Post to the EFV-8 Forum
Post Classified Ads
Shop the Online Store

User Login

Not Registered Yet? Click Here to Sign Up!

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

FORUM RULES: Users agree to these Rules when using Forum.

The site administrator reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the user agreement without prior notice to the user. It is the responsibility of the user to regularly review the terms of this agreement.

The user agrees to the following terms:

All information that you provide to us for your membership is correct.
You will not use your membership to spam, harrass, or exploit other members in any way.
Vulgar, Abusive, Racist and Sexist Language will not be tolerated.
Commercial-type sales postings will not be allowed.
No mass posting or flooding of the boards is allowed.
No Advertising of parts or cars; no Ebay or business/commercial ads (please use the "Classified" for ads Wanted or For Sale).
VIEWING MULTIPLE TOPICS ON SCREEN: You can choose to see more than 10 Topics at a time ... Log In and choose "Preferences" from the top bar on the Forum page. Scroll down and Change the "Default Topics Returned" parameter to 25 or 50, and save the changes. Since this setting is stored in your browser 'cookies' (if enabled), it seems to use that stored value even if you are not logged in. So, if you use a PC that you haven't logged into the forum from, the setting still seem to remain at the default.
EXTERNAL PHOTO LINKS ON FORUM: You can still use external photo links in your posts on the new forum. They follow the rules of any link in that they have to have the URL link qualified down to the full image file name (example: .jpg). The links will open in a new browser window, the same as an uploaded image attached to a post. Since an image attachment to any post does not display inline with the post, the results are the same. You can use multiple external links within a post. This link is from photos on a site from Don Clink's 'Deuce@75' albums:

http://donclink.com/deuce_75_1/images/dscn2950.jpg

Using links from photo sites such as Photobucket can help in "size" issue with uploaded attachment files. For best viewing in web browsers, photos should be around the 800x600 pixel range, and probably not more than 1024x768. Most cameras today store HUGE jpg image files, as the default settings are in the 7, 8, 10, and 12Mb image sizes. The image files that are then attached are very large, and the browser can't display the full image size without using the scroll bars. Use the re-sizing functions of your photo editing software to reduce the image to 800x600, which reduces the file sixe and the image load time in the browser. Don uses Google's free Picassa3 software, which is an excellent photo management product. All of the photo albums of the Deuce, Grand National, and Auburn that are links on the NORG site were built using Picassa's web creation functions. And it's free? (THANKS to Don Clink for the info!)
HOW DO I SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS ALONG WITH MY USERNAME? You can LogIn on the Forum, and select PREFERENCES. On this page Members can add optional information such as their City,State, Country; Occupation; Hobbies: list a Homepage; list AOL Instant Messanger Handle; Signature; "Make Email Address viewable to others;" and even change the number of Default Topics shown on a page. WHEN others click on your profile, they will see this information.

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Woodie vinyl top - stretching the corners

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion

<< previous || next >>

Posted By

Discussion Topic: Woodie vinyl top - stretching the corners

EvolveCustomAutomotiveRestoration

09-04-2019 @ 9:09 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 6
Joined: Aug 2019

I'm seeking guidance on how to stretch the vinyl fabric over the corners, to avoid having a seam at the corner. It seems the correct "cobra" grain vinyl that's 66 inches wide has no stretch at all, since it has a fabric backing. I've tried heating the vinyl, scathing the backing, slicing the backing - nothing that gave any usable results. Has anyone out there accomplished the corners without a seam?

42wagon

09-04-2019 @ 1:39 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 584
Joined: Oct 2009

Don't know if there are different grades of vinyl but I believe they all have some sort of backing. It has been suggested by others that you have the car out on the sun so the roof material is warm. It would be helpful to have several people available to work and tack the material. I used 66" brown cobra grain vinyl that I got from Labaron Bonney. I did the work inside my garage in warm weather without help and had no problems in fitting the corners without resorting to seaming.

woodiewagon46

09-04-2019 @ 4:21 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 696
Joined: Nov 2012

My top kit was also from LeBaron Bonney. I waited for the hottest day and worked outside. It was about 90 degrees and I let the material "cook" for a couple of hours. It's basically a tack and pull situation. I have read about people placing small clamps about every foot and attaching gallon jugs, filled with water to pull it down. I've searched for the LeBaron instructions, but I probably threw them out. Perhaps someone has a set and can post them for you. If I recall, it's been about 15 years, I started in the middle and worked front and back equally.

42wagon

09-04-2019 @ 5:15 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 584
Joined: Oct 2009

Woodiewagon 46 set me to thinking. I do have the Lebaron Bonney guide to fabric top replacement. You don't mention it but there is supposed to be a layer of denim sheeting installed first.

LB says to pull it tight across the car and tack it in place, then go to the ends of the roof and again pull the denim tight and tack it in place. Then do the four corners by pulling the denim out snug on a forty five degree angle and tack in place. Then pull the remaining denim tight and tack in place. The procedure for installing the top material is the same as the installation of the denim, except the back corners. You may need to use some heat or steam to help the material stretch over the corners. Do not get it too hot. The top material should be just warm to the touch.

LB doesn't say it because it is probably obvious but you will have to work the wrinkles out by working from the center of the roof toward the corners. You probably will have to pull out on the corners again to get the wrinkles out that have moved from the centers. With a lot of patience, sweat, and tears you will end up with a nice smooth roof and no seams.

woodiewagon46

09-04-2019 @ 6:06 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 696
Joined: Nov 2012

I was afraid to use a heat gun because if you melt, it or even distort it, it's over. I just let the sun do it's job.

42wagon

09-05-2019 @ 3:39 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 584
Joined: Oct 2009

Woodie
Yupp, the words about using heat or steam are LBs. As you may note they warn about getting it hotter than warm to the touch. I wouldn't go near a heat gun as that may be hard to control how hot it gets locally. Don't know how LB thought steam would be applied. Too bad LB is gone and all the experts on the subject.
42

TomO

09-05-2019 @ 9:03 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 7243
Joined: Oct 2009

A hair dryer on the low temp setting could be used to apply heat, most heat guns are too aggressive to use. There are steamers that upholsterers use that can direct the steam to small or larger areas. I don't know how effective they would be in this situation.

Installing a vinyl covering is just like installing a convertible top, not an easy job for an amateur. I would look for a shop that has done a lot of work similar to installing the SW top.

Tom

kubes40

09-05-2019 @ 3:22 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 3370
Joined: Oct 2009

I have used a heat gun. You need to be careful obviously but hey, that's why ya get the big bucks.
Allowing the sun to soak it helps but not enough to pull the corners as well as I expect.
Just be careful and you'll be fine.

Mike "Kube" Kubarth

<< previous || next >>

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

Merchandise Questions

Membership Questions