Convertible top front header bow question...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 3
From: CA
Convertible top front header bow question...
With my new Al Knoch top next to me waiting to be installed I discovered that my front header bow was rusted. So after finding out the aftermarket replacement bow didnt fit right I sent the bow to Sullys for restoration....hopefully it will arrive back to me by the end of the week.
So here is my questions, when I removed the header bow there were 4 screws holding it in place. To my surprise it was also tack welded. I cut the welds in order to remove it. When I reinstall the rebuilt header will I need to get this welded again or will the 4 screws be enough?
Any advice is appreciated.
So here is my questions, when I removed the header bow there were 4 screws holding it in place. To my surprise it was also tack welded. I cut the welds in order to remove it. When I reinstall the rebuilt header will I need to get this welded again or will the 4 screws be enough?
Any advice is appreciated.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
not really sure, but it never hurts to put things back exactly the way you found them.
you don't want to find out after you put the new top on that you needed that tack weld. welding and vinel (sp?) don't mix.
hopefully somebody else who has done this will chime in, but if not i think i would put the tack weld back.
hope this helps,
Mike.
you don't want to find out after you put the new top on that you needed that tack weld. welding and vinel (sp?) don't mix.
hopefully somebody else who has done this will chime in, but if not i think i would put the tack weld back.
hope this helps,
Mike.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I don't recall mine being welded at all on the front bow. I took mine off and scrubbed the rust off with a wire brush and sealed it with primer and then painted it to keep it from rusting again. Hopefully it will out last me anyway.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
Originally Posted by PaulH
With my new Al Knoch top next to me waiting to be installed I discovered that my front header bow was rusted. So after finding out the aftermarket replacement bow didnt fit right I sent the bow to Sullys for restoration....hopefully it will arrive back to me by the end of the week.
So here is my questions, when I removed the header bow there were 4 screws holding it in place. To my surprise it was also tack welded. I cut the welds in order to remove it. When I reinstall the rebuilt header will I need to get this welded again or will the 4 screws be enough?
Any advice is appreciated.
So here is my questions, when I removed the header bow there were 4 screws holding it in place. To my surprise it was also tack welded. I cut the welds in order to remove it. When I reinstall the rebuilt header will I need to get this welded again or will the 4 screws be enough?
Any advice is appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
I'm also very interested in the replacement bow problems. Mine was rusted in the center under the tack strip, and as I had spent every dime in the cookie jar on the top, tack strips and all new weatherstripping, I bubba'ed it. It involved some rivets, sufice it to say...
Is there more than one brand for the replacement bow/header? Who made the one you have that didn't fit (do a private msg if you feel more comfortable with that)? They are pricey, so Getting a bad one would be a bummer.
Hans
Is there more than one brand for the replacement bow/header? Who made the one you have that didn't fit (do a private msg if you feel more comfortable with that)? They are pricey, so Getting a bad one would be a bummer.
Hans
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
I have parts of two tops laying around my shop. No evidence of tack welds on the header to side iron connection. How much does Sully's charge to restore a header? Hope you can get your dough back for the replacement.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 3
From: CA
Originally Posted by LemansBlue68
I'm going through restoring my top frame as well. I had my buddy sandblast it for me and we found a few pinholes in the front header bow under where the tack strip goes. I'm pretty confident that since the rust was pretty localized where moisture apparently was trapped under the tack strip, that I'll be able to mig weld the pin holes closed and be good to go. However, just in case..... I'm curious as to what problems you encountered with your replacement header bow (for the price they get for these, there shouldn't be any!) and who is Sully's? Thanks, and good luck with getting your convertible top back together!
Getting back to the reman tops. I never get all the details, but maybe there is more than one mfr or maybe since the header fits 68-75 it fits some years better than others???? I really dont know. The company I ordered from did give me a full refund on the reman header.
I'll have more info on Friday...quality of work and cost (Sully's shipped COD)
Last edited by 71406; Jun 21, 2006 at 09:51 PM.
