Dripping Wet - - Again

BLACKJACK · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2002, 04:09 PM

I'M SITTING HERE DRIPPING ALL OVER EVERYTHING. I JUST CAME IN FROM THE RAIN. I HAD TO RUN OUT IN A SUDDEN DOWNPOUR TO TAPE THE PLASTIC COVERS OVER MY HARD TOP.

I HAVE A REALLY GREAT LOOKING HARD TOP ON MY EXCALIBUR COBRA. IT IS ALSO - ARGUEABLY - THE MOST EXPENSIVE COBRA HARD TOP IN THE INDUSTRY (BOUGHT IT FROM CLASSIC ROADSTERS). IT IS ALSO THE BIGGEST PAIN IN THE A$$ THAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERYTIME IT RAINS. I MEAN "NOTHING" ON THIS SUCKER FITS RIGHT. WATER RUNS IN LIKE A FAUCET - AIR BLOWS IN FROM EVERYWHERE - AND AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 55 MPH THIS 15 INCH WIDE "MAIL SLOT" OPENS UP BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE HARD TOP AND EVERYTHING FLIES IN.

THE BIGGEST SINGLE PAIN WITH THIS THING IS WHEN IT RAINS AND THE CAR IS PARKED; EVERY DARN DROP OF WATER THAT HITS THE TOP IS IMMEDIATELY CHANELED AROUND THE SIDES OF THE HARDTOP AND OVER THE TOPS OF THE SIDE CURTAINS AND IS DUMPED RIGHT ONTO THE SEATS AND THE CARPET. I USE TWO SHEETS OF CLEAR "VINYL CLING" PLASTIC THAT I STICK TO THE HARD TOP AND LET HANG DOWN OVER THE SIDE WINDOWS BY ABOUT 2 INCHES. I USE 2 INCH WIDE CLEAR PLASTIC TAPE TO HOLD DOWN THE FOUR CORNERS OR THE WIND BLOWS THEM DOWN THE STREET. LAST WEEK THE WIND BLEW THE DRIVERS SIDE LOOSE AND WHEN I GOT TO THE CAR IT HAD 2 INCHES OF WATER IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FOOT WELL.

NOW THAT I'M DONE "WHINING" I'LL GET TO THE POINT.

I'M TRYING TO FIND SOMEPLACE WHERE I CAN PURCHASE SOME FLEXIBLE, BLACK, SELF ADHERING "DRIP MOLDING". I'D LIKE TO FIND 3/8 INCH OR 1/2 INCH "J" SHAPED OR "L" SHAPED DRIP MOLDING THAT I CAN STICK TO THE SIDE EDGES OF THE HARD TOP TO DIRECT AT LEAST SOME OF THE WATER AWAY FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.

ONE SHOP IN SPRINGFIELD, VA "SAID" THAT THEY ORDERED SOME FOR ME - ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE IN, IN ABOUT A WEEK. I'M STILL WAITING. I CALL THE POOR WOMAN EVERY OTHER DAY (EVERY DAY IF IT RAINS). I REALLY NEED TO FIND SOMETHING SOON.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEAS WHERE I MIGHT FIND DRIP MOLDING ??? IT REALLY SHOULDN'T BE ALL THIS DIFFICULT. YEAH - - RIGHT !!!

THANKS VERY MUCH, AND, Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY,

BLACKJACK

BT SNAKE · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2002, 04:56 PM

Hey Jack,
Just look in the yellow pages under Automotive upholstery
supplies. They carry all kinds of that stuff. They usually
have a sample board in the showroom with all the different
types on it. Besides, it's a neat place to visit cause
you will see other stuff you wondered where to get it.
If you don't have one of these in your town then type
it into a search engine and order it from one of the online
suppliers. There's hundreds of them listed.
Good luck .

Hersh

PS... Jack, do da name Vladimir Distilling Co. have a
familiar ring ? From Silistra, Bulgaria. Muskat (RAKI)
Well, I just finished my first bottle that was given
to me as a gift. What great stuff !

