I have just chopped the top of my 50 mercury, the window frames are in the works. I got thinking about removing the B pillar to create a hard top. The frames will have to be welded into the roof, which is easy. What I need to know is what was used for the window seal rubber at the top? Is there something that will glue into the old groove, or will I need to create something completly new. the rear window will be removable . I think they used to form a groove to slide them in when the door was open.

Thanks for any help.

Tell me what you come up with this. I'm hoping to do the same type of thing w/ my Chevy but can't quite figure out how to make the upper part of the door and top 1 unit while being able to open the door with the windows up.

I don't know if this is exactly like what you are doing, but on my Henry J ,I chopped the top and welded the tops of the doors to the roof. I rolled the lip in and used a universal rubber 'L' seal where the window rolls up. This left a pillarless door with electric windows. I have yet to have any leaks when the windows are up properly. When going down the road here in the wind zone (middle Iowa..), they have a tendancy to want to bow out when you roll them up, but once up they are fine. If you need I can try to explain better. I had to make a custom glass template to fit the new window opening, and it took some adjusting to get them right, but the look is great, I feel. You can kinda see it on the interior shot of my picture labled 'poster' on my photo album. Hope this helps!

If you want something that's pre-existing, you might want to look into window parts from convertibles. There's a bit more commonality between a hardtop and convertible than there is between hardtop and sedan.

I should know more about '50 Mercs, but I don't since I am pretty heavily focussed on '55-'56.. No hardtop in those years, right?

I just created a lil webpage to try and give some visual of what I'm looking to do for my truck's top. Go to the link I've attached and at the very bottom of the page is the link tot he hardtop site.

http://www.eccentrix.com/members/jhnbrackett/Bub.html

Since I have about a 3/4-1" lip on the outside of the window have to figure someway to open the door w/ the window up if the top portion is welded to the top.