[nytrainer]

Hi Lewis, could you elaborate on the rear curtain fit? What is noisy about it with it up and windows shut? What can be suggested to installer to fix this issue? Thanks

[Rachelsdad]

Originally Posted by nytrainer

Hi Lewis, could you elaborate on the rear curtain fit? What is noisy about it with it up and windows shut? What can be suggested to installer to fix this issue? Thanks

Surely. So:

The issue is that a properly fitting rear curtain should be flat against the sail panels as they wrap around from the top. Any gap between the two on the sides will produce flutter, no matter how taught the curtain is top to bottom, or how taught the top itself may be.

With the windows up (no air pressure pressing against the curtain from the inside), the sides sound like they are literally flapping. Crack just one window an inch or two, and there is sufficient air pressure to keep the curtain against the top at the sides.

On mine, with the car standing still, from outside, I can fit my hand between the curtain and the top on either side. This also allows debris to get in between the curtain and the top from the outside, posing a cleaning nuisance.

On my '63, the rear window is plastic. I've never had a gap on a glass window curtain, so I can't say as to whether the noise would be less. On my glass-windowed convertibles, the curtains have always been tight against the top.

As to how to fix, I'm not quite sure. The last top I installed myself (and I don't recommend that to anyone) was on a '68 Bonneville, a long, long time ago, and I managed to get the glass rear curtain installed tightly from the get-go (a friend's car, and he was happy with it). This is the first
curtain I've had which was installed like this, and I haven't (yet) complained to my upholsterer about it. I love the top, as I say, but the curtain fit just doesn't measure up.

(Next time I'm home and have the top up, I'll snap a couple of pics. I'm traveling now, and won't be home until next Tuesday.)