BLACKJACK · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2002, 05:44 PM

HEY, HERSH,

HOW YA BIN, BRO ?? YEAH, THERE ARE SEVERAL VARIETIES OF RAKI. ALL OF THEM OVER 110 OCTANE, AND NONE OF THEM BAD.

I TRIED SEVERAL UHOLSTERY SHOPS AND YOU'RE RIGHT. THEY DO HAVE SOME NEAT STUFF BUT NONE OF THEM HAD DRIP MOLDING.

I'LL TRY THE WEB. THANKS FOR THE TIP. LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING SOME RAKI WITH YOU IN OHIO AT DVSF II. I STILL HOPE TO HAVE THE GT-40 RUNNING BY THEN.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY,

BLACKJACK

BT SNAKE · #4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2002, 07:23 PM

Jack,
Try this site and see if any of these products will work.
Check the custom trim section for profiles of the different
types.
http://www92.thomasregister.com/olc/trimlok/

Hersh

Dsprint2000 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-13-2002, 04:12 PM

Hey Blackjack....

Try the boat/marine places too. You'd be surprised what you could find at those shops.

And...... YOU have a great day!

David

BLACKJACK · #6 (**permalink**) 05-13-2002, 04:21 PM

THANKS,GUYS, FOR THE SUGGESTIONS:

HERSH - - - -THE NICE FOLKS AT THOMAS REGISTER GOT RIGHT BACK TO ME THIS MORNING. THEY DO NOT CARRY ANYTHING THAT COULD PASS FOR "DRIP MOLDING" BUT SHE WAS ANICE ENOUGH TO TAKE 10 MINUTES OF HER TIME TO TRY TO HELP ME FIND SOMEONE. SHE CAME UP WITH FOUR OPTIONS - ECHA OF THOSE CAME UP WITH ONE OR TWO MORE. I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE ALL DAY TODAY AND STILL CAN'T FIND ANY.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE DC AND VA YELLOW PAGES AND NO LUCK THERE EITHER.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING "SEEMINGLY" THAT SIMPLE IS SO DIFFICULT TO FIND.

DAVID - - - - THANK YOU. I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT BOAT/MARINE OUTFITS. I WILL RENEW MY CAMPAIGN IN THAT DIRECTION IN THE MORNING.

THANKS, GUYS. AND, Y'ALL HAVE AREALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK

Jahred · #7 (**permalink**) 05-13-2002, 04:59 PM

Take a walk thru the airconditioning section at your local Home Depot. I found tons of great self adhering foam and weatherstripping in dozens of size combinations. I am using 1.75 heavy foam to make a ram air around the top of my 14 in K&N Extreme flow filter and found some good stuff to firm up the doors vs the 1/2 by 1/4 inch half circle mold in their now.

JGunn · #8 (**permalink**) 05-13-2002, 06:08 PM

Just a question, and since you own a hard top, your the one to ask.
Do most of the hard tops have this same sort of problem? Or is this an odd case? I havn't heard much comment on the hard top issue, or any top issue concerning weather and speeds, for a matter of fact.

mr bruce · #9 (**permalink**) 05-13-2002, 06:18 PM

J C Whitney catalog?

BLACKJACK · #10 (**permalink**) 05-13-2002, 06:45 PM

JAHRED & MR. BRUCE - - - I TRIED HOME DEPOT, J.C. WHITNEY, THE CHAIN AUTO STORES AND TWO INDEPENDANTS - - NO LUCK.

J GUNN - - - I ONLY KNOW OF ONE OTHER COBRA OWNER WITH A HARDTOP. HIS IS A MIDSTATES, I BELIEVE, AND I DON'T THINK HE HAS HAD THE PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM WITH MINE IS THE FIT OF THE TOP TO THE SIDE CURTAINS IS VERY POOR. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT WATER IS "NOT" GOING TO RUN INTO THE CAR - UNIMPEDED. THE PROBLEM IS SERIOUSLY COMPOUNDED BY THE CONTOUR - OR LACK THEREOF OF THE TOP. IT IS DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE SURFACE TENSION OF THE WATER CHANELS IT RIGHT INTO THE CAR. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF HARD TOPS OUT THERE. MAYBE EVERY ONE KNOWS SOMETHING THAT I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.

