1930 Roadster windows

T

Thomas j maxwell

Junior Member
First time with a 1930 roadster but had a 1930 business scoop for 35 years.
Question about the windows, I have the drivers window installed wrapping around and attaching to the windshield and going to the back of the door with the rod holding it up. I’ve attached the quarter window no problem.
The flap that fits at the top to shed the water over the window is not long enough to attach to the windshield. It attaches to the frame in the back and the two twist lock connectors mid door, but it won’t reach to connector in the windshield.
Is there another piece that goes there that I’m missing or is this piece just too short? It doesn’t make sense that it’s too short because it was used for years like this. Maybe I’m doing something wrong pictures enclosed

Pictures will be attached when I figure out how to attach the pictures.
I need help
 
FYI they are called side curtains
Doesn’t sound like you’re missing anything. The if old, they may have shrunk enough to not allow fit.
Try attaching to the front and pulling the rod to see if it can be inserted into hole in top of door
Just some thought
 
Thanks.
Still trying to load pics.
The windshield hole is about an inch off. I will try first fastening at the windshield and then pull the rod to make the two twist clips make up and then the back one on the frame.
I did get it attached, but it was so tight I was afraid I was going to rip the windshield pin or clip out. Everything else fits good, talking about the side curtains
I’m struggling with this on the driver side and the passenger side.
it’s almost like it needs to be 1 inch longer in the front at the windshield.
 
For picture(s):
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click on the paper clip icon (near top centre),
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double click on the file (picture) that you want to post,
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HTH
 
These are the pictures of the side curtains.
Notice the top strip, after fastening to the frame, plus the 2 twist clips, it puts the front hole about 1” short of the double high pin in the windshield frame
Maybe more like an 1 1/2” short.
Comments welcome.
 

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All the ones I've seen have the flap attached on the inside of the curtain. The front snap is generally accessible to the driver on the inside. Many of these old cars were modified whenever the top was replaced and some do away with the normal fasteners such as cinch and lift the dot for other types of fasteners.

The bad thing about these items is that there isn't a lot of information out there about fabricating new sets and fitting new sets and all the faseners that go along with them both on the body and on the fabric.
 
Look near the top of the stanchion on the INSIDE of the car.You will see a stud or the hole it goes into.That snap on that flap looks like it was installed way too high.Looks like things were incorrectly fitted to begin with.I'm pretty sure that flap belongs on the inside.I sold my 30 Roadster about 8 or 9 years ago,so I can't take a look at it for you.I had the car for around 18 years and never once used them,other than to hang them on there to look at them when I bought the car.
 
I will take some pictures of the fasteners on my roadster and post them for you to compare. Likely won't be able to post them until tomorrow. Your top and side curtains look like an aftermarket generic material, not at all like my original reproductions. My top has the original glass rear window and the side curtains are the same material as the canvas top. The side curtains are a tight fit but nothing like you show in your pictures. When installing them after being off all summer, being a canvas material, I dampen them slightly and they stretch easily onto the fittings.
 

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Are phaetons set up the same way? I have a set of templates to order the side curtains but not sure about the small pieces. Thanks!
 
DF Model A said:
I will take some pictures of the fasteners on my roadster and post them for you to compare. Likely won't be able to post them until tomorrow. Your top and side curtains look like an aftermarket generic material, not at all like my original reproductions. My top has the original glass rear window and the side curtains are the same material as the canvas top. The side curtains are a tight fit but nothing like you show in your pictures. When installing them after being off all summer, being a canvas material, I dampen them slightly and they stretch easily onto the fittings.
Click to expand...
These appear to be canvas material.
Just short this approx 1”.
Again, I was able to pull and tug and made the post but …very tight.
 
Keith True said:
Look near the top of the stanchion on the INSIDE of the car.You will see a stud or the hole it goes into.That snap on that flap looks like it was installed way too high.Looks like things were incorrectly fitted to begin with.I'm pretty sure that flap belongs on the inside.I sold my 30 Roadster about 8 or 9 years ago,so I can't take a look at it for you.I had the car for around 18 years and never once used them,other than to hang them on there to look at them when I bought the car.
Click to expand...
Thanks.
I’ll check that out tomorrow and let you know
 
Well that long stud on the top makes it look like it is meant to take two layers of materiel.Who knows who made just what over the years.I do remember that the flap to use for hand signals opened inward on mine,not outward.Seems I had to reach up and pull something in the upper inside corner to open the door.But,I only had the curtains on that car once,and that was about 25 years ago.I don't really think yours has shrunk though,I've fooled with lots of age-shrunken side curtains,and the fabric and the edge binding material never shrink at the same rate.There's always a bunch of puckering.I have a new set for a 30 open pickup in the cellar,I can uncover them and take a look how they are made.I've owned them for well over 20 years,and have never installed the front set of snaps.
 
Thomas j maxwell said:
These appear to be canvas material.
Just short this approx 1”.
Again, I was able to pull and tug and made the post but …very tight.
Click to expand...
I will pull my side curtains out of the storage boxes this weekend and install them on the roadster so you see how they fit. That upper flap you are having difficulty with is intended to attach to that long top stud. It is meant to wrap around like that to help keep out some of the moisture dripping from the top. These old ragtops were never waterproof under any circumstances!
 
I checked on the Classtique site on the side curtain description for pickups and it states that the upper weather flap attaches to the forward rail of the top irons on the inside edge. This is a general statement but may be accurate for all of the roadsters too. It sort of makes sense due to the way air flows around the top. The top is wide enough to partially shield the inside from air and rain intrusion, The side door curtain has to be low enough to clear the top when opening the door. The upper flap shields the gap between the top of the side curtain and the overhang of the top. If attached outside the curtain then it would interfere with opening the door when rubbing against the top and closing of the door which will fold it over. Here is the link to the pdf on the classtique site, Scroll down to side curtains. I realize this is for the pickup but it would have the same problem and the open car part has no description

The top irons are different between Standard and Deluxe in 30/31 roadsters so I don't know how it works between the two. The 28 and 29 irons are a lot different. If the irons are original then evidence should be there of where fastening locations are placed if so.
 
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