1948 ford convertible garnish molding question

skidmarks

skidmarks

Well-known member
1948 ford convertible.

Between the dash and the garnish moldings, is there a narrow piece of stainless trim? Like a small bead around the edge?

Another question, was there an accessory gas door lock or was that a JC whitney piece?
 
Not sure bout the dash piece but the locking gas cap door should be original, I guess some people stole gas back then also.
 
For sure on a 48 wagon there is a piece of stainless trim between the dash and the windshield garnish mldg. Conv. should be the same. It's held in place by a fabric inserted into the stainless. The fabric pretty much disintegrates over time and inserting new fabric into the stainless is pretty much impossible. Besides being an attractive piece I think it may serve as an anti squeak device.
The fabric on mine was toast 40 years ago the stainless is still perfect. It sits on a shelf in the garage... Bill
 
That's the way it was described to me, but the disintegrated material he thought was rotted metal. Maybe its rust attached to the fabric remains. I haven't seen the piece in person yet.

Sounds like chances of restoring the piece is pretty slim.
 
Looking at a picture of a 48 convertible dash online that trim looks like stainless fender welting. Would that be the same material?
 
We used stainless steel fender welting from C&G (800) 266-0470, part number 48-16070-SS. It costs $3/foot, and you can order just the amount you need.
 
If you want have a look at car #427 on todays BJ auction list. it's a 48 conv. Shows a good pic of chrome fender welt used in place of the factory SS trim. Its double the size of the original and appears to wrap up around the garnish mldg. The factory piece ends where the turnup begins on the garnish. Use it in a pinch if you must it's not as attractive as the original.
A solution is go to an upholstery supplier and get a piece of very small diameter "piping". It's very pliable and you may be able to rattle can spray it chrome color. Just a suggestion... Bill
 
Bill said:
A solution is go to an upholstery supplier and get a piece of very small diameter "piping". It's very pliable and you may be able to rattle can spray it chrome color. Just a suggestion... Bill
Click to expand...

Along this line, you might be able to use the windshield welting from 1940. Don't know if it's still available, but Roy Nacewicz had it.
 
On the '46-'48 convertible the chrome welting goes all the way around the garnish. There were small clips that covered where the 2 ends meet. These are almost impossible to find as is the original size stainless welting. I talked to Bob Drake years ago at a Grand National meet about making these but don't think it ever was done. The fabric almost always is deteriorated to the point of being powder.
 
The original stainless trim is a bit smaller in diameter, but the welting looks good when in place. I did have to make clips where the ends meet. As usual, finding most parts for open cars is difficult. It took me months to track down a window regulator for my '47. When I got the car, someone had installed a window regulator from a closed car. The convertible regulator takes nine turns to raise or lower the glass, instead of half that for open cars. The windows are very heavy due to the frames. Even so, we had to disassemble the regulator so we could rebuild missing gear teeth. I have owned the car for 23 years and have a shelf of trophies for it. I love the car but it is now for sale.
 
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