Correct tonneau stud pattern for 427 cobra

[A98Coupe]

A-snake,

Thanks for the reply, your measurement datum now makes complete sense and a good starting point for rough location of the rear studs on my 427. I'll wait to see if Jim is successful in making some patterns and then I should be sorted.
Thanks again
Stuart

[DMXF]

Dan - I agree that most of the variations in these cars today are from what was done to the cars after they left Shelby American. It's standard procedure for a manufacturer to use fixturing, etc to make cars uniform. However, between tops and tonnaus, I have a number of originals (and you and I both know how to tell originals) and some will fit my car and others won't. Yes, I know when these cars were new the tops/tonnaus were also sold as service replacements which probably required installation of the lift a dot plates, which could have been put in different locations. But that can also be viewed as a convenient excuse when no proof exists these particular tops/tonnaus came to be that way. Also, as mentioned before I have heard from at least a couple of others over the years that they have seen slight differences. Variations do exist in these cars. Just look at the example of our friend who recently restored his small block car (never wrecked) to extreme, exactling standards who couldn't find a side curtain to fit one side of his car among several he had, requiring in the end he modify one. One of these days I will put the studs back in the original holes in the body for the other car here and check the tops/tonnaus on that.

[1985 CCX]

Jim (A-Snake)

Thanks for all your time, it will allow me to get fairly close on my 289 build. Your sharing is 100% appreciated!

Thanks

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Dcmgt

Dan - I agree that most of the variations in these cars today are from what was done to the cars after they left Shelby American. It's standard procedure for a manufacturer to use fixturing, etc to make cars uniform. However, between tops and tonnaus, I have a number of originals (and you and I both know how to tell originals) and some will fit my car and others won't. Yes, I know when these cars were new the tops/tonnaus were also sold as service replacements which probably required installation of the lift a dot plates, which could have been put in different locations. But that can also be viewed as a convenient excuse when no proof exists these particular tops/tonnaus came to be that way. Also, as mentioned before I have heard from at least a couple of others over the years that they have seen slight differences. Variations do exist in these cars. Just look at the example of our friend who recently restored his small block car (never wrecked) to extreme, exactling standards who couldn't find a side curtain to fit one side of his car among several he had, requiring in the end he modify one. One of these days I will put the studs back in the original holes in the body for the other car here and check the tops/tonnaus on that.

Mike, I will add one more element that can affect the fit. Shinkage. I had to have a new tonneau made about 5 years ago because the tonneau that came with my car in 1986 (and fit for several more years) had finally shrunk from non use. Even leaving the old tonneau in the sun on a hot summer day would not relax it enough to again fit the car. The first studs to no longer fit were the outboard studs on the rear cowl.

[DMXF]

Originally Posted by A-Snake

Mike, I will add one more element that can affect the fit. Shinkage. I had to have a new tonneau made about 5 years ago because the tonneau that came with my car in 1986 (and fit for several more years) had finally shrunk from non use. Even leaving the old tonneau in the sun on a hot summer day would not relax it enough to again fit the car. The first studs to no longer fit were the outboard studs on the rear cowl.

I hear you Jim, but if all the tops and tonnaus are the same age, you would expect them all to be shrunk, unless perhaps differences in weather exposure between them effected some more than others. I also seem to recall it was one outboard pin that wouldn't line up on some and another outboard one near it would fit (?).

Originally Posted by A-Snake

Mike, I think one issue he had on that car was the rechromed ferrules would not accept the posts. Once the 'posts' were sanded down to allow for the thicker chrome they worked.

If it's the same car I'm referring to, the main issue was not the pins sliding in, but the leading/front edge of the plexi was interfering or overlapping improperly at the windshield frame. This is one of the very few cars that I'm aware of in recent times that was restored using almost all original parts (owner traveled across the country to work out deals getting what he needed), if that gives you a better idea.

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Dcmgt

I hear you Jim, but if all the tops and tonnaus are the same age, you would expect them all to be shrunk, unless perhaps differences in weather exposure between them effected some more than others. I also seem to recall it was one outboard pin that wouldn't line up on some and another outboard one near it would fit (?).



If it's the same car I'm referring to, the main issue was not the pins sliding in, but the leading/front edge of the plexi was interfering or overlapping improperly at the windshield frame. This is one of the very few cars that I'm aware of in recent times that was restored using almost all original parts (owner traveled across the country to work out deals getting what he needed), if that gives you a better idea.

They won’t age (shrink) at the same rate if they are regularly mounted (and stored) on the car. It is the non-use that allows them to shrink. This is true for tops also. It’s best to fit the top when warm and store mounted through the winter. When mine shrunk, most of the snaps would fit, it was a couple on each side that would not make it even with the tonneau unzipped.

Yes, we’re talking about the same car. I know the pins were a problem. After asking for some measurements to confirm his side curtains length, he said he found and solved the problem.

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Dcmgt

Variations do exist in these cars. Just look at the example of our friend who recently restored his small block car (never wrecked) to extreme, exactling standards who couldn't find a side curtain to fit one side of his car among several he had, requiring in the end he modify one.

Mike, I think one issue he had on that car was the rechromed ferrules would not accept the posts. Once the 'posts' were sanded down to allow for the thicker chrome they worked.