IF I HAD IT TO DO OVER AGAIN I'D KEEP THE $2500.00 IN MY POCKET. I WILL SAY THOUGH - THAT IT IS A GREAT LOOKING HARD TOP.

THE PROBLEM WAS NOT AS NOTICABLE BEFORE. I HAD ALWAYS KEPT IT IN THE GARAGE WITH THE OTHER CARS. SINCE THE EXPLOSION I'M A BIT SHORT ON GARAGE SPACE AND IT LIVES OUT BACK OF MY SONS HOUSE MOST OF THE TIME. THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN KEEP IT REASONABLY DRY IS TO TAPE STRIPS OF CLEAR VINYL TO THE EDGE OF THE HARD TOP AND THEN TO THE SIDE WINDOWS. THIS, OF COURSE, LOOKS REALLY STUPID. ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M DOING IT IN THE MIDDLE OF A THUNDERSTORM LIKE YESTERDAY. IT ALSO MEANS THAT I HAVE TO PEEL THE PLASTIC AND TAPE OFF IF I WANT TO GET INTO THE CAR - - THEN I HAVE NO WAY OF RE-TAPING IT. I JUST CAN'T DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN.

AH, THE FRUSTRATIONS OF COBRA OWNERSHIP.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY,

BLACKJACK

mr bruce · #11 (**permalink**) 05-13-2002, 06:53 PM

BLACKJACK, 2 possibilities: Ventshades( had chrome ones on my 53 F-100, I think they still make them and they come in clear plexi too.) Also had a 79 Chevy pick-up that had a screw on drip rail (junk yard?)

JGunn · #12 (**permalink**) 05-13-2002, 06:53 PM

Aight thanks for the reply to my question. Sorry to hear that you seem to be the one with the problems, and hope you get something to fix it.

ROSS WEAVER · #13 (**permalink**) 05-13-2002, 07:03 PM

There must be someone in here that works for the auto industry that might know of a source for Blackjack to check out.

Ross

Bill E · #14 (**permalink**) 05-13-2002, 08:54 PM

You could go to a sheet metal shop and have them make you a drip rail out of stainless cheep and effective. thay can shrink and expand it to fallow the contour. You would attach it whit E6000 and pop rivets. Bill E

Howard Bosworth · #15 (**permalink**) 05-15-2002, 08:49 AM

There is a company in Windber ,PA specializes in old car restoration products they have a warehouse full of mouldings fasteners etc forget the name ....
they are at Carlisle show along the front fence big tent may have what you need
Howard

BLACKJACK · #16 (**permalink**) 05-15-2002, 06:46 PM

HEY GUYS,

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE GREAT IDEAS.

I FOUND A BLACK GLOSSY PLASTIC SELF ADHERING DRIP MOLDING AT "LEES CUSTOM TRIM" AT 7516 FULLERTON ROAD IN SPRINGFIELD, VA 703-569-1788.

REALLY NICE FOLKS - GREAT SELECTION OF ALL KIDS OF "STUFF".

"CAROL" WAS A REAL SWEETHEART AND FAXED ME ALL SORTS OF INFO. I PICKED ONE THAT LOOKED RIGHT AND SHE SPECIAL ORDERED IT AND HAD IT IN IN A WEEK. SHE HAD TO SPECIAL ORDER 150 FEET OF IT JUST TO GET ME SIX FEET. HER ATTITUDE WAS, "THAT'S OKAY - IF WE DO A GOOD JOB FOR YOU - WE'LL GET MORE OF YOUR BUSINESS". SHE'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. MINE AND EVERYONE ELSES THAT I CAN STEER TOWARDS HER.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK REAL WELL. I'LL INSTALL IT TOMORROW.

THANKS AGAUN FOR ALL THE HELP.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY,

BLACKJACK