Hard Top Protection

[trpar]

Found this on another site and am going to make this my permanent solution to the scuffing problem with the Hard Top. Especially if it solves the squeek/rattle problem with the top as well.


Here's a product from Prostripe Moldings avialable from auto body shops that does a terrific job protecting the body from the hardtop scuffing. It's 7/16" wide and comes in a 20' roll. It is hard vinyl covered -- not coated-- with polished aluminum. It also comes in flat black for those of you who don't care for the "chrome" look. You can order it online at www.AutoBodyDepot.net Cost is only $19.95 for the 20 ft roll. Product number is M1052005. I was using the dooredge molding previously, but this works much better. I had it on most of the winter with the hardtop on--and there were no scuffs on the body...it also makes the top rattle free! The strip did not scratch because I covered it with clear tape before putting on the hardtop. Ford's not going to give us a solution that's worth while and APADCO may or may not come out with SS strips--but this works and it's not expensive. Attached are a few pics...

[trpar]

Tried to get the picture included but cannot get it to transfer.

Sorry

[Quickdraw]

trpar, you cant paste a photo directly into a message here, however if you use the "Attach File" option it should show up as a link.

[trpar]

Tried that too without success. Will keep tinkering with it and hopefully hit on a solution.

[trpar]

OK. I'm about to give up on the pic for now. I finally got the pic into the "My Pictures" area where I can browse to it from the "Attach File" option at the bottom but it will not upload and post. At times, I get a "Can't Find Server" error and others just a blank page after it finishes loading. I even tried sending a downsized version with the same results. If anyone has any other suggestions, I would appreciate them. Otherwise, I could email someone the photo if there is any interest.

Thanks,

Ted

[LZeitgeist]

Originally posted by Quickdraw
trpar, you cant paste a photo directly into a message here, however if you use the "Attach File" option it should show up as a link.

Is that 'can't' because of posting pics being against the rules here? Because it *is* possible to post pics in the thread... I'm just looking for clarification, just in case it *is* against the rules.

http://members.aol.com/lzeitgeist/PatsFormula.jpg

The web address of the pic to be posted must be known, and better yet, should be uploaded to (and posted from) the user's own webspace/FTP space.

Click here for details...

http://forums.thunderbirdforum.com/misc.php?s=&action=bbcode#imgcode

It's also helpful when posting pics to utilize the 'Preview Reply' function below to make sure everything works before the post is actually sent to the thread.

I hope this helps. :) (And I hope I haven't missed the rule that states this is improper for this forum. If I have, please let me know and accept my apologies.)

[Quickdraw]

LZ,
No there isn't a problem of photos being allowed, but rather technical problems with the website and/or the user.

You apparently have someplace to park a photo on the web and link to that so we see it directly. I just tried to post a photo using the "Attach File" field at the bottom of the message entry box and when I hit "Submit" I get the error message that there was a problem posting it ( a small jpg). You obviously are way more knowledgeable than most, and know how to work the system, I have a lot to learn & will experiment a bit today.

Thanks for posting the photo and the link to tips even if it does make me feel inadequate that I can't. <grin>

[LZeitgeist]

Oh, O.K. - glad I haven't broken any rules. I like this place. :)

Yes, a user needs to upload the photo to his own webspace (sometimes known as 'FTP Space', for 'File Transfer Protocol') and then enter the address into the coding mentioned above to make the photo appear here.

For example, as an AOL user, I have at my disposal 2 megabytes of FTP Space available to me, to which I upload the pic to the Space through the AOL software, and then I post the address and name of the file which I uploaded.

There are many places which provide a similar place to store pictures which one may want to post, share, or just link to. A search on 'webhosting' or 'FTP Space' should yield a number of places to provide this feature, if the user's Internet Service Provider doesn't already offer space as AOL does. Some sites offer free hosting; some require a small fee for membership, but remember that with the free services, one gets what one pays for. ::smile::

An alternate way of posting pics is by entering the address of the photo from where it was originally found - known, as I recall, as 'hot-linking' - but this method is generally frowned upon because it not only draws from the original uploader's bandwidth (the pic now being downloaded and viewed in two places instead of just the originally-intended one), but it also means that the second poster has no control over the image, and some users, when they discover their pic has been 'hot-linked' to and their bandwidth usage is rising out of their control, will replace the uploaded image with an empty file, or, in some cases, a distasteful image that then reflects upon the secondary user's unapproved usage of the original image.

