Looking for the 4 clips that hold the outer 'wings' of the parade boot down. I have an aftermarket parade boot set and the 'wings' do not have clips on them. When installed there is about a 1 inch gap between the 'wing' and the body. If available I think I can figure out how to bond them to the underside of the 'wings'.
Thanks Whit
Whit,
Do you have pics of what and where the "clips" that you think are missing go - I assume underside and from the outer 2 parts of the boot.
There are a couple of "add-ons" inside the shells - some with rubber slide-ons to keep the boot from scratching the paint and others for centering.
Have fun,
Steve B.
Steve:
You are right on, what you have described are the clips. I don't have photos since my clips are missing. They may actually attach to the rubber slide on or may be bonded to the 'wings'. This is an unusual set of parts to look for and unless someone had a trashed out parade Boot set, they may be impossible to find.
Thanks for the response. Whit
I have pics of all the hardware. I’ll post them later when I home at my regular computer.
The ones I think you need are spring steel with rubber on the tips. They slide under the well opening on the sides and grip the underside of the quarter panel inside.
These will be very hard to make and very hard to find.
There are holes in them and they require short self tappers that have coarse threads. They screw into a thickened area on the fiberglass that the repro boot may not have.
I’d keep looking on eBay for a boot.
Whit,
Here are a few pics to show what the clips are and where they go inside the 2 outer pieces of the hard boot.
Note the locations of the clips that require the rubber bumpers and their design, as well as the positioning larger clips (rubber coated).
Note too that the center section also requires a tab and rubber bumper - see 5 in the pic.
Have fun,
Steve B.
Steve:
Those photos are great...exactly what I need. Wonder where one could find something like that?
Whit
Try reaching out to some of the excellent restorers in Sweden. That's where my red leather side pieces came from for my parade boot.
You can also try communicating with this guy on ebay: User ID olddeadcaddy59.
His name is Anthony and he is in NJ. Tell him you know me. He MAY have some ideas for you. He has bought and sold and restored more 59's and 60's than you and I have ever seen. He says he is down to his last 4 repro boots and is selling out and has the molds for sale on ebay.
Brian
Thanks Brian...I'll check him out.
Whit
It turns out Brian that this is the guy (olddeadcady59) I bought the re-pro boot from. The outer 'wings' were nothing but empty shells. I contacted him as you suggested and he said you don't need the clips. My 'wings' don't lay flat against the body but stick up about an inch on each side. I may try to rig something up to hold them down better. I'm not worried about them coming off while driving, I just want them to lay flatter and look better. I'll see if I can press the top mechanism down a bit more, I don't want to stress it.
Thanks Whit
I was very lucky. I found an original parade boot in North Jersey, about 90 minutes north of me. The guy had it incorrectly listed on ebay as a 57-58 Cadillac parade boot but I knew it was a 59-60. I didn't want to start bidding on it and drive the price up as there were no bids on it and the starting bid was $500.00 with no reserve.
I spoke to the guy on the phone a couple of days before the auction was ending at noon on Saturday. I told the guy that I would drive up there and meet him at noon and hand him $500.00 cash and I was hoping that no one else bid on it before the close of the auction.
I guess it was meant to be because there were no bids and I got it for $500.00. Everything was there. every screw and clip except for the rear S shaped spring clips. It needed minimal bodywork and of course needed to be painted white to match my car. I had the red leather side pieces made in Sweden.
I feel that the side spring clips are very important to hold the entire boot stable from side to side. Other than those side clips and the leather material that snaps to the inner quarter upholstery there isn't much holding that thing on.
You need to come up with some way to have it grip onto the body of the car, under the top opening. If your top is installed correctly it should sit way down in the well and you shouldn't have to push down. Are you folding the material and letting the top mechanism stack properly when it's going down?
I have no problems getting mine to sit on the car.
Brian
They are fairly simple to replicate. Perhaps stainless instead of the spring steel, they have similar tensile. I have an original 59 Hampton green boot in a bag bought exactly the same as Brian’s story. If you are stuck in a few weeks time when i return from working in Perth I’ll make you a set.
That is a nice offer.
Quentin Hall
Thank you for your kind offer. I will be happy to pay you for your work. I will stay in touch and keep looking, but I doubt that anything will turn up.
Whit whitmcfarlin@msn.com
Done deal. If you are happy with Stainless I’ll just need an address and perhaps a gentle reminder. I don’t want any money.
Just your address.
Q53eldoradoemail addresses not permitted
I went down to my shed this evening and made a template off my originals and cut some stainless.... but I might be lucky to find some spring steel in Perth whilst I’m there.
As an aside the rubber pieces in Steve’s pic are a factory reuse of the rear window bump stop on 53 convertibles. Same item. I’m pretty sure they are available thru Steele.
I made them up last night. I found some spring steel strapping the perfect width. I’ll try and get to the PO tomorrow. They have a rubberised coating on the originals. I reckon tweak them to fit right and then get some shrink wrap wiring insulation from the electrical shop.
Made a spare in case you lose one.
Quentin:
You are the greatest for doing this for me. Thank you so much. I will figure out a 'boss' to attach them to so they fit like original.
I will check out "Steel" on the rubber bumpers.
Thanks, if I can ever do anything for you just let me know.
Regards: Whit McFarlin
The boss is just a built up layer of fibreglass about 10 mm. I’ve made a few repop parade boots and just cut squares of matting and built up the layers.
I also want to thank Quentin for re-establishing my faith that 'Old Car Guys' are the most generous, helpful and trustworthy people around.
Recently, I was starting to think most of them were all about the money.
Need to recognize a fellow CLC Member who has gone 'above and beyond' in helping me find parade boot clips for my 1960 Biarritz. Quentin Hall used his own parade boot as a pattern and made me the clips I needed. These are simply not obtainable elsewhere. He would not accept compensation for his work and costs postage wise from Australia. That to me is the spirit of CLC and it's members.
Quentin I salute you. Thank you: Whit McFarlin
Quentin Hall is beyond a class act. He made parade boot clips for me and sent them from Australia. He would not accept compensation and shows the spirit of CLC Members. I thank him and hope others will recognize his generosity and commitment to our hobby.
regards Whit McFarlin
There's nothing better than a friend who's a car guy too.
8)
Awesome!