1931 coupe roof installation

[Ralph Moore]

I'm installing a kit with the Muslim material( which hi already installed) and started on the foam padding and have a question, should I tack it down on the inside of the roof metal or in the same groove as the welting and top material will be tacked down in?
I am starting to put it on the inside of the metal but it looks like I will have many dimples in the top grain material if I do it this way, on the other hand I don't want it to interfere with the welting installAtion.
Thanks ,
Ralph

[redmodelt]

Well I hope I did it right because I tacked (just a few to keep it in place) it inside the metal to the exposed wood. You will need all the holes in the gutter to attach the top and trim (hidum welting sides and back metal in the front in this case). Before starting to put the top on I ran a strip of tape all the way around on the outside of the gutter and marked all the hole locations on it. Made it easier to find those little holes along the side and back. I did the same along the front but those holes are slots and not as hard to find.

[Ralph Moore]

That's kinda what I was thinking , just wanted to make sure, good idea on marking the holes, thanks

[Ralph Moore]

Update, so I have my top material all installed, and it came out pretty good considering we haven't had a warm day all summer.
I do have a question about the hideum welting though,
I placed it on the roof and it looks like it will install fine until I get to the corners, it bunched up and looks terrible when trying to make the turn.
Is there a way to do this, or am I missing a piece of corner trim that fits here?
Thanks,
Ralph

[Ed in Maine]

Hi Ralph, I can't answer your question but I wanted to remind you to use a black sealer around the perimeter of the top that will be hidden by the welting. I forgot to do this years ago on a Town Sedan and it leaked pretty bad. Also seal the tack heads. Ed

[Ralph Moore]

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Thanks, I plan to do that as a sealant came in the kit I ordered. Anyone done a coupe roof trim?

[Bob Bidonde]

Originally, starting with the top bows, there was:
> Anti-squeak cloth material about 0.06 thick on each roof bow;
> Galvanized chicken wire was stapled to the bows and perimeter wood;
> A canvas-like underlay material tacked to the exposed perimeter wood, and over the chicken wire. This material was trimmed even with the metal body opening;
> Grained top material outer covering was tacked inside of the metal channel where the molding seats. A black tar-like sealant material was used in the channel and under the top material;
> Metal molding, seated in the channel, was nailed down.

[Ed in Maine]

Ralph, me again, Ed. I haven't worked with hideum welt but I did use the aluminum trim which I think is what Henry used. I had similar problems when I got to the corners. I solved this installation problem by taking a 4 x 4 piece of 3/4 in. plywood and traced the shape of the top perimeter onto the plywood. One side of the plywood had the front corners shape and the other side had the rear corners shape. (1932 Coupe) Then I took a router and cut a groove about 3/8 in. deep and to the width of the trim or in this case the hideum welt. Now force the hideum welt into the groove, clamping it down flat as your go, forcing the hideum welt to take the same correct shape as the top of the car. It is time consuming but in my case I was working with aluminum and if I didn't work this way the aluminum would have gotten all distorted. I think you should be able to force the hideum welt into the groove preventing any bunching at the corners. Good luck, Ed

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Ralph Moore

I'm installing a kit with the Muslim material( which hi already installed) and started on the foam padding and have a question, should I tack it down on the inside of the roof metal or in the same groove as the welting and top material will be tacked down in?
I am starting to put it on the inside of the metal but it looks like I will have many dimples in the top grain material if I do it this way, on the other hand I don't want it to interfere with the welting installAtion.
Thanks ,
Ralph

Do you have to park the car facing Mecca?

Just teasing I know you meant muslin.

[neds29]

Not to hijack the thread, but a small and stupid and slightly relevant question anyway: When built, why wasn't the top originally filled with steel like the rest of the body?

[Ralph Moore]

On the reason for the cloth roof, I was always told that at the time it was a manufacturing issue, either more cost effective to put material/ wood on roof than steel, or the plants just did not have the capability to do such a large stamping.
Thanks Ed, I may be able to clamp it down first to get some sort of shape to it.
Mike, must have been my dog gone auto spell on my phone, yes I meant muslin!

[TommyCoupe]

Ralph,

Are you taking pictures of this process as you go.
I'd sure like to see the steps.

Tommy-

[Ralph Moore]

I have some pics, I actually did an article for our club(Vernon L. Nash Antique Automobile Club) newsletter, I think it was back inJan, I mostly covered the wood installation on that though.

[Tinbasher]

The original Aluminum trim looks like a T from the end. The centre is dropped down. This way when you nailed down the aluminum trim it fits into the channel in the roof sheet metal. It also helps to draw down the top material and make it tighter. It just finished a 30 coupe that had the original trim and the top turned out the nicest of all the ones I've done. Sometimes a simple thing can make a big difference.

The Old Tinbasher

[Ralph Moore]

Nice job! So is that trim avail anywhere, or is the hideum welt the only way?