30 tudor roof installation

CWPASADENA

CWPASADENA

Well-known member
Hi Folks,

I just want to post some pictures of the roof I just finished on my '30 Tudor. I had never done one of these before and all I can say it takes a lot of time and patience.

I used the original side mouldings which were in very bad shape. The front and back moldings are the two piece steel ones that are sold by LeBaron Bonney. They come in straight lengths and you have to shape them. They say these are a little difficult to deal with and they are right. Anyway, it is finished and I do not think I want to do another one, at least not for a while.

Now. I can move on to putting stuff together.

Chris

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charles=fla said:
i have to do a 28 tudor..any hints so as to do the job right?..thanks ..charles..:o)..
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I ran across this site and found very good information on Tudor Roof Installation.

"The Model A Ford Barnyard"

http://www.abarnyard.com

On the Home Page, Click on "Begin Tour".
On the second Page under "Tour Stops", Click on "The Workshop".
On the next page, Click on "Installing a Closed Car Roof".

This is a very good detailed instruction with good illustrations for installing a roof on a '28 Tudor. My '30 is almost the same so just about everything applied.

I think one of the main things is to have the cover warm when you are ready to do the stretching and tacking. I was able to move my body out in the sun and really get everything well warmed up before I started the stretching and tacking. I used LeBaron-Bonney's "Kit" which was very good except their instructions leave a little to be desired. The Model A Ford Barnyard site really helped a lot.

Do not get in a hurry, it just takes time.

Chris
 
You are very skilled and better yet, SMART. One go around with a top project teaches all but the gluttons for punishment or one doing them for a living to definitely take a furlough from the next one. Here is another tudor that is Elkpoint/Kewanne green with a fresh top. Is yours two toned?
 

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coilover said:
You are very skilled and better yet, SMART. One go around with a top project teaches all but the gluttons for punishment or one doing them for a living to definitely take a furlough from the next one. Here is another tudor that is Elkpoint/Kewanne green with a fresh top. Is yours two toned?
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Yes, Mine is also Two-Tone. I like this color combination except I will have Black wheels.

I will also have Black tires and no side mounts. Just a basic Tudor.

Chris
 
Nice Job Chris!!

I am doing a 30 coupe as we speak, how warm was the roof material when you did the final tacking?
 
brum1 said:
Nice Job Chris!!

I am doing a 30 coupe as we speak, how warm was the roof material when you did the final tacking?
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I had it in the sun for a couple of hours. It is winter but the sun was out and the outside temp was about 70 deg. You could put your hand on it and it felt very warm to the touch. You can tell when it is warm enough because the material will become very pliable and easy to stretch and it smoothes right out when pulled on.

Look up the link to the "Model A Barnyard" site I previously posted. This is very well done and has good information. The instructions on this site are for a Tudor but a lot of it will also apply to your car.

Keep the material rolled up and do not fold it until you are ready to install it.

The actual installation of the material is the easier part. It took me a LOT of time to do the moldings.

Press on but take your time.

Chris
 
CW, did you use the long grain or short grain roof fabric?
I know the Standards call for long grain even though LeBaron-Bonney's long grain does not match the original perfectly.
I have seen Tudors with short grain installed and to me it looked closer to the (very leaky) original factory fabric that was on our last Tudor.
 
Chris in Jax said:
CW, did you use the long grain or short grain roof fabric?
I know the Standards call for long grain even though LeBaron-Bonney's long grain does not match the original perfectly.
I have seen Tudors with short grain installed and to me it looked closer to the (very leaky) original factory fabric that was on our last Tudor.
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I used the Short Grain Fabric. Personally, I like the looks of it better. Even though I do not plan to have the car judged, LeBaron Bonney said either was acceptable.

Chris
 
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Now that's how a top is supposed to look! Very nice work!

Last top I installed, ended up doing it in the heated paint booth since it was too cold to do it in the normal part of the shop. Worked like a dream, except I was a tad warm. Good enough excuse as any for a cold beer afterwards!
 
I used this on my last car and it works fine and is easy to do. I did it before I put the roof material on however
 

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That is a nice looking top. I hope mine looks that good when I finish the current resto. I just finished my rear end differntial.
 
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