Convertible Top Spring Guide TSB

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"Dart67"

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Hey Larry (WIldcat),

Look what I found.

To give proper credit here is the link where I found the bullitin: The 1970 Hamtramck Registry "1967 DODGE MODEL TSBs Index" Page

d67-23-9-p1-jpg.jpg


d67-23-9-p2-jpg.jpg




Herb
 
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THANKS HERB

had guy at Chrysler look for that, he never found it.

I made the ones on my car and had one original to use for a pattern. Gave that one back to the owner plus a set I made for him. Doug Carpenter got the other good set I had and what I have now isn't good to use as pattern.

The wire is .063 piano wire (mic'ed original) I spent a lot of time bending to get them to fit right. When I tried to make some with request I just couldn't get motivated to do it. (Once I got one done was easy, getting that 1st one done took weeks) but this has been 8 years ago, so today like starting from scratch

I offered to send what I have left of the wire and the left and right I have that were early prototype. One guy said he would try it but that was a long time ago and haven't heard nothing since.

If someone has the desire to recreate these I will offer again the stuff for free. Will mail it to you. And maybe you can make some. Personally the material is minimal but labor is high to make by hand. A jig that could hold and bend would make reproducing much more simple. But I was making a set for my car and a spare for Jim (guy that let me use his original)

Don't know how many could be made with the wire I have left. Bought the wire at Fastenal.
 
Larry,

I have been thinking of pulling the originals off of my car and trying to copy them.

I remember back in 2006 when we meet at the Indy MOPAR show you were trying to get me to take my springs off and lone them to you to copy.

I like you have toyed with making them over the years. Just never got as far as getting the proper wire.

I think I will give it a go again.

Herb
 
I now have a "Bending Fixture" made up for the Left side Spring Guide.

I have made two "test" guides so far and they came out pretty darned good.

I am using 1/16" Stainless Steel welding rod for the test guides as I do not have any piano wire on hand.

Over the next few days I am going to make another "Bending Fixture for the Right side guide.

Herb

LeftSpringGuide.jpg
 
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My brother says point out those TSBs that I want and he will clean them up so they look new and print them for me. Gotta love him :)

I thought about printing them off also along with some others on it that I have had to deal with

I kind of like the aged look so will see how they print

Herb, YOU GOT MAIL!
 
You'll use a lot of ink in turning white paper yellow ( I tried ).
 
I now have a bending fixture made that I can make both the Left and Right "wire extensions" on.

I have made one "real" set of wire extensions so far.

I have removed the factory originals and installed the copies on my car.

The copies seem to work as well as the originals.

Here are photos of the copies of the wire extensions before installing them.



Copies Left and Right.jpg


Here are photos of the factory wire extensions on the car.

Left Side Original

Original Left.jpg


Right Side Original



Orignal Right.jpg


Here are photos of the copies of the wire extensions on the car.

Left Side Copy



Original Left.jpg


Right Side Copy



Copy Right.jpg


Larry (Wildcat) was nice enough to send me two rolls of different sizes of music wire.

I tried using that, but it is way too hard to bend and form. It is too springy and wants to go in different directions when removed from the bending jig.

I made this copy using 1/16" coated steel TIG welding rod.

I also used 1/16" Stainless Tig welding rod.

Both seem to work well.

Herb

View attachment Copies Left and Right.jpg



View attachment Copy Left.jpg

View attachment 1714755986

View attachment 1714755987
 
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Dart67....are you considering selling these?
If so, I'll take a set.

Yes I am.

I am not sure yet what the price will be.

The process of forming and tweaking them is tedious and a little time consuming.

Even with the bending fixture that I have made,

I do not want to hold anybody up or get rich. I just want to try to help.

I think shipping will be as much as the wire extensions.

I will ship by USPS Priority mail which is $5.95. Plus another $4.05 for gas and handling for a total of $10. It is a 25 mile round trip to the Post Office.

What do you think a FAIR price would be for the wire extensions ?


Herb
 
Well, you're manufacturing something that no one else is producing and for a very limited audience. You want to make sure you're compensated for your R&D as well as well as materials, shipping and handling. I think I'd price them somewhere between $50 and $100 per set. Don't be afraid to make a profit!
 
Herb

Now you know why I just couldn't get into making more

It isn't the cost of the wire.

They are a part that isn't needed on 100% of the convertibles but I think they should be or be very careful when lowering or raising the top. (Stop and adjust material so not to get pinched or rub)

As for cost. I had people say $25 a set. If you can make them to shape in 20-30 min a set probable a good price

If it is taking longer then might have to be $50 a set

But how many guys will spend $50 for them?

I know it cost me $1,100 for my 1st top and 6 months later another $800 to replace the top due to a hole in the passenger sail panel.

Hell at $100 it still would have been a bargain. But the sad part is I gave the guy the wires and he didn't install them said they showed in the top. Well wish I had the TSB then he would have been buying me the top instead of me paying for it.

I made the wires for my car and my top didn't go down but a couple of times without them, stopping to pull fabric away from the tack bow going up and down. Once they were on check several times and fabric was always pushed out away from the tack bow.
 
I was an inspector at Chrysler in the 70's and still inspecting parts for Chrysler cars...... LOL

Herb sent me a couple of replacement wires. One out of music wire and the other out of welding wire.

They both look like they will work well and both seems to have some spring to them so either one should work ok.

Only attaching them and operating the top will show if the welding wire will return to its formed shape.

Think Herb has installed them on his car so he should be able to answer that.

Thanks Herb for making the jig to be able to produce these much needed part for convertible owners.

I think they are fine.

Mine has been on for 8 years and still nice and shiney made out of the music wire.

Now on to pricing and to manufacture several sets.
 
I got a set from Dart67. They fit good and look good. I put the top up and down 5 times. Then winter set in and car is put away. I think it's a good safety idea for any one, might just help keep a new top from getting torn.
 
Here are a few photos of the "Springs" from Start to finish.
I can supply these made from 1/16" Stainless Steel or .051 Music Wire.
I see No difference in the functionality of either material.

The process of hand bending and making the "Springs" is very tedious.

If anyone would like a set they are $60 which includes Priority Mail Shipping with tracking.

PM Me for information

Herb aka "Dart67"

Left to Right:
1/16" 12 1/2" long stainless steel rod
stainless steel rod with formed eyelets
Left side with bends
Top Factory Left "Spring" Bottom Left "Home-Brewed" "Spring"
Right side with bends
Top Factory Right "Spring" Bottom Right "Home-Brewed" "Spring"
102_1013.JPG


Left Side "New" Stainless Steel spring in place.
102_1024.JPG


Right Side "New" Stainless Steel spring in place.
102_1026.JPG
 
Pretty cool fix. If they had white gloves, they would remind of the "Pusher-men" who shove passengers into Tokyo trains during rush hour.
 
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