The strip on the back which the top gets tacked too is almost gone. I am restoring car but need to know what is used to replace this strip. It seems to be rubber and was tacked welded at the factory I think. Does anyone know anything about restoring this strip. Maybe other years had the same problem.
1953 Ford Convertible question
- Thread starter 1953fords
- Start date
rotorwrench
Well-known member
If the old hard rubber isn't crumbling to dust or have too many holes in it you might try the toothpick trick to fill the old nail holes like they used to do on the older wood topped cars. If it is really falling appart you might have to recast it with rubber sealant type material or maybe ABS plastic like Duramix or something of that nature. I haven't seen to many convertibles of that model so I don't know what it looks like. Is it a rubber material attached to a curved metal plate or is is a metal chanel type construction curved to fit the back panel with rubber inserted? I'll have to check my parts catalogs to see if it's illustrated.
Kerby
Kerby
Merc Cruzer
Well-known member
I just installed the top well in my 53 Merc, so I had to unstaple the top and the material is in a channel. It looks like some sort of plastic. I would guess that you could chisel it out, you could make a strip out of plywood and slide it in....you just want something that will hold the staples.
19Fordy
Well-known member
I am pretty sure upholstery shops use a plastic type of strip to replace the original. Google 'Plastic tack strip convertible cars" and stuff appears. For instance:
http://www.thefind.com/cars/info-rear-tack-strip
rotorwrench
Well-known member
19Fordy is right about that. I found this when googling. www.convertibletopguys.com/category/view/939
Now how well it fits or what keeps it secure I don't know but they advertise for the 52 to 54 tops. It doesn't rally mention the back lower tack strip either but you might give them a call or see what else google can come up with.
Kerby
Now how well it fits or what keeps it secure I don't know but they advertise for the 52 to 54 tops. It doesn't rally mention the back lower tack strip either but you might give them a call or see what else google can come up with.
Kerby