1968 Vinyl top

[franklinair]

Does anyone know or remember if '68 Coupes with vinyl tops had a metal retainer strip in the rain gutter (secured with pop rivets?) to secure the vinyl?
I've seen ONE, but it wasn't a San Jose car.

Neil

 

[Ruppstang]

Does anyone know or remember if '68 Coupes with vinyl tops had a metal retainer strip in the rain gutter (secured with pop rivets?) to secure the vinyl?
I've seen ONE, but it wasn't a San Jose car.

Neil

Yes they did.

 

[franklinair]

OK.
Are they still available?
Anyone got any?
Sample so as to fabricate?

Neil

 

[68 special]

Neil, I looked everywhere I could think of to look. I couldn't find any so I fabricated my own. My car had the rivet holes from the original top, but the strips disappeared. So, I fabbed, clamped, cleco'd and back drilled the strips. My strips I made were about 1/4" wide, so doesn't leave much edge margin on the rivet holes. Afterwards, I sealed over the entire length, covering the rivet tails.

So far so good.

Good Luck, hope you can find some.


Bret

 

[Ruppstang]

Neil here is a thread from the concoursmustang.com that may answer some of your questions.
http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=8032.msg82396#msg82396

I have parted over 20 Mustangs and have never thought to save the top strips. I do however have a new black top in case you need one.
Marty

 

[dalorzo_f]

When doing mine (3 vinyl top cars, 2 San Jose, one Dearborn) I did not find the old strips.

I just glued the top into the channel with high quality contact cement and then filled the channel with Sikaflex sealant. 7 years on the oldest, no issues so far...

 

[robert campbell]

My GNS had them. They were in good condition. It had a white replacement top on it and the installer put the top over the strips. Not very bright.

Most times that I saw them, they were not covered by any sealer. Certainly sealer will work great if you do not have the strips. The strips were made of a very thin stainless material.

Rob