'59 Plymouth Forum

I have a theory as to why my car's folding top won't go all the way down.
John Fowlie's photo diary of his work on his convertible clearly showed that a convertible's rear wheel wells are shorter than roofed cars, and are splayed outwards. My body man cut the tops off my car's hardtop wells to shorten them, but the top still won't fold down all the way.
My new thought is that the hardtop wells have less room between them at the point where the folding top attaches, and the folding top mechanism is binding on itself.
I am asking John Fowlie to measure the distance between his cvt wheel wells at those attaching points.
If John Quinn and/or Dick Koch will measure their dis-assembled hardtops, I might then have the Answer!

Well, I don't have a hardtop (I hope to someday) but I did measure my Belvedere Convertible wheel wells distances between the humps and it is 46 1/2" from Hump to Hump along the upper trunk floor ledge area behind the pump support bracket.

The height above this are (upper trunck floor ledge)to the top of the hump is approx 9 1/2".

If there is any other area you want me to measure I will.


Hope this helps...

John Q.

Sorry John, for some reason I thought you were the one with a sedan parts car. I guess I was thinking of another John (Mr. Zastrow..)
I would want to know the distance between the spot on each wheel well where the top attaches. If that measurement is a bunch more than on a non-convertible, this might mean my bodyman kinda jammed the folding top into a too-small space, maybe causing the folding frame to bind. The tough part is trying to tell a NON-cvt car owner where those points would be...

Roger, I sent you a couple pictures from my Blackberry, (lost my adapter cord from my regular digital camera) the inner distance from left side to right side on the humps in relation to the flat flange part of the cross support is 53' The outer distance is 56.

I sent you two pictures of what part I am talking about and the location points. What other area's do you need?


John Q.

Roger, After re-reading your request, from the main mounting pivot hole (boss) the dimension is 54 1/2" boss to boss. I sent you a third picture email on this location you will probably reconize.

I also sent a 4th email with a close up view of the mounting area in case you want me to measure a certain point. This may help get to the exact spot you need for a measurement.

PS I will be POR-15 this area on my convert this weekend (what a mess) but it sure sealed my floors after patching and seam sealing the area, Plus the upper cowl area was sealed, just had surface patina but might as well seal it up while the dash is off.

I will do a trunk replacement this winter once I buy a pan from John F. (saving up the dineros for that) Just want to get it on the road before the Keij's get your car!

John Q.

Thank you for teh pictures, John. Sorry you lost your USB cable, or whatever its called.
At this point in time, I can't start pulling the car apart to figure this out.
Most all of these parts covered by top canvas or blocked by seat upholstery and finish panels.
I was hoping to satisfy my "need to know", ... what got installed wrong and why. I was going to share any revelations with John Fowlie, who has not yet installed this large "U" shaped member. The relative height where it attaches to the side of the car is obviously critical too.
It's just something I never checked on-. The metal work was all done in my garage while I was at work. Everyday I'd come home and have a look at the progress, but not having the experience or knowledge, I could only admire, not get out my tape measure or try dry-fitting the next part to make sure what he did was correct---sigh---maybe next car......