I am goinmg to try to explain this without any pictures so bear with me. The top on my '67 Fury has a gap between the vinyl top and the folding mechanisim above the door windows on both sides. It is wide enough to fit my fingers in there. The folding mechanisim does sit straight with the windows up against the weatherstrip as expected. The front does lock down nicely against the windshield. When it rains, water doesn't actually get into the car because there is a little overhang of the actual vinyl top over the folding mechanisim. Is there any way to correct this short of buying a new top (the top is actually in good condition). Also, there are two main arched support bars connecting to the folding rails above the windows. It looks like the end supports for these bars are two different sizes. The bar closest to the front of the car has supports that are about 1 inch shorter the supports on the second bar. Is this the correct configuration? I am wondering if I have something odd here. Should they be the same size all around? Any help appreciated...
Joined: Tue Oct 11 2005, 01:33AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 5893
If I'm understanding your description, the top hardware fits to the windows but the top material doesn't pull tight to the top hardware. If that makes sense then you probably have a broken cable. Here's where my description gets foggy. There is a 1/8" or so stainless steel cable that runs along each side of the top material. It is attached at the bow end and at the back near the lift cylinder. It's purpose is to act like a draw string to pull the roof material down tight to the top mechanism.
I think I understand. I guess this cable pulls the ends of the top material down so it folds up against the folding mechanisim. Would this cable be easy to see if it is indeed broken? I wont be able to check the car until this Wednesday, but I am thinking that there never WAS any cables in the top ever since I got the car. Are these cables visible? Do you have any pictures that can show any of this?
Joined: Sun Feb 05 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Pa
Posts: 3064
The cables fit into a sleeve sewn into a top along the binding on the edge. There are three reasons for the condition you described: 1. the cables are missing/broken, 2. the replacement top doesn't have the sleeves sewn in, or 3. the top is shrunken back (or was made by a company who used a shrunken top to make their patterns, which happens a lot ) Shrink in tops isn't repairable but, in older cars with a lot of padding in between the bows and the top, removing some padding lowers the top in relation to the side windows. When installing a new top, make sure the pads aren't too thick or the new top won't cover the frame side rails. But too little padding will result in a top that looks like a "starved horse".
As Bob mentioned, the cable attaches to the frame with a small L bracket a couple inches away from the front on the side. It then slides into the pocket and runs across the top of the windows. At the end of the window and beginning of the third folding section of the top, the cable comes out and runs down the inside of the C pillar section of the top frame. There should be a couple eyelets guiding it. If you crawl in the back seat and reach back into the C-pillar section you should be able to feel (maybe see) the eyelets and if there is a cable attached. Also if the cable is attached and working you should feel it inside the top edge above the windows if you try to slide your hand between the top and the pads.
OK. I took some pics to show the problem. Here is what the top looks like from the outside. You can clearly see how it is lifted here:
Here you can see the gap I can fit my fingers in:
I couldn't feel a cord inside the edge of the top, but I wasn't sure what I was feeling for. Then I looked around the back of the folding mechanism. This is what I found about half way up the rear of the passenger window along the folding frame:
I assume this is the cable you guys mentioned with the rear mounting. There is some tension there, but there is also a little play as I can still pull some on the chord.
Here is a picture of the support braces looking from the backseat out the drivers side of the car:
Notice how the the support braces are mounted to the folding mechanism via L-shaped brackets. Also note that the rear bracket is a bit taller than than front bracket (about 1"). Could this be contributing to the fitting problem?
As far as the cables go, can they be adjusted or tightened? How do I know if I have one of those cheapo "shrinking" tops, like NFURY8 said coudn't be fixed without replacing the top?
Joined: Tue Oct 11 2005, 01:33AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 5893
Hmmm .. since the cable has some tension it's probably not broken. What I would try, is loosen the angle brackets holding the bows up and let them settle to a lower position. Drive with them lowered for a while to see if the top will reform itself and close the gap. Maybe the previous owner raised the bows on a hot sunny day when the top was expanded and now that its cooler the top has shrunk enough that you get the gap. I know my top is tight as a drum in cold weather and fairly floppy on a hot day. If I raise the top on a hot day, it closes to about 1/2" from the windshield header, but later in the evening when things have cooled it stops about 6" from the header. If lowering the bows doesn't help, maybe the cables have stretched.
I don't think the bows can be lowered. The L-bracket holding up the bow is riding on top of a pivot. I don't think the pivot can be moved. Is there any way to tighten up the cables themselves?