QuestionDave,
Answers to your questions below. I thank you for your prompt response and your keen interest. I shall obtain some digital photo's to send you. Can I attach photo's and other attachements to this?
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Dave,
I am restoring a 59 Skyliner. When the roof retracts, about midway through the cycle, the rear window edge starts to become exposed at the bottom - ie the window opening is becoming wider. I am not sure if this is due to the roof linkages being out of adjustment (quite probable) or the roof is becoming weak where the parcel tray section joins the roof pillars.
I currently have the roof off the car and apart from very minor rust in the corner areas as described above, the roof is in excellent condition. Is there a 'fix' to reinforce the roof at these points and do you think it is required? Car is Raven Black, 292 Y block. Car is about 85% finished - just body work to do now. I have converted to right hand drive - can send photo's if you are interested. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks.
Warren Jones
Melbourne
Australia
Answer -
Hi Warren,
It's good to hear another one of these beauties has a good home, and will have a great future.
I'm responding, but really I have only questions at this point. I want to make sure I understand exactly what's happening so I can recommend the best course of action.
Please use the 'follow-up question' feature of Allexperts to answer these questions and verify my assumptions.
1. I assume we are talking about the roof retract function where as part of this the decklid opens and exposes the 'boot' to make room for the roof. Yes/No, Comment...
1/. Your assumption is correct - I am most definitely talking about the roof retract function. When I got the car I had a new rear window seal fitted as the lower edge of the window was exposed. Following this on the very first operation (roof retract into trunk) the window edge became exposed again. - all other functions work OK.
2. I assume we are talking about the sequence where the roof lifts from it's resting position and moves toward the rear of the car; the midway point would be the highpoint of the roof's travel, having lifted from the rest position and then beginning its descent into the boot. Yes/No Comment...
2/. Correct.
3. I assume we are NOT at all talking about the decklid and it's tray, the one that ends up as the 'parcel tray' when the car is in it's convertible form. Yes/No Comment...
3/. Correct again. Deck lid and parcel tray functions work fine.
4. I assume you mean the lower glass edge of the rear window is what we're talking about; and, that this edge becomes exposed, moving away from it's seated position in it's rubber gasket; and, "bad" airspace becomes evident between the rear window and the parcel tray. Yes/No Comment...
4/. Correct.
5. Can you detect any distortion of the metal, or the lifting arms? Can you see any spot where the original welds have broken, or where two adjoining surfaces appear to have shifted postions relative to each other? Comment...
5/. There are no evident signs of metal distortion in the roof pillars or parcel tray area. When I first got the car, I did notice that with the roof erected and the deck lid down, there was an excessive gap between the front of the deck lid (where the deck lid rubber goes) and the roof 'channel' which is part of the roof and situated immediately below the rear window. At first I put this down to either the deck lid not being seated down properly or the deck lid rubber being old and partly shrunken. Now I am not so sure. I have not removed the lifting arms but intend to do so to enable replacement of the bushes. I have had cursory attempts to adjust various parts of the roof mechanaism to remove a bow in the tie rod, but decided ultimately that I would await replacement of the bushes prior to doing this. I once obtained a measurement of the window opening from another car here in Melbourne but have unfortunately lost this and the guy has now completed his car and therefore the glass is back in.
If you can send pictures of the area in question, that would be great. Both looking at the rear window from the car interior, and also upwards from the spare tire area. If that's not possible, I'd love to see any pictures you'd care to share.
If you'd like me to stop by in a couple days and take a look at it in person, just let me know. Oops, getting to Melbourne from California may take a bit more planning. In the meantime, thanks very much for your patience.
I'll be waiting here for more of the story of your project.
Thanks.
Dave
AnswerHello Again Warren,
Let me suggest this...since this effort may last awhile, and we'll likely be exchanging photos and other attachments, from here on please feel free to use my e-mail address: daves356@yahoo.com.
I'm interested in your comment that you had noticed a gap between the decklid's front edge and the rear window's lower chrome moulding. Do you remember anything else, like did the roof seem well seated and were the roof's front screws locked down? Can you remember if the rear edge of the decklid was at all irregular?
I looked at my '59 and wrapped my hand around the area encompassing the lowest edge of the window and the underside of the parcel tray's metal panel. The fit of the pieces in this area seems tight and compact. When you do this does it appear that the fit of the glass in its rubber, or the chrome moulding is loose?
I also checked the mounting points of the two control arms to the underside of the parcel tray. There are two bolts on each side of the car holding the roof through brackets to the arms. These arms do not lift the roof, but they certainly do hold the roof in its position (the height of the front edge relative to the height of the point we're worried about). So I can see how the lifting arms could put a strain on the package tray through the control arms, but I'd also expect the brackets to be misshappen or loose. Would you mind rechecking this area?
I'll look for your next message on my personal e-mail. I'll talk to you soon.
Dave
