Does anyone have suggestions where to purchase or have a cmc convertible top repaired? My top has a misfitting windshield bow that is showing a space above the windshield when tightened down. Can I obtain just the bow? If so, how does it attach to the top?
Renfrance
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@Alan Merklin is probably a better guy to hear from, but in the 4 or 5 CMC windshield header bows I have dealt with, NONE of them fit right out of the box. ALL of them had to be trimmed or relieved or re-shaped in the slot for the windshield, sometimes a lot, to make them fit the windshield top frame properly. They all had the basic shape, but just didn’t quite fit here or there.
They’re supposedly made from fiberglass but it’s the weirdest damn FG I’ve ever seen. The good news is that it is easily re-shaped with a Dremel tool and a 3/16” hasp/grinder. Once you get the slot shaped so it fits down onto the windshield top frame OK, then you can use some Frost King 3/4” weather strip (Home Depot insulation aisle) to put one or two layers up into the header slot to seal against the top windshield frame and make it rain proof.
You can glue or re-glue the top material to the header with DAP contact cement (again, Home Depot Paint dept.) Just brush it onto the header and the top material, let it set up and then glue them together. I think my old article on how to install a new top is still up under the “Resources” tab on this site. That gives detailed instruction for all of this.
Having typed all this, I believe that Alan throws the CMC headers away and uses headers from Vintage Motorcars in California (because they fit better). Don’t know if he uses the DAP cement or something else/better.
Just thought of something else - It is very common to see a CMC header/top that has a gap in the center between the windshield frame and the header. Part of the problem is all that I explained up above, but another part of the problem is the lack of a center latch to pull the header down to the windshield frame properly as the top material is trying to pull the header back away from the frame.
If you get and install a third/center latch similar to the left and right ones the problem goes away (if the header is fitted correctly). Just install it slightly off-center to avoid the center vertical strut and you’ll be golden.
And as a last resort if you really hate the vinyl CMC top, you could get a new header and complete top from Greg Leach at Vintage Motorcars in California and have someone local to you install it (again, reference my top installation article), easy-peasy. Not inexpensive, but then nothing is these days.
Gordon, Thank you for the lead. That may be the way to go. After all the canvas is getting brittle.
I really appreciate the information. As usual this site has been a wealth of information for me.
I will look up your article to see if I can get a better fit if I use the original top.
thank you again,
Renfrance
Greg Leach's Vintage Motorcars (California) top does fit the CMC speedster's but you'll need to buy the matching VMC steel bow set as theirs has different radius ...the CMC metal bows cannot be simply bent ( I've tried that) The VMC header bow is made of a light weight black plastic composite material. and it fits well just add a piece of 3/8 x 5/8 hollow D shaped weather stripping in the header cavity). Have Greg attach their clips to the header bow to save you time and aggravation. Be careful that when closed, the latch is not against the windshield glass as when you tighten the top with the tensioner arms the header bow may rotate slightly rearward putting pressure at the latch to glass and could cause the glass to crack. I traveled that costly that road, once . When you are ready message me and I'll talk you through the misc. of the top installation
On Alan's advice, I bought my cabrio top and bow for my 1979 IM (basically the same as the CMCs) from Greg and Anna at Vintage Motorcars. It fits the IM perfectly and IMHO looks good.
This is a proper top fit. There should be no wrinkles.
Thank you for the photo.
Renfrance
" There should be no wrinkles." In a perfect world yes I agree but there are many variables with installing a replacement top with existing snaps already on the body , this, metal bows being slightly off or the header bow being warped. Look carefully at new top installation photos and you'll see slight " wrinkles" ( Unless custom sewn to fit your car ) as this is the result of how they are sewn and the back plastic windows always have a slight wave because they are sewn straight into the material instead of sewing it is place on a slight radius.
My top wrinkles set in after about ten years but I figure they give the car character.
OTOH MY wrinkles set in after 60 years old, but I was already a character by then.
