roof structure.