Hi everyone,
Just bought a 64 droptop, red with white stripe and the top needs to be fully replaced... I am going to be purchasing a new one online today.
My questions:
1) Besides the actual top with vinyl window, is there anything else that needs to be purchased?
2) Going with a white top... wondering whether to go with standard or bright white.
Any other suggestions... I'm all ears!
Cheers,
B
hmm nice looking car. post more closer pic's of the rear section where the top goes and we can better help you.
I see you have most of the trim for the top still on there from the one picture that I can see so that's a plus. the top goes under the stainless and pot metal trim going around the rear section of your car except for the last 6 inches or so near your quarter windows on the rear seat area. then the top slides into the well liner for drainage(and ripping from stress). there is a photo or 2,3,4 on the 66 dart convertible restoration for the guy in Malaysia to give you an example of the process and the cut needed to make the top go inside for drainage and to stop it from tearing the top when you put it down.
I like the way the 63-66's setup without the extra tack strips and such. it's just "well liner Rear window curtain and then the top.
it's fiddly for sure, but measure,measure,measure and then test without staples. then go for it if everything looks good.
Good pads are a MUST! some are cheap cotton with thin vinyl covering.
I get my tops and pads as a kit from electron tops(they have the brass zippers instead of the plastic zipper for longer life down here in Florida) per a friend that does higher end car
restoration.
electron top might ask you if you have a 24.5 inch rear bow location or the 26 inch bow location. (my 66 was 26 and the 63 was 24.5) pull the rear bow up into closed position and measure from the center of the bow to the center of the dutchmans panel to get the measurement if you have the cables attached still, if not go to the FSM for measurements.
After that get staples, Factory service manual, contact cement well liner and new snaps (from a uoholstery shop , NOT online unless they service and make tops). no rear tack strip is needed for the 64 since it's just a metal piece that goes under the stainless molding that substitutes for the rear tack strip. make sure you have good felt on the all the other bows or replace them with substitutes for long life. (watch out for the rear bow that you have to staple the rear curtain to, make sure it's in great shape.)
