Progress on #782

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA2076

Is that possible? Very surprising.

chr

Oops, sorry for missing your question. The car was not an ERA, SPF, CSX and I'm pretty sure it wasn't an FFR -- it was one of the "others." It flew off at normal highway speeds and he stopped and retrieved it. Since then there have been a couple of threads on here that came to the conclusion that different breeds of Cobra produce different air flows on the hoods -- some guys report no high speed problems at all with the hood unlatched.

[DanEC]

Chas - I know the top may not be a real useful feature down the road. As you have probably figured out, I like working on old cars and mastering their disassembly and reassembly. I do like driving my old cars but honestly, even here in Arkansas the roads are getting so crowded with idiot drivers that it's pretty stressful. The top is just one more thing that I can work on and see if I can manage to complete.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Chas - I know the top may not be a real useful feature down the road. As you have probably figured out, I like working on old cars and mastering their disassembly and reassembly. .

I knew that Dan. And that's great.
For me, the joy was 50% working (building and better performance stuff), 50% driving. But when driving, I got 100% of its envelop much of the time.
It really does talk to you when you get a rhythm going.

[patrickt]

Well Dan, I'm here to tell you that, yes, you can have it both ways. You can fly up and down the roads, terrorize pedestrians, and flaunt our nation's traffic laws. Or, you can drive her to the track and run her there -- and, either way, still have a top in your trunk. Yep, just pull over, maybe under a covered overpass, and put that top up. Then, just crank up the heater and you'll be snug as a bug in a rug. Stop off at the Geezer Car Show and blow them out of their wheelchairs. What's not to like?

[kevins2]

Dan,

The top is definitely worthwhile. There have been too many times I didn't go out on my Harley because there was a 30 or 40% chance of rain - and then it didn't, leaving me to say "damn, should have gone". I hope to never drive mine in the rain but plan to use it and having a top in the trunk will sway me to go have fun instead of waiting for no chance of rain days. It'll be just fine with me if I never use the top.

Kevin

[patrickt]

You know, if the bows were made in such a way that they would fold upwards, and then lock in to place, after being inserted in to the side hole slots, that would be a vast improvement in the design. You would just insert the bows, fold them down, install the top, crawl in the car and fold the bows back up and they would automatically lock in to place thus making the top snug. I don't think that would be all that hard to design either. I doubt Chas could do it, but Mickmate certainly could.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I doubt Chas could do it, but Mickmate certainly could.

Sure I could. In your case it'd be a big colorful beach umbrella, inserted into a tube welded to the driveshaft hoop under the tunnel. Won't have to take it out of the trunk either. Would enhance your clown-car look too.
Now I've got to figure how to charge like he does...

[Jim Holden]

Having driven 250 miles or so in our ERA 289 in a torrential rain (a year ago Oct. 30th) there are a couple of observations my wife and I would make about the effectiveness of AC Cobra style (Conestoga Wagon technology) top:

1. When the car was in motion, the rain went up the windshield and found a way through/under the windshield top bow. The navigator's job was to slow down the torrent with paper towels. The standard gasket does not go all the way across, nor does it meet the windshield to properly seal the gap.

2. Water also found its way down the windshield posts and dripped on to our respective thighs (left or right, as the case may be, dependent on seating arrangement).

3. There is a small gap between the body and the bottom curve of the windshield gasket where the curve of the hood meets the curve of the fenders that allows a minor influx of the tide. Again, a roll of paper towels kept things at bay... mostly.

We put our luggage and ourselves into hefty garbage bags, which kept almost everything dry. Best advice? Get a wet suit.

...and while it really has nothing to do with the top, the passenger side windshield wiper flew off somewhere near Deal's Gap.

Now, the top is helpful (along with the "dog's breath" heater and side curtains) for the evening drive home in late October and November when the temperature is dropping.

But for a long drive in the rain? You might just as well leave it down.

The trip in the rain up through western Virginia is not something I would wish to repeat.

