MTFCA Forum

i am doing a ground up restoration on a 1927 model t fordor sedan All the top wood is replaced. Since i am putting in a new interior the last thing I want is water damage or leaking. I have heard of using 1/8" luan as a base, since they did not use chicken wire i have also been told about using outdoor carpet as an underlayment as well. So i am asking what is a good way to re-do the top new and also make it waterproof, i assume the vinyl could leak but i do not know so I am asking here for help or ideas from people who do know I will be driving this car on tours so it can get exposed to rain. Thoughts and ideas appreciated as I am open to ideas and suggestions.

Have you got the headliner installed yet? People have put on the top and forgot about the headliner.

The fordor top does not need luan, chicken wire, or carpet. The top wood includes wood slats from front to rear that provide the top support between the bows, no extra base needed. Since you are doing the upholstery next, you need to put the headliner in before you install the top slats over the bows so you can get to the headliner from the back side. A layer of cotton batting goes on over the slats to provide some thin padding, then the top. The top will not leak so no additional moisture layer is needed. Lots of older posts about installing a new top on a fordor, do a search, it has been posted and reposted for years.

Thank you John no the headliner is not installed i do know this needs to be done first

Humble j thank you for your reply i know the headliner goes on before the top the slats are already on but would not be hard to remove and i understand why your points about the slats thanks so much.

Over the slats it is a good idea to add some padding to take out the likelihood that the slats will impinge on the vinyl top layer. Traditionally it was cotton. A better substitute is dacron sheeting, available from quilting suppliers. It is not affected if any moisture should ever get under the vinyl, and the sheet does not pull apart like the old cotton stuff. Stay with the 1/4" thick stuff so the top doesn't get that over stuffed, padded-round-the-edges look.

Allan from down under.

Alan thank you great answer the cotton is what had me concerned.