VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Help! 1931 Cabriolet Top Missing Part and/or seal?

I am restoring a 1931 Cabriolet. When I received the car, the necessary metal pieces and weathersripping that seals in the side windows was missing. I have researched and ordered the following parts from the FillingStation:

AF-517 Car Window Trim(Ordered Left and Right) Pg 149 Catalog
AF437A Side Window Channel Retainer 12' Length Pg 132
70-1169 Channel Side Window 9/16" Pg 132
70-306 Header Strip Side Window 1/2" W Pg 132

There seems to be something missing like a "Bow to Windshield Inner Seal or Outer seal. Whatever this piece is, it was missing from the car when purchased, but appears to be needed because the TOP has 3 snaps that are above the side window on each side. (New Top From LeBaron- Bonney patterned from 1931 Cabriolet). I want to find out what this part is called, and if it is available to buy as a reproduction part, and if anything else is needed to seal the side windows and the top in that area. If anyone has photos they could send me of a Cabriolet with the seals in place in the Windshield, the top of the window, the window edge towards the back of the car, and the part the top above the side windows snaps to I would greatly appreciate it. Please send photos to pseaton@kc.rr.com

Thanks

Perry A. Seaton
https://vccachat.org/images/icons/default/Frustration.gif

If you have the Chevrolet Service News, March 31, see page 23, figure 7. Is the part in his hand what you are looking for?

Dave:

Thank you for the information. My 31 service news is with my car restorer. I will let him know.

Thanks again,

Perry (MO-CHEV-31)

Hi Perry,
There is a metal frame (rail) that attaches from the top of the front windshield post to the top of the hinge pillar top bow. The 1931 and 1932 are the same. The 1933 and 1934 look the same but are longer as the wheel base of the car and the doors became longer.
These are provided with a weather seal that look like the ones on the windshield posts and the rear of the side window at the hinge pillar top bow.
This is what prevents water from coming in over the top of the side window when rolled up. I think in the winter they were attached all the time as the top was likely to be up all the time. In spring and summer I think most people left them off, placed in their own bag. The top can be up without this rail in place. The canvas top attaches snugly to this rail with the snaps. There are wing nuts that hold the rail to the convertible top iron. I will try and post pictures of the ones for my car later.
I had the ones for my car made up by the good folks at Oak Bows in Pennsylvania. They made mine in the early 1990's.

Here are photos. The restored one shows the weather strip and weather strip retainer, snaps etc. These are for a 1933 and is longer than the one for a 1931 1932.







The wing nut, similar to the one that holds the top assembly to the top of the windshield post goes through the small loop shaped bracket, through a hole in the top iron to hold it in place. It is done from inside the car.

Dave Sylvain was kind enough to share the photo of the painted one. Notice the rubber has what I think is called Bow Drill. This is available from L Steele and is like a broad tape that you wrap around the rubber. Hope this helps.

Thank you to all who have responded, provided pictures and leads on where I could find the parts needed. In less than 2 days I was able to locate a man in OH who makes these parts from patterns. I will have what I need in a week to 10 days. Also, the photos are helpful to my car restorer, since these parts were missing from the car when I bought it. So, now after about 1 year of intensive effort and $ the 31 Cabriolet is almost restored to its factory condition.

This could not have been accomplished without all of the great technical advice and willingness to go the extra mile in helping another VCCA member who loves the early thirties cars.

Thanks again,

MO-CHEVY-31

I bet you got these parts from Ralph or Kent.