I'm not a programmer or anything - I'm just an end-user, not a 'techie', but hopefully I made some sense out of what I'm trying to explain here. :)

[LZeitgeist]

Originally posted by Quickdraw
Thanks for posting the photo and the link to tips even if it does make me feel inadequate that I can't. <grin>

Oh, please don't feel inadequate - I'm definitely no 'pro', and a lot of this stuff I just sort of muddle through myself. :)

Thank you for providing this forum for our use and enjoyment. :)

And apologies to the original poster for pulling this thread off the original topic...

[trpar]

OK, I'll try again and see if this utility is working now. This is not MY photo but rather one I found with the original post above. Looks and sounds like an acceptable fix for the scuffing problem.

[Quickdraw]

Trpar,
I just get a blank white image... let me try to post the image you sent me via email...

[Quickdraw]

Same thing with that.. I just see an all white image, is it me or the system? What does everyone else see when they click on the photo links?

[Sophia]

testing

[Sophia]

That is my other car, I was trying to get the picture to show up instead of the link

[Sophia]

still testing & failing

[Sophia]

testing

[Sophia]

Some of my trophies (old pic)

[Sophia]

t

[Quickdraw]

To post a photo directly here you have to have the photo parked on the web somewhere and link to it.

Didn't you have a problem with the steering wheel with the vette?

[Sophia]

No, the problem was the speedometer cable, I didn't break it, it just got old and died.

[walc]

Beautiful cars!!!!
:cool:

[loochie]

Donna,
Nice trophies, Beautiful cars! I have a particular fondness for 1977 vettes!

[Quickdraw]

Beautiful cars!

Yes, I think it was Brad that first said Donna had a nice pair.:p :D

Donna,
That’s an impressive set of trophies - all for the Vette? Have you shown the Bird yet? Do you plan to?

[trpar]

Quickdraw,
When I click on the jpg image you attatched, I get the picture to come up. Does it work for you now?

[trpar]

Beautiful cars Sophia.

[Sophia]

Thanks everyone!!

The trophies are all for the Vette, and we have recieved a few more since that picture was taken. My husband joined a car club for antique vehicles. He takes it to a few shows each year. I don't care to drive for miles and sit by the car all day, so he goes and has a lot of bonding time with his pals.

I haven't shown the T-Bird, except for those one man (gal) shows when I drive down the road, and people look at it.

[Sophia]

nice pair.
That's nothing Quick, today, the doctor told me I REALLLLLLY have a smooooth patela. I told him that nobody had ever told me that before. Hubby and Dr. both laughed, hubby was in for a checkup.

:p

[Quickdraw]

Hubby was in for a check up? Sounds like the Dr was checking YOU out. You'll have to post photos of your patela to see if we concur with the Dr....

[Quickdraw]

Getting back on topic while we wait for photos of Sophias patela heres the hard top fix photo from trpar:

[trpar]

ALERT!! I had a PM from Chris last night stating that the part number he originally listed was wrong. Seems he received an opened package and the strip he used is M852005 Wheel Well Trim and is 5/8 " instead of 7/16. I have already ordered the wrong one and hope I can get it changed before it is shipped out. Sorry for the misleading info, maybe I should just keep my mouth shut until I have FIRST hand info.

Thanks for getting the picture up Quickdraw.

[Quickdraw]

Trpar, you posted to be helpful and it is appreciated! When you get yours on let us know.

[Sophia]

Quick, it is a good thing you went ahead and added the pic of the silver strip thing, cause my patela is in such good shape, they won't be x-raying it any time soon.
Dr. only checked it out because I told him it felt like I had knelt on glass shards when I got on my knee to plug something into my pc.
If I ever do need an x-ray, I will be sure to share it with you guys.
:D

[Sophia]

I like that hard top fix!

[Skylark]

I installed Ford's "Yugo Class" fix on my t-bird this afternoon. I am very disappointed with the look and quality of the mylar tape fix. Is there anything new on the stainless steel fix? It seems to have become a cold topic since the winter is over. How well is the molding suggested here doing long term? It looks great in the pictures. Ken

[Quickdraw]

I installed Ford's "Yugo Class" fix on my t-bird this afternoon. I am very disappointed with the look and quality of the mylar tape fix. Is there anything new on the stainless steel fix? It seems to have become a cold topic since the winter is over. How well is the molding suggested here doing long term? It looks great in the pictures. Ken

The stainless strip fox from Ford is dead. I keep hearing rumors about third parties working on them but nothings out yet...

