Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Anyone ever rebuilt these contraptions successfully?

Can someone explain to me what hard top flippers are.


John F. Shireman

I will be corrected if I am wrong but what I believe he is talking about is the chrome strip above the door glass that flips up whenever the door is opened and back down when door closes. Right?????????? This was common in the 50's on hardtops.

Are yours intact? 3 springs plus an L shaped piece of metal in front that catches the vent window frame and another flat piece in back the top of window presses against when up. As long as springs intact and hinges don't bind, the plastic around those metal catch pieces seems the biggest issue as it cracks and falls off. I doubt if anyone makes replacements--but haven't looked. If springs broken, they don't look too complicated and maybe able to make or find something that will work at one of the industrial catalog places. If the spring mounts are broken, then that might be an issue not easily solved.

"the plastic around those metal catch pieces seems the biggest issue as it cracks and falls off."



There is a product called Dip & Grip Rubberized Plastic for coating tool handles that works fine for coating these. Simply dip them in product, remove and let cure, dip again if necessary, the more you dip