Howdy knowledgeable Chevellites.

In a 68 Chevelle, I have a rear tack strip that is in 3 pieces, installing into a car that didn’t have one previously. It doesn’t look like it bolts to the rear frame where the top fabric is connected. But there are bolts in the qtr around to the other side, above the rain gutter. From looking at the body manual and the parts catalogs, it appears the well liner is stapled to this strip – anything else?

I’m just not sure how this goes in.. ((chewing on some humble pie)) If anyone can give me the play by play on getting this mounted correctly I’d appreciate it very much.

Thank you,

Dale, I had a trim shop years ago and my memories a little fuzzy on the '68, but I'm thinking it should be the same set up on '68-72 GM A body cars. Maybe the '68 is more like the older cars that used a 3 pc. trimstick, but if they are the same for all the years I mentioned then it should be a one-pc. floating trimstick attatched to the frame just behind the 1/4 glass. Let me know what you have.
Rich

Hey Rich.

I have a 68 Convertible. I have the rain gutter and the 3 piece trim stick, which seems to bolt into the body, but not through the last rear bow. Does the last bow, where the convertible top is connected around the outside, sit on top of the inside trim stick bolts? Do they go through the rain gutter?

I just don't know how the rain gutter and 3 piece strim stick go in with the convertible top.

Thanks very much.
Dale

All you guys with the 68 convertibles can you please read my posting on the rear antenna mount and give me a measurement?

Dale, the top should staple to the outside of the trim sticks (of course, that is where the fiber tacking area is) and the assembly should then be bolted to the body through the holes in the trimsticks. By "last rear bow", I'm thinking you mean the angled rail just behind the quarter glass that the binding edge gets glued to? If this is correct, then no, there is no connection from the rail to the trimstick on either side of the car. The top fabric is pulled taut between these two. The rain gutter should be just below the trimsticks to catch any water that seeps between the top fabric and the body.
I hope this helps you, but let me know if you need more on this.
Rich

Hey Rich.

Thanks for the post.

My top is stapled to the outside of the last (one piece) bow in the convertible top, (see pic) which is 4" below the window, sits under the rear chrome & is just above the rain gutter. The 3 piece trim stick I have, and not sure what to do with, only has a fiber tacking surface for stapling on the Outside.

It appears this gets bolted underneath that last bow, where the covertible top is connected, and that rear bow 'sits' on the bolts/rear tack strip? There aren't any bolt holes through that last bow, so I'm thinking it must go under it, since I doubt it goes over it, through the top fabric. I just don't want to put it together incorrectly and have something broken/bent when the top is put down.

From your description, someone has put a top on my car and fastened it to the last top bow, not the tack strip?
inside my top (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ss-Dale/Dale-top.JPG)

Thanks very much,
Dale