[35WINDOW]

I am starting on my Top Chop this weekend (marking and such-cutting next weekend), and will be filling the Roof when done.

I will be cutting the fabric roof "channel" out of the Top and will not have any Roof Bows. What does eveyone use for replacement Bows? I know I can make them out of Wood, but that seems a little cheesy on a metal car. I have done a "Net Search, and found that there are Companies making them from Metal for Trailers and such, but they aren't curved ro match the Roof contours.

I suppose I could cut some Metal Strips, run 'em through the Bead Roller with a set of appropriate Dies, but I wonder if there is a better, easier way.

What am I missing? Is it using Wood? Any pointers?

[pasadenahotrod]

Why cut out the roof channel when it is such a great stiffener for the entire roof? You'll need wooden bows or some other stapleable composite so the headliner can be attached when the interior guy gets the job.
On our 32 3W project we made wooden bows which we screwed onto the steel tube bows across the roof in the 'glass body we have.
I had to check your journal to see what kind of car you have. Chevrolet and Studebaker, and many other makes also have 5window coupes in 1935, and the Master series Chevrolet has a solid top from the factory.

[35WINDOW]

My apologies-it is a '35 Ford Five Window Coupe. The reason for the cut out of the Channel is that I want to butt weld the fill in panel (so that it expands with everything else).

[home brew]

Many builders use wood to attach the upholstery. For your information on how they do this here is a link to a thread on upholstering a 41 Willys coupe. Starts at post #18.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=38449