Re: One question.

[Grant M.]

Jerry,

My '65 was done (in 1989) using the plastic tack strips, supplied by my installer. I've had no issues with it and can't see how fibreboard would hold better than staples in such hard, dense plastic.

grant

[Tim E.]

Re: One question.

I just recently finished the top on my '66 using Al Knoch materials and his video and got great results. I couldn't bring myself to aiming a kerosene shop heater at the rear window like Al does, but fortunately (thanks to the Texas sun!) didn't need to.

I replaced the tack strips with Al's cardboard ones like what you have. Use the strongest glue you can find with tape to retain the curved shape of the bows. The strips want to spring back to their flat position. I used the flat edge of a 1/2" piece of hardwood to push the edges of the rear bow tack strip under the crimped edges of the bow. To me, that was the worst part of installing the tack strips.

Take care when stapling the pads and material on the rear bow. The wire-on needs to completely hide 2, 3, and in two places 4 rows of staples plus the gap in material above the rear window. Measure the width of the wire-on so you know the margin you're working with.

As mentioned earlier, softening the material in the hot sun makes stretching much easier.