Anyone used the plastic tack strips as opposed to the correct fiber tack strips? Do the plastic tack strips work as well as the fiber strips? Since my car is a driver and you can't see them anyway, I am not interested in correct, just tack strips that hold staples.
1960 Soft Top Tack Strips
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Re: 1960 Soft Top Tack Strips
Joe,
I have used the vinyl tack strips before and they seem to hold as good as the cardboard ones. You really do not have any other option if the rear bow tack strip needs to be replaced as the cardboard one was crimped in place when the rear bow was built.
Regards, John McGraw- Top
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Re: 1960 Soft Top Tack Strips
Joe,
The only strip that I have a problem with is at the front header. The plastic strips do not have holes punched in them to let screws pass through to the nutplates below. You are supposed to just use short, self-tapping screws to attach the front weatherstrip and retainers. I found that solution to be unacceptable and spent a considerable ammount of time punching out oblong holes in the strip to allow the use of the original style nutplates. You have to be careful not to put glue in the area where the nutplates since they need to float.
This was a pretty fair ammount of work, and an original style, driven-in style tackstrip at the front header is still probably the best choice. I know a lot of people who use the self-tapping screws, and report no problems, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it!
Regards, John McGraw- Top
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Re: 1960 Soft Top Tack Strips
As always, thanks for the valuable information. I ordered the plastic tack strips from Dr. Rebuild this morning. I wonder if a dremel tool with a grout bit or router bit would be useful to make the slots in the header tack strip?
I will probably use the self tapping screws and move on to the next step (but will save the T-nuts!).- Top
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Re: 1960 Soft Top Tack Strips
Joe
The plastic tack strip will work fine. I use a drill bit to enlarge the holes. A dremel tool will work as well. I have done many tops on Bloomington Gold cars with out any problems, as said you don't see the tack strips anyway. Good Luck with your top.
Mike D.- Top
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