convertible top fit

Hi! on my 67, should I be able to peer over the top of the door glass and see almost a 1/2 inch space between it and the convertible top? It is not the original top but otherwise it fits nice and locks into the A piller just fine. Either I'm missing some weatherstrip or something else is not right. Wouldn't think I would have a space that big. Doesn't boad well if it rains................

Sounds like you might be missing weather stripping like you mentioned. Is it like that on both sides? The top is straight/even across the top of the windows?

If the top is even like it should be and latches well etc then it probably is the weather strip missing. The weather strip on convertibles has metal inbedded into the rubber and bolts onto the top. In between where the glass would go in the weather stripping there are rectangle shape metal pieces that are actually the heads to the bolts, they go through the top frame and there are these flat bolts with like a "cap" in the center that the bolt goes into. On my '64 they are I think 1/2" that holds the weather stripping on. Been a while since I had mine off.

I believe it probably makes up for about an inch of thickness there between glass and top. You have any rubber at all there?

Deb

I heard that it is best to store the car with the top up and locked. I find that even after a couple weeks of being down, the top tends to shrink. When I cover mine up, I always make sure the top is up. Maybe yours is a bit tight and pulls up from the sides. Like when I wash stuff in hot water.

I was thinking the top was shrunk up on the sides til he said between the glass and the top so I'm thinking he means between top frame and windows. But hard to say.

Age will shrink them up also. You bring up a good point though Gordo. It's not good to leave them down for long periods but if it's cold and they are old they don't go up to well then either. Just like people.

The rear windows in the '64 I've heard some say they never unzip it when they put the top down. I was told to unzip mine when I first was around the car before it was mine and think it's a good idea and sure beats replacing them as when I did have a top sometimes the glass would sit on the edge of the back of the seat and I'd have to push it back to make it fall in the package tray area. I've heard of others breaking thiers by puting the top down with window still zipped in. Heck I'm cheap and rather be safe than sorry and it doesn't take that much effort to do.

Let us know for sure which area you are talking of on the gap. One of these replies should be it though. Can't think of anything else.

'67s have the tension cables also, not sure what they do though exactly. Mine only has short bungees basically that keep the pad pulled down on the sides.

Deb

I'm thinking this nice new top the previous owner installed did not come with weather stripping. I have nothing like Deb described. Nothing that attaches to the top, anyway. Top is very thick and slopes down a little at the edges but not like that and not with anyting attached. Doens't look to be a shrinkage issue. I'll bet they want a lot for that weather strip!

Yep the weather stripping is a bit high for the verts because of the metal "framing" or whatever it might be called inside it to keep it's shape. But suppose it could be worse.

Ford Ranchero, Ford Falcon, Ford Fairlane, Ford Torino, Mercury Comet, and Mercury Montego Parts Online
Part Number: WE11D
Your Price: $349.95

You might search around and see if there are other places. Greg Donahue is a little lower for '64 Galaxies but he doesn't have them for '67 and Macs doesn't either that I found. Others might though.

Deb

I don't know your location but there is also this place. About $50 higher but if you are in thier area you can probably just pick it up there. Depends on shipping and price which is the lower cost way to do it.

They are in FL
Galaxie Parts - Hydro-E-Lectric

Dearborn is in Central Oregon and seems like there is a place in CA also that might have it. I'll have to check my bookmarks to be sure though.

I haven't looked into a lot of the weather stripping stuff yet but noticed that Steele Rubber has a lot of the odd pieces I hadn't thought of.

Deb

Originally Posted by ShotRod64

Yep the weather stripping is a bit high for the verts because of the metal "framing" or whatever it might be called inside it to keep it's shape. But suppose it could be worse.

Ford Ranchero, Ford Falcon, Ford Fairlane, Ford Torino, Mercury Comet, and Mercury Montego Parts Online
Part Number: WE11D
Your Price: $349.95
Deb

Holy crap!! No wonder he didn't put it on. At least he got a glass window top for it.

Steele Rubber Products Online Catalog
Here's a place that sells the weatherstripping by piece or the whole top. DEB I have never taken the rear glass out of mine and have not had a problem putting the top down. If your car has the rubber on it there is an adjustment to bring the sides down to the glass on the framing of your top, make sure that it's adjusted right before you buy the new rubbers.

Originally Posted by 64Ragtop

Steele Rubber Products Online Catalog
Here's a place that sells the weatherstripping by piece or the whole top. DEB I have never taken the rear glass out of mine and have not had a problem putting the top down. If your car has the rubber on it there is an adjustment to bring the sides down to the glass on the framing of your top, make sure that it's adjusted right before you buy the new rubbers.

Lots of people don't and then there are the few that put the top down and end of window so I'd rather just keep doing it as I have. Or how I used to that is. Maybe it depends on how old the top is, how stretched etc I'm not sure but I got lucky finding a new window for $50 and just feel better bout unzipping it.

I'm kind of a, how would you call it, worry wart? I don't ever, when I had a top, just flip the switch and drop it down. I put it halfway down, get out make sure the folds are good, tuck here pull there and then down most of the way and check again. That way my boot cover went on without much stretching on it or anything as it has probably shrank over the years also.

I have no problem with others doing it that way or leaving the window up cause most aren't a worry wart or maybe I have OCD when it comes to the top I don't know. I can drive it mashed up but if it had a top it better fold perfectly!!