68B Cabriolet No 1 Bow - Upper Q lock pillar interface

[eystein]

The interface between the No. 1 Bow and the upper quarter lock pillars consists of a single-finger joint secured with screws. This as opposed to the the joint on the bend of the bow itself which is multi-finger, glued and dowelled.



Can anyone tell me the reason for this design of the Bow-Q-lock pillar interface ?



Now, for strength I am planning to glue together the No.1 Bow and the upper Quarter lock pillars into one unit when fitting the wood.



Am I missing something here? Do the Bow and the upper lock pillars actually need to be separable for some later step in the assembly process that I am not foreseeing.

 

[30cabriolet]

Can anyone tell me the reason for this design of the Bow-Q-lock pillar interface ?

Am I missing something here? Do the Bow and the upper lock pillars actually need to be separable for some later step in the assembly process that I am not foreseeing.

I used this joint to both center the bow on the car and to get the correct angle for the upper lock pillars. The pillars should angle out 5/16"(if I remember correctly), this angle will match the window frames when they are in the up position. The correct angle is important to maintain an even gap along the length of the upper windlace retainers.

 

[eystein]

Thanks, that is an interesting point. However, I was thinking more in lines of whether it is necessary to later separate the bow and pillars in order to mount them on the car, and get the bowdrill correctly wrapped around bow, pillar and landau brackets etc.

 

[30cabriolet]

I can't answer that question as I am about two weeks from having my top installed. The wood structure is in place and adjusted to open and close correctly. I hope the bow doesn't need to come apart as mine is already screwed and glued.

 

[Marco Tahtaras]

Thanks, that is an interesting point. However, I was thinking more in lines of whether it is necessary to later separate the bow and pillars in order to mount them on the car, and get the bowdrill correctly wrapped around bow, pillar and landau brackets etc.

There is no question you are better off with it as secure as possible and permanent is fine. With that said, be ABSOLUTELY certain it's where you want it to be. All the Cabriolets I've worked on required MAJOR tweaking of the top assembly, quarters, windows, and doors before I'd consider installing a top so I've done it a few times. The bow can still be flexed a little after the fact but there are limits.