BN4 Longbridge interior

[healeyblue]

How does your top wood bow fit the windshield. My wood bow was too flat and did not match the curve of the windshield. I made a wood jig to clamp the bow in tension and wet it down over a period of weeks until it finally held a shape that was the same as the curve of the windshield. Of course the first thing to do is to wrap the wood bow in the matching vinyl. I then taped the front seal to the top of the windshield to act as a proper spacer and locked down the front header with the toggle clamps. Then erect the top bows and stretch the front straps. These straps also help to hold the top bows up and prevent them from falling back (the rubber holding block at the bottom does not really hold it up too well by itself). I then placed all the rear tenax snaps, two at a time from the center out. Put the top on, attached at the rear and drape it up over the bows and pull it tight placing a few staples to hold it. If it looks good then continue stapling it while pulling the slack out and forward, avoiding wrinkles. I went back and placed a second row of staples for good measure as the hide-em strip will cover them. Once I got that done it looked realy good so I could put in the rear strap which keeps the rear bow from dropping down across the rear window opening. The hide-em strip was the last thing I put on, but I don't have a picture of that on.

 

[healeyblue]

some more top pictures.

 

[healeyblue]

last ones. I don't know if this is truly correct in every detail, but it worked nicely for our car. The top fits snug and clean and there are no fasteners showing anywhere. It even seals well to the side curtains (not completely but I don't think they ever did).

 

[richberman]

Jim,
thanks for that description. I need the elusive green vinyl yet again....I wonder if there is enough top material to use that instead. Also wondering how taught to make it. In your final picture it looks got but a bit loose on the sides. Also, did you stitch the webbing to the top? Any nipping and tucking at the front outside corners to tuck under the chrome finishers? Did you glue the Vinyl to the wood or staple? First step is check my wood profile.
thanks.
rich

 

[healeyblue]

In those pictures it actually was not the final pull. I also don't think I had the side turn buttons installed yet, I waited for last to do those also so I could get a good fit with the side screens. I did not stitch the webbing to the top, but am thinking it may have been done originally. It is a real PAIN putting that sucker up with the top being loose from the frame and front bow also being separate. The side corners fit fairly well. The chrome finishers actually help pull it together and not tuck. I did glue the vinyl to the wood and also put a few staples in to hold it until the aluminum rail was screwed on. I also had to massage a slight bit more curve to that to match the windshield frame. I made, I think, 4 or 5 slits with my sheet metal snips to allow the aluminum to be relieved and curve some more. Once the rubber seal is glued in it is not visible. I of course did all this prior to wrapping the wood in the vinyl. I would definitely use the vinyl for the wood if you can because the stayfast material is not very stretchable and it needs to goaround some pretty tight corners at the ends of the wood. The vinyl stretches very nicely around these tight corners with out any big wrinkles.
Jim

 

[CessnaTPA]

Here is picture of the upholstered piece installed on the car.

Jim or someone else tell me where to buy the door seals and metal cap I have marked in the pic? I don't see them in Moss or Victoria's website.
Thanks

 

[DerekJ]

AH Spares have them.