Improved Car Top Clamps Splayed

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Topic author
ifrichard
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Tourer
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Improved Car Top Clamps Splayed

Post by ifrichard » Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:46 pm

Dan Treace said on Oct 27, 2019 in the post with subject Improved car stanchions
"If your upper and lower swivel windshield frames are fitting nicely to the stanchions, and those stanchions are also fitted well to the cowl, the center-to-center distance from the round post fittings on each stanchion should be approx. 40"."

My stanchions measure correctly at 40" and the windshield frames work correctly. The problem is that the top sockets are splayed outward and they measure 40 1/2 from center to center. The root cause is that the canvas top shrinkage has caused the front wood cross member to bow. Is there a work around for this problem? I do no want to mess with removing part of the top.

Regards, Richard
My car is a 1926 Tourer.


Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: Improved Car Top Clamps Splayed

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:14 pm

I had the same issue. I removed the clamps and placed a washer under one side of the clamp base to tilt them inwards. I also screwed a small angle iron to the back side of the bow to bring it back straight. In my case, the bow was also cracked. That sounds terrible I know, but it's actually very discreet. 8-)


Norman Kling
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Re: Improved Car Top Clamps Splayed

Post by Norman Kling » Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:56 pm

If they are not too far, you can loosen the nut which keeps the windshield from tilting and then pull the post outward until you can get the clamp on, then tighten the clamps and also the nuts on the windshield.
Norm


Topic author
ifrichard
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2019 10:26 pm
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Tourer
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MTFCA Number: 32027
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Re: Improved Car Top Clamps Splayed

Post by ifrichard » Sun Jan 23, 2022 11:05 am

@Jerry Did you just bend the arms with the sockets/clamps outward? Or did our cut one side and then bend them?

If I were to slice the arm at the base, then I could bend and MIG tack weld in the new position with the top still on. This fix seems possible, but risky.

Richard


Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: Improved Car Top Clamps Splayed

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Sun Jan 23, 2022 5:01 pm

ifrichard wrote:
Sun Jan 23, 2022 11:05 am
@Jerry Did you just bend the arms with the sockets/clamps outward? Or did our cut one side and then bend them?

If I were to slice the arm at the base, then I could bend and MIG tack weld in the new position with the top still on. This fix seems possible, but risky.

Richard
Richard,

Not sure I understand your question. I didn't cut or bend anything. I simply put a washer under the one side of each of the mounting flanges to make them tilt inwards. Doing so reduced the spread between the mounting sockets, allowing them to align with the windshield posts.
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DLodge
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Re: Improved Car Top Clamps Splayed

Post by DLodge » Sun Jan 23, 2022 5:34 pm

Jerry VanOoteghem wrote:
Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:14 pm
...That sounds terrible I know, but it's actually very discreet.
Nothing is more embarrassing when you drive a T than having people notice that you have an indiscreet bow. :D


Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: Improved Car Top Clamps Splayed

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:01 pm

DLodge wrote:
Sun Jan 23, 2022 5:34 pm
Jerry VanOoteghem wrote:
Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:14 pm
...That sounds terrible I know, but it's actually very discreet.
Nothing is more embarrassing when you drive a T than having people notice that you have an indiscreet bow. :D
You said it brother!! :shock:


Topic author
ifrichard
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2019 10:26 pm
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Harvey
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Tourer
Location: California Central Coast
MTFCA Number: 32027
Board Member Since: 2016

Re: Improved Car Top Clamps Splayed

Post by ifrichard » Tue Jan 25, 2022 11:39 pm

Thank you. Jerry's solution will work.

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