1962 deck bow weatherstrip

[Kenneth F.]

I am struggling to install the hold in cord in a 1962 deck bow w/s. I am using dish soap for a lubricant. Can someone suggest a tool that might not slip off the cord when pushing the cord into the groove in the rubber?

Thank you,
Ken

[Stephen R.]

Re: 1962 deck bow weatherstrip

I am struggling to install the hold in cord in a 1962 deck bow w/s. I am using dish soap for a lubricant. Can someone suggest a tool that might not slip off the cord when pushing the cord into the groove in the rubber?

Thank you,
Ken

I think you may need a "spline roller" tool that is used to install the rubber spline in aluminum screens. Go to Home Depot they should have them. Looks something like this:

[Ernie F.]

Re: 1962 deck bow weatherstrip

I've installed many of these tops over the years and one trick I learned from watching Al Knoch do installations years ago (actually at Bloomington in the 80's) was.....Yes you are reading correctly.... OIL...

Place some oil inside the rear groove of the weatherstrip and wipe down the hold in cord with it... That hold in cord will slip right in place. If you want you can call Al to verify this 800-880-8080.

Or just purchase his installation video and you can view it yourself.

Ernie

[Kenneth F.]

Re: 1962 deck bow weatherstrip

Stephen, The spline roller I have kept slipping off the cord, but perhaps my tool is poor quality. The concave shape is very narrow and not very concave. I will look for another tool.

Ernie, Is the groove you mention, the one the cord slides into? I will try light machine oil.

Thank you,
Ken

[Ernie F.]

Re: 1962 deck bow weatherstrip

Yes, wipe the cord with oil, then put some in the U section the cord slides into. I usually take a thin rag, place some oil on it and then wipe it through the U section with a large screw driver. Then get you a fat flat blade screw driver and it'll push right in place. Don't get sloppy with it, a little will go a long way.

And don't forget, the most critical measurement when doing a top installation is the distance from the rear bow pivot to the vertical edge of the frame. You transfer this to your top with a light pencil mark before you ever start the installation. Then work about 6" from one side inward, then go to the other and make sure your mark is on center. Then do the next 6" on the other side. If you do it this way then working toward the center it will all fall in place and the top will fit on the sides perfectly.

Again, if you don't understand what I'm talking about you probably should get a copy of Al's video. .

[Kenneth F.]

Re: 1962 deck bow weatherstrip

Ernie, Installing the vinyl alternately from the ends of the deck bow will stretch the top material as I move toward the center. This all makes sense. I found that installing the vinyl from the center, I was not able to get the material where it would wrap cleanly around the vertical edge of the frame.
The video sounds like a good idea.

Thank you for you help,
Ken

[Ernie F.]

Re: 1962 deck bow weatherstrip

I have some pictures here somewhere of the measurement and how it's done from when I did my 62 top, I just can't seem to find them right now. If you go here it say's 68-75... (not complete) but you'll see a picture of a mid year top we installed if you scroll down a few pages and it shows the pencil mark made on the top prior to installation.. http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/w...tall-68-75.pdf

But.... yes, the video will help you a ton. It's funny when people call the store and tell us the top is to small and how experienced their installer is and he's been doing for (insert years here)...... then we find out he started from the middle.

The main points of interest are the pad location and the most important one is that measurement from the center of the pivot hole to the edge of the vertical frame. The frame just be installed bare to the top to get this measurement, then you transfer it to the top.

The rest will fall in place if you start on the ends.