I am repairing the top mechanism on the '53 convertible I purchased last year. The previous owner could not drive the car for years, and I am looking forward to getting it back on the road this season. One of the cast aluminum top frame pieces has been broken and repaired several times, and I have doubts that it can be welded yet again. The part I am looking for is a curved rear part of the side rail assembly that slopes down at the back. The entire top pivots on these two side pieces, and the rear top bow bolts to them. My problem is with the left side piece. Any leads would be appreciated.
The '39 Plymouth conv's have a bracket that attaches the folding top mechanism to the header panel, this part is made out of a cast metal that is very prone to breakage..
The brackets on my car had been welded several times, pot metal does not weld very well, and a re-enforcing plate made from steel had been added, to no avail... New replacement brackets are not available.
I had new brackets cast out of stainless steel, using the original brackets as templates for the wax molds.. Very pricey, cost me $400. for the pair.. I should have used my head and had the foundry cast up several sets while they had the dies.. The dies would have lasted for approximately ten sets of brackets.. I tried my best to not repeat this mistake when I had to have additional parts for the top made... Bill