VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 1928 2 door coach top question

I have a 1928 chevy 2 door coach that's an older restoration and still in great shape, but the top has drawn up and pulled loose in the rear. My question is what held the top in the rear originally. It appears the lock/weather strip is riveted to the metal. Is there suppose to be wood against the metal at this point that it suppose to have nailed to or was this strip screwed or riveted to the metal originally . The wood that is there is in good shape but is about an inch below the metal. I take it that space is for the padding.

If I understand correctly what you are asking, and if the 1928 is anything like a 1929, the metal should be flush on the rear wood roof rail. The roof metal and the crown moulding for the leatherette material are nailed solid to the rear wood roof rail.

Thanks for the reply. I hope that's not the case for the 28. I will try to get a picture and post a link to it tomorrow.

Yes.

Again, if I understood your question correctly, the metal roof, the crown moulding and the rear roof rail (bow) would all have to be nailed together or the metal roof and the crown moulding would have no support.

The wood should be flush with the bottom of the sheet metal. Tacks in the fabric then covered by an aluminum rounded moulding with imbedded nails covered the fabric metal joint. The sides are the same except the metal side rails are steel with drip rail and have a fabric insert covering the separate nail heads. I used double beaded welting installed back wards to duplicate the look of the original material.

If the rear wood roof rail is one inch below the metal roof then it sounds like your rear roof rail is sagging due to age which means that it will probably have to be replaced.

With issues like this you should check the rest of the wood framing as well......especially the windshield header area and both front door pillars.

Here's a link to some picture of what the top looks like. All the wood in the car is very solid but someone could have replaced this part at one time and not have gotten it right. Try this link maybe it will work. I have never used photo bucket before so let me know if they don't show. Thanks again for the replies.

http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/bchale1/library/Mobile%20Uploads?sort=3&page=1

The top obviously has been replaced as chicken wire was not factory installed. That wood cross piece should be tight to the bottom of the sheet metal. A friend is in process of replacing the top on his '28 Coach. He needs to repair and/or replace some of the wood including the part at the back of the top.

As Chipper stated, the roof metal should be flush with the top of the wood roof rail. To correct the problem you may have to replace the wood in that area.

install a Dutchman, that's what grandpa called it