How does the top work on my Roadster Pickup?

[NZ28ModelA]

Hi Everyone!

Its coming up to summer here in NZ and i was wanting to take the soft top off my 28 Roadster Pick up. But the previous owner has RTV'd the leading edge of the soft top to the top edge of the windscreen frame. I am going to have to cut the silicone adhesive very carefully with a sharp knife I guess.
An upholsterer I talked to said he could do domes for the top of the screen frame. I see it had velcro up there previously.
My question is, other than the four screw in clamps, one on the back and one on the top of the screen frame, what holds the leading edge to the screen from the factory from the factory? What are you guys using to hold your softtops in place?
Much appreciated.. Steve

[Bob C]

I don't think the top came off the 1928-29 Open Cabs originally. Click on the
picture in the upper left corner of Brent's restoration and you can see that the
lower back of the top is nailed to the upper part of the cab.
http://www.model-a-ford.com/proj_13.shtml


Bob

[Floats]

Hi Steve,
The leading edge of mine is only held by the two wing nuts either side. I have a small air gap between the screen and the top, which does not really bother us.

[Synchro909]

Steve,
You can let your imagination run here. If you want a seal between the hood and the windscreen frame, you can use anything from velcro to whatever is at the other end of that imagination. I guess it will only go up and down once a year so easy is not so important. On my tourer, I had a flap of hood fabric that came down the front of the windscreen frame and I held it sealed by drilling 6 or 8 holes through the frame and used strips of wood with 3/16" screws going through the wood, fabric and frame so that the fabric was sandwhiched between the wood and frame. Never a leak but it took a while to erect and fold.

[JBill]

I think Brookville makes a fold-down top for the roadster pickups, or maybe it's just one that's easy to remove. More likely the latter, since the top would have nowhere to go if folded down.

[Charlie Stephens]

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Le Baron Bonney, (800) 221-5408, used to make a fold down top, probably still do. Check them in the archives, there have been problems with them lately.

Charlie Stephens

[NZ28ModelA]

Thank you everyone for your replies and ideas. I figured, and Chris has confirmed it for me, that the factory finish was only the wingnuts on the side and no hold down along the windscreen top edge. After I get finished cleaning up this glue, I will drive it like that for a while and reassess later on.
Kindest regards
Steve

[quickchange]

Steve, Front bow held to stanchion by th two wingnuts, But front bow also has a flap which is part of the top, buttons on front of screen , Originally top fitted under the wood strip on back of cab so top could not be removed, If one buttoned the rear part of top too the wood strip then all could be removed in one piece but did not fold ,

[Synchro909]

I've seen them folded so it is possible and I can't imagine it's too difficult to make them fold.

[NZ28ModelA]

The bows in my top are solid mounted, so the top will not fold. But it is domed around the back of the cab, with the large knob like screws holding the bows to the cab, and large wingnuts holding the front of the top to the windscreen posts. So when i remove this horrible glued put along the leading edge, I should be able to remove the top completely, but it will not fold.
I will either have to put the top assembly in the back of the pickup bed, or leave it at home.

[updraught]

Here's the Wellington weather radar. Should be right for a bit ...


https://www.metservice.com/maps-rada...dar/wellington

[NZ28ModelA]

[QUOTE=updraught;1702069]Here's the Wellington weather radar. Should be right for a bit ...

Thanks for that you cheeky buggar! I don't need reminding about the constant rain the last couple of weeks..

I bought this wee truck about this time last year. Had a lot of fun in it for a couple of months, then went to get it tuned up and discovered a crack in the block dripping water inside the camshaft cover. over the winter I had the engine fully balanced and rebuilt and have just done 77 miles running it in. Now i am hanging out to drive it to work every day, and enjoy it. Then the weather turns on me! Roll on summer!

[Chris Haynes]

Lebaron Bonney no longer lists the folding top bows for the RPU. If anybody knows where to get them please let me know.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Chris Haynes

Lebaron Bonney no longer lists the folding top bows for the RPU. If anybody knows where to get them please let me know.

It should be possible to graft on the hood from a roadster. Maybe bows would have to be made to suit but the mechanism should work.
I have a set of 3 bow and 5 bow universal mechanisms ready for bows to be screwed to it. I could take pics if you like and send them to you with measurements if you like (and I can find them!). Any half decent trimmer should be able to make it work and I know there are such people in NZ.

[Floats]

Here you go, Gents,
I found this on the forum some time ago, don’t know which car it is for but should be of great help to someone. Keep in mind that the top can’t fold down on a PU with wooden side rails on the bin, as in my avatar.