Jim

PS: ...and the interior of the car did dry out, eventually.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Jim Holden

Having driven 250 miles or so in our ERA 289 in a torrential rain (a year ago Oct. 30th) there are a couple of observations my wife and I would make about the effectiveness of AC Cobra style (Conestoga Wagon technology) top:

1. When the car was in motion, the rain went up the windshield and found a way through/under the windshield top bow. The navigator's job was to slow down the torrent with paper towels. The standard gasket does not go all the way across, nor does it meet the windshield to properly seal the gap.

2. Water also found its way down the windshield posts and dripped on to our respective thighs (left or right, as the case may be, dependent on seating arrangement).

3. There is a small gap between the body and the bottom curve of the windshield gasket where the curve of the hood meets the curve of the fenders that allows a minor influx of the tide. Again, a roll of paper towels kept things at bay... mostly.

We put our luggage and ourselves into hefty garbage bags, which kept almost everything dry. Best advice? Get a wet suit.

...and while it really has nothing to do with the top, the passenger side windshield wiper flew off somewhere near Deal's Gap.

Now, the top is helpful (along with the "dog's breath" heater and side curtains) for the evening drive home in late October and November when the temperature is dropping.

But for a long drive in the rain? You might just as well leave it down.

The trip in the rain up through western Virginia is not something I would wish to repeat.

Jim

PS: ...and the interior of the car did dry out, eventually.

Good post Jim. I don't anticipate driving the car in the rain - I don't need more danger than I'll get on dry roads. Not sure if I went to this effort in case a rainy drive did arise or just to help keep water out of the cockpit when washing the car - but, I did put my box of 3M strip caulking to good use.

I also ran a ribbon around the windshield posts where they enter the body and also under the aluminum plates. I also put about a 3 or 4 inch strip under the windshield weatherstrip, across those two valleys that you mentioned, to dam them off.

I haven't gotten to the top header bow at the windshield yet. I plan to put some soft, foam weather stripping in there but it may be of marginal use. I think one of the best things to keep in the trunk is a roll of 1-1/2 inch blue tape. Probably run a strip across the header bow at the top of tbe windshield. Once in the car with the door shut, put another strip over the front door seam near the base of the windshield posts - inside and outside the side curtains (that may take some dexterity through the side window opening).

Then hope for the best or drive faster.

[patrickt]

That will work about as well as an...

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Not sure if I went to this effort in case a rainy drive did arise or just to help keep water out of the cockpit when washing the car - but, I did put my box of 3M strip caulking to good use.

Don't wash your car. Ever. It will look like a hologram. You'll rag-scratch that black in a year.
A duster and spray detailer with microfiber. Don't wax it either.
My paint is 22 years old and is just starting to tire.
Oh and you can't drive fast in the rain-no traction to accelerate or brake.
Happy you built it now?

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Don't wash your car. Ever. It will look like a hologram. You'll rag-scratch that black in a year.
A duster and spray detailer with microfiber. Don't wax it either.
My paint is 22 years old and is just starting to tire.
Oh and you can't drive fast in the rain-no traction to accelerate or brake.
Happy you built it now?

Actually I don't wash my old cars. I painted the Corvette in 1994 and it's never been wet. I washed my GTX maybe once in 12 years. Sometimes after dusting it off I mist it lightly with a hose and dry off. I do wash the Lightning but it actually doesn't leak anywhere. California Duster, Detailer Spray and Microfiber towels for me too.

[DanEC]

My brother has suggested some changes for my car. He's not exactly a purist. What do you think?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by DanEC

My brother has suggested some changes for my car. He's not exactly a purist. What do you think?

Attachment 23445

I hope you're kidding around.

[patrickt]

Perhaps his real motivation is to make the car look worse so that he feels better about not having it for himself.

[Jim Holden]

To each his own...

[kevins2]

I'm guessing you'd be hesitant to get in the car if it looked like that...

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by kevins2

I'm guessing you'd be hesitant to get in the car if it looked like that...

I think any hesitation could be eased somewhat by wearing a bag over his head and providing a bag for any passengers.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I think any hesitation could be eased somewhat by wearing a bag over his head and providing a bag for any passengers.

He'd get pulled over pretty quick for that... at least in the south (where we prohibit wearing masks in public). Surely you can figure out why.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

He'd get pulled over pretty quick for that... at least in the south (where we prohibit wearing masks in public). Surely you can figure out why.

They're only allowed to be worn during Mardi Gras?