ConcoursMustang Forums

Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models => Interior & Trunk => Topic started by: Oz390 on March 25, 2011, 07:33:52 PM

Title: Early convertible top frame parts, detailed questions
Post by: Oz390 on March 25, 2011, 07:33:52 PM

1. Bow #2. 

I have a reproduction top frame from Dynacorn that has a very different camber of the bow, very flat, much less curve than my two '68 frames.  It also has an eccentric for up and down.  I have heard that early 65's used a different bow, and am wondering if this flatter one is based on this engineering variant, not the later version (no changeover date known).  I think the eccentric is just an add-on, a nice feature as it locks better than the slot style used on the OEM's (all 65-68, as far as I know).  Or was an eccentric up-and-down adjsutment on the early '65 convertibles?  If so, anyone got a photo I can use in a publication?

2. Bow #4. 

Again based on the reprodcution the curvature of the bow is different, and the "shoulder" is lower than the '68.  Again wondering if this may be a change from 65-66 or to 67-68 as most top manufacturers list a different bow height for 65-66 and 67-68.  As my 68 sits about 1/2"-1" higher I'm again thinking a change between the years?  But this is odd as the repro is lower than my '68 and most top vendors call out a 21" height for 65-66 and a lower 20 1/2" for 67-68..?

Anyone ever compared either of these two parts between an early 65 or 65-66 and either a 67 or 68?

Title: Re: Early convertible top frame parts, detailed questions
Post by: 68 S Code on March 29, 2011, 04:08:57 PM

Rich I will get you those differences between 65?66, 67 and 68 tops I noted. Can't compare it to the Dynacorn but slight changes between the early 65/66 and 67 and 68 exist.

Regarding the #4 bow I put the 65/66 next to my 68 and only found a difference in the location of the chrome button for the back window lanyard and the actual thread diameter of the screw for the button is larger. Note that the screws which hold the #2 and #3 bow brackets uses slightly different screws. The 65/66 and 67 use countersunk and the 68 uses pan head.

Title: Re: Early convertible top frame parts, detailed questions
Post by: Oz390 on March 30, 2011, 04:03:51 AM

Thanks, knew the snap moved on Bow 4 on the 67-68's, and the section changed from a square U to a kinda deeper "modified V" shape.

Title: Re: Early convertible top frame parts, detailed questions
Post by: 68 S Code on March 30, 2011, 08:18:27 PM

Didn't notice the #4 bow shape diff but when I had the 65/66 and 68 bows side by side something looked off but didn't notice that.

Title: Re: Early convertible top frame parts, detailed questions
Post by: Oz390 on April 02, 2011, 08:33:06 PM

Hmmmm.... no one here has ever seen an original early 65 top and noticed either of these these issues?