SoWhat truck

[lilbill]

are there any pics floating around showing some construction details of the carson top for the sowhat truck ? i've found about a dozen pics of the truck itself by searching the archives but nothing about the carson top.

Sorry I built the top about ten years ago. Didn't take any pictures. I can get you some detail shots of it.

This is the second top I made for the truck. The first i made with a wood buck and chicken wire. It took a lot of work to get it right and it weighed about 80 pounds. The front of the top was a little more squared off and I didn't like it.

Here's a picture of it with the first top. This was taken around 1990
Clark

The second top was made over a foam buck. I cut and stacked peices of that blue construction foam. after I got it close I sanded it till it had the right shape. After the shape is goo you have to cover the foam with masking tape cause the fiberglass resin will eat the foam. After it's masked off I put three layers of glass on it and let it dry. Once it's dry the foam will break out of the inside. I had to put edges on it then and glass a header into it but that's about how I did it.

This top weighs about 40 pounds. I haven't covered it yet cause I plan to make a mold off of it sometime. The top is strong. i backed into it one time. The exhaust tips cut into the primer pretty good but didn't break the top.

Here's a profile shot of just the top. I wanted it to look like a folding top and even tried to give it a little bit of sag like fabric would have.
Clark

[lilbill]

that top is just too cool. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif i want to do something to the roof of my '52 and honestly i like the looks of a chopped carson top better than a chopped stock roof. besides my 'glass work is way better than my metal work.
i'd really appreciate any detail shots of the header, cab mounts, window seals etc.
is it pretty water tight ?

I'll get you some good pics. It is pretty good with keeping the water out. The windshield seal only leaks in a heavy rain at high speeds. It sorta gets forced in then. The back didn't leak until recently. I think it's time for a new seal. The old top had a fabric flap that covered the rear gap. You might be able to see it in this pic.
Clark

[KCMongo]

I've been thinking of making the S10 frame 47 I've been trying to work on into a convertible after seeing yours. Also if you could get some shots of the way you fasten it down that would be great, I've been looking at some of my buddies Jeeps trying to work it out. Getting a pretty straight 3 window 50 Cab tommorow for that project. It should just need a couple patch panels so been thinking about this alot the last couple days.
MONGO

Here are some pics of inside.
Up front there is a stud on either side that gets a nut to tighten down the front.
Clark

In the back it's got seatbelt buckles to hold it down. I forgot to mention earlier that there is a peice of plywood fiberglassed into the bottom at the back.
Clark

Here's the window seal. One other thing to remember is if you chop it (mines chopped about 3") make the glass the same height as stock just add it to the bottom. This will give you straight sides to hold the glass in the track.
Clark

[Stevie G]

Pure freakin' genious.
Love the seat belt buckles.

[lilbill]

[ QUOTE ]
Pure freakin' genious.
Love the seat belt buckles.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, what he said http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
how did you handle the top of the windshield frame ?

I did the top of the windshield the hard way on tis one. I too two peices of 1/2" strap steel and welded the at the angle I needed. One of the other trucks I did I had the local metal shop bend me a 1" wide strap to what I needed. There are "gussets" on the ends and the middle. That gives room for the studs to go through and for a mirror in the middle.
Clark

[47lincsled]

I've got a 52 ford I've been trying to figure out what to do with,I think I know,thanks.

We're doing a 51 for a friend. The key to making them look right is to shorten the area above the beltline on the door and around the back.
Clark

[flatlandman]

Clark,
Sorry for the sorta hijack but did you ever post a tech on S-10 frame swap? I've looked high and low for it but I suck at the search thing.
What is the chassis you use? shortbox/ext. cab, long box/ext cab etc? I know somebody doing a '50 suburban and a P/U and figured your way would save MANY hours of clipping and rearend swaps. Thanks in advance.

[KCMongo]

Just go to the Tech-O-Matic

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=281969&Forum=A ll_Forums&Words=3367&Match=Username&Searchpage=0&L imit=25&Old=allposts&Main=281852&Search=true#Post2 81969

MONGO

[flatlandman]

ahhhh...cool. thanks Mongo!