[George]

I finally have put on the 5/8" chrome strip on my Blackbird. Really looks good. I plan to put the Ford Mylar strips over it in the fall when I reinstall the hardtop. :D

[George]

Well, I found that the strip has small bubbles under the chrome. :confused: They told me I may have put it on wrong :mad: , until I told them I inspected the balance of their product and it has the same defect. :rolleyes:
They offered to take it back and replace it. So now I have to remove the bad piece, which they also want back. I thought I would be able to leave on until the new one was here but no deal. :eek:

[George]

:D I have my replacement 5/8" chrome strip. BUT, I now have a Stainless Steel Strip that comes in three pieces and should be available soon. Pricing is not yet available but they say it's coming.
I'll try to post pictures here

[Quickdraw]

:D I have my replacement 5/8" chrome strip. BUT, I now have a Stainless Steel Strip that comes in three pieces and should be available soon. Pricing is not yet available but they say it's coming.
I'll try to post pictures here

George, are those the ones from QAA? They don't look like it...

[George]

Quickdraw:
Yes, that picture of my deck with the SS Steel three piece is the latest from QAA. I volunteered my car to be a measurement vehicle for them and then a model for their pictures.
The strip they had for sale came out far beyond the hard top, all the way to the third tail light, and looked bad when the hard top was on.
I am currently riding with my hard top on, just to see if this new strip will scratch the chrome. However, in the long term, I do plan on putting the Ford Mylar or Invinca-Shield over this new strip. In October, for the winter season.
WHY?
A) We wanted to protect our paint from scruffing/scraping. Hard to stop dirt from getting between the HT gasket and the paint. I think that this strip will do that job.
B) I as well as others I know wanted a better finish line when the hard top is off the car. I think that this strip actually does that as well.
C) I now want to protect the chrome strip and enjoy the car without worrying about scratches.
Others have asked about continuing the strip across the doors. While I was there, we made these up but the door strip did not meet the hard top strip so we stopped.
However, I am currently speaking with them about going forward with that strip and making a cross-over piece to meet with the deck strip. This was suggested by another member and so far they have been very receptive to suggestions.
I spent 6 hours with them assembling every piece they make to my car and making adjustments to the designs as we went. Then pictures were taken.
I'll keep you posted.

[Quickdraw]

George,

Yours looks WAY better than that wide strip they had originally - what were they thinking? Maybe they used the clear wide Ford strips as their template. You did good to get them like they are now. Do you know about removal? That was the reason I'd heard Ford didn't use the stainless strips like they planned for 2004... that they could not be removed & replaced without damage to the paint.

[George]

QD:
They just went to the rear third light. Tha's why so wide. They did tell me it would come off w/o damage. You would use the 3M solvent. Same as used for tar removal and some fishing line slid under the strip that is under a warm condition. That could be weather or hair dryer.

[George]

For anyone interested, those SS Steel strips for the deck are available on ebay at the QAA store, I'll try to post the link:

http://stores.ebay.com/Quality-Automotive-Accessories_Thunderbird_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQsclZallQ QsotimedisplayZ2QQtZkm

There is a picture that was post # 38 above.

There are other parts available as well. By the way, during the process of using my car for measurments, other products were developed, so the black car, shown at that site, is mine. I did not buy everything, though.

[davepsun]

THEY SENT ME M852005 PLEASE SEND PICS OF THE APPLICATION: TO: davepsun@comcast.net . thanks....DAVE. Here's a product from Prostripe Moldings avialable from auto body shops that does a terrific job protecting the body from the hardtop scuffing. It's 7/16" wide and comes in a 20' roll. It is hard vinyl covered -- not coated-- with polished aluminum. It also comes in flat black for those of you who don't care for the "chrome" look. You can order it online at www.AutoBodyDepot.net Cost is only $19.95 for the 20 ft roll. Product number is M1052005. I was using the dooredge molding previously, but this works much better. I had it on most of the winter with the hardtop on--and there were no scuffs on the body...it also makes the top rattle free! The strip did not scratch because I covered it with clear tape before putting on the hardtop. Ford's not going to give us a solution that's worth while and APADCO may or may not come out with SS strips--but this works and it's not expensive. Attached are a few pics...[/QUOTE]

[George]

Davepsun:
From the looks of your last post I you did not know that there is a SS Steel strip available. I have had it on my car for a few months now.
Read the post just before your last post and there's a web site. Need more info, email me. :D