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1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 10:02 pm
by Mopar_man
Well it's time to start looking at the top and boy do I have questions. So here we go
1. Are these the correct top irons for a 1926 Touring car?
I got a work kit from J P Auto Wood.
So why are there no holes in the irons for the rivets that came with the wood kit? Do I need to drill them? Was the original wool just crimped in the irons?
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 10:09 pm
by Mopar_man
This clamp was welded on but I've seen them screwed into the wood and it looks like there are holes in the clamp to mount to the wood.
But it does seem to fit the car. Maybe when the wood is placed in the iron the clamp will then lind up on the front wood bow?
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 10:40 pm
by Norman Kling
The most important part of the wood installation is the distance between the two clamps on the top of the windshield posts must be exactly the right distance apart. I took a strip of oak veneer and laminated it as I bent it to fit in the curved part of the bows. It will accept tacks works very well on my car.
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 6:30 am
by Jerry VanOoteghem
Those bows appear to be kind of bent up. They also seem to have had some questionable past repairs.
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 8:50 am
by Mopar_man
Jerry VanOoteghem wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 6:30 am
Those bows appear to be kind of bent up. They also seem to have had some questionable past repairs.
They looked bent to me as well. When I tried to match the curved wood parts with the bow it looked like they would not fit.
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 12:57 pm
by John Codman
On my '27 touring the front brackets are bolted and screwed to the windshield post. The rear of the front bars are bolted to the next bar back. All of the other bars are riveted together except where the long rear bar is bolted to the body. The only exception to this is that the second bar back is attached to the rear upright bar with a pin and spring clip.
FWIW - I don't think there is a single factory weld in the car.
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 1:30 pm
by Norman Kling
A few important things before you install the top material to the car. There is an inner lining over the bows tacked to the bow under the actual top. The only place the top is attached is to the front bow and the rear bow. Find the center of each bow and the center of the top to align . The straps between the bows will determine how far the back bow is from the front and the strap between the back bow and the top of the body The pads are attached and tacked first then folded over on top and sewed. The rear strap determines the height of the back bow. It should be equal on each side before trimming. The rear curtain in attached to the back bow first and trimmed to fit. Then the top is laid over it on the back and finally the tack strip is attached.
Norm
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 1:46 pm
by Jerry VanOoteghem
Norman Kling wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 1:30 pm
A few important things before you install the top material to the car. There is an inner lining over the bows tacked to the bow under the actual top. The only place the top is attached is to the front bow and the rear bow. Find the center of each bow and the center of the top to align . The straps between the bows will determine how far the back bow is from the front and the strap between the back bow and the top of the body The pads are attached and tacked first then folded over on top and sewed. The rear strap determines the height of the back bow. It should be equal on each side before trimming. The rear curtain in attached to the back bow first and trimmed to fit. Then the top is laid over it on the back and finally the tack strip is attached.
Norm
To Mopar_Man/Robert G.,
This is all excellent advice you've been given! However, I'm sorry to say that I would be hesitant to try fitting an expensive top kit to those bows. Do a lot of trying out & inspection before committing the top material to those bows.
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 1:49 pm
by J1MGOLDEN
The 1926-27 Canadian top is totally different.
That may be a Canadian top.
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 3:26 pm
by Mopar_man
J1MGOLDEN wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 1:49 pm
The 1926-27 Canadian top is totally different.
That may be a Canadian top.
Interesting, how do you tell if it's a Canadian top?
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 3:28 pm
by Mopar_man
Norman Kling wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 1:30 pm
A few important things before you install the top material to the car. There is an inner lining over the bows tacked to the bow under the actual top. The only place the top is attached is to the front bow and the rear bow. Find the center of each bow and the center of the top to align . The straps between the bows will determine how far the back bow is from the front and the strap between the back bow and the top of the body The pads are attached and tacked first then folded over on top and sewed. The rear strap determines the height of the back bow. It should be equal on each side before trimming. The rear curtain in attached to the back bow first and trimmed to fit. Then the top is laid over it on the back and finally the tack strip is attached.
Norm
Thanks Norm! I haven even bought a top yet. My goal was to get the bows fitted first. Thanks, Jerry, for the input.
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 2:08 pm
by Mopar_man
So how do I tell if it's Canadian?
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 11:25 am
by Mopar_man
Well leave it to Steve Lang to solve the mystery. He noticed that each top looked like it was welded on. Sure enough I looked and he was right. Someone must have cut the tips off and welded C channels on each part. I can not overemphasize the value that Lang's is to the Model T hobby. What great people to work with and what a knowledge base. I just sent an e-mail to Jeff who has a set for sale. This looks like his first time posting so I've got some checking to do.
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 11:38 am
by John Codman
Mopar_man wrote: ↑Mon Jun 02, 2025 11:25 am
Well leave it to Steve Lang to solve the mystery. He noticed that each top looked like it was welded on. Sure enough I looked and he was right. Someone must have cut the tips off and welded C channels on each part. I can not overemphasize the value that Lang's is to the Model T hobby. What great people to work with and what a knowledge base. I just sent an e-mail to Jeff who has a set for sale. This looks like his first time posting so I've got some checking to do.
I had made a similar post earlier in this thread.
Re: 1926/7 Touring top bow questions.
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 11:41 am
by Mopar_man
John Codman wrote: ↑Mon Jun 02, 2025 11:38 am
Mopar_man wrote: ↑Mon Jun 02, 2025 11:25 am
Well leave it to Steve Lang to solve the mystery. He noticed that each top looked like it was welded on. Sure enough I looked and he was right. Someone must have cut the tips off and welded C channels on each part. I can not overemphasize the value that Lang's is to the Model T hobby. What great people to work with and what a knowledge base. I just sent an e-mail to Jeff who has a set for sale. This looks like his first time posting so I've got some checking to do.
I had made a similar post earlier in this thread.
Thanks John! I guess I didn't look at the right spot where Steve told bee to look. Thanks for your input!!!