[DavidG]

fordson,

Your top row of photos has the correct original mouldings for the top insert. The one in the first photo was originally riveted to the channel in the body and was painted as part of the body assembly. A layer of sealer existed between it and the body. It was originally completely filled with tacking material (LeBaron Bonney offer a plastic substitute that will serve as an excellent substitute for tacking. A layer of canvas was tacked to this material; the padding then lays on top of the canvas. The outer roof material is then tacked all around into that tacking strip.

The moulding material shown in the third photo in top row is correct for a '33-'34, not the narrower moulding used on '32s. This moulding goes over the tacked down top material to hide the tacks. It is either tacked in place (as original) or you can use small (#2 or #3) screws to avoid chipping the paint on the outer moulding. A rubber insert then is installed in the top channel to conceal the tacks or screws. (Available from Dennis Carpenter and likely other vendors).

With all due respect to the Club's '33-'34 book, the top inserts were installed in bodies that were already in final paint. From assembly and cost points of view it makes no sense that the outer moulding be anything but black to match the top insert material. I verified that with several Ford archives photos of '33-'34 closed cars with light-colored bodies and in each instance the outer moulding is obviously black.

Be sure and use sealer both before and after installing the outer top insert material and then again under the outer moulding.