Progress Report on the ’63 T-Bird (Video 3)
We removed umpteen pounds of oil-soaked sound deadener in the truck area. It's asphalt-based (tar and paper). A leaking convertible top hydraulic system made a mess of things. We also found remnants of trunk mat material.
The weatherstrip around the deck lid was deteriorated and had been painted over. We used chemicals and abrasives to remove old residue and prep the surface for a new one.
The rubber seals between the convertible top and body (called arm pads) have a metal core and were completely rotted - disintegrated at the touch.
Austin uses a tig welder to remove rusted and broken screws that secured the old convertible top arm pads to the top frame.
When the top is stowed away in the trunk a filler panel covers an opening. These seals were bad and painted over too so they get replaced.
In this video progress report on the '63 T-Bird we take a look at the convertible top system...