Can someone show (or explain) how the front bow is mounted?

I am very very close to finishing my speedy. I have a pile of tenax fasteners, studs mounted, interior done, tan top and toneau sitting waiting, all the clips, seals, etc, and have no idea how the bow clips (for the top) mount on the bow.

Do they go "inside" it?

http://speedsterowners.com/library/cmcmanual1/images/CMC%20024.jpg

http://speedsterowners.com/library/cmcmanual2/images/cmc93.jpg

Does anyone have any real pictures instead of these crap sketches used by CMC in their manuals?

Nobody?

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8369/img2018bh6.jpg

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7607/img2022sx4.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/4954/img2021ag5.jpg

Wow Paul, you ain't gettin' no love!
If you'd like, I'll put up a few pics of my VS front bow configuration.
Ernie

Paul I'll check into some pics of mine for you tomorrow.

~WB

Paul, Gordon was having trouble getting to his own website (sheesh!) so he asked me to get you the URL to an article on just how to do this. It is:

http://speedstershop.com/viewtopic.php?t=381

Hope it helps.

friggin sweet. Thanks Lane (and Gordon)!

That makes sense now. I was holding the clip there and that bow doesn't fit all that well, so i have to trim parts of it and i wanted to make sure i did it right.

Paul:

If you have any more problems after looking at that article, then email me and I'll try to help.

When I trimmed my header to install a third latch I used a saw bit for a Dremel tool (the bit is a smaller version of a "Roto-Zip" rotary saw - maybe for removing grout?) and a small rotary rasp for a Dremel. Between the two they worked great.

Go SLOW working that material....I'm not sure what it's made of (supposedly fiberglass, but mostly resin) but it tends to be porous and the bit goes through it pretty easily. Oh, and wear a mask and Latex gloves, too, or you'll itch a lot.

Lastly, whatever mine's made from, it doesn't like enamel paint- it softens the header, so I used spray-on black Lacquer and that worked OK.

Gordon
The Speedstah Guy from Beaufort

Hey Gordon---I printed your great artyicle too as I want to add a third latch. 3 questions:

1. What is that gasket material you have in the bow to seal against the top of the window. Is it waterproof or am I just asking a silly qestion 'keeping in mine that we are dealing with a Speedster.

2. Did you offset the middle latch to one side or get it in the middle.

3.Did you strech the windshield frame metal on the middle latch like is done where the two original latches go---or do you just loosten the adjustment a bit and just grab up under the windshield frame?

Ya know--I was really excited about trying a bow weatherstrip fronm an "original" Apeedster but it had far too much meat and just didn't work. I had the ultimate test---that heavy rainstorm leaving Carlisle that Saturday morning. Glub glub. Thanks!--Jack

Big Jack Wrote: "1. What is that gasket material you have in the bow to seal against the top of the window. Is it waterproof or am I just asking a silly question 'keeping in mine that we are dealing with a Speedster.

OK, in my quest for ever better sealing for Speedster windshields to the top header, I've found this stuff at J.C. Whitney. Actually, Alan Merklin swears by this stuff, so who am I to question it??

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10101/s-10101/p-100000163736/mediaCode-ZX/appId-100000163736/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:100000163736

2. Did you offset the middle latch to one side or get it in the middle.

It's kinda tough to have it in the middle, Kemosabe......the center strut is in the way, so I off-set it a couple of inches to the right.

3.Did you strech the windshield frame metal on the middle latch like is done where the two original latches go---or do you just loosen the adjustment a bit and just grab up under the windshield frame?

I thought of just clipping it under the un-modified windshield frame, but I had the frame off anyway at the time so got a friend to hold the frame while I used a pair of electrician's pliers (with the jaws wrapped in duct tape) to bend a lip out the same as the other two latch locations. all three look the same, but the center is off-center (kinda like the driver).

Ya know--I was really excited about trying a bow weatherstrip fronm an "original" Apeedster but it had far too much meat and just didn't work. I had the ultimate test---that heavy rainstorm leaving Carlisle that Saturday morning. Glub glub. Thanks!--Jack

Try the J C Whitney stuff. It has the right dimensions (or you can stack it one on top of another or some other filler) and it's cheap.

gn

Gordon--I have that same J. C. Whitney stuff and was happy to see your treatise on installing a bow so I can do the third latch plus the new gasket stuff at the same time.

Is yours reasonably waterproof?---Jack

Mine seldom leaks. I always put Blue Painter's tape over the top-to-windshield intersection if it looks like rain. Carry a BIG roll in my ditty bag.

;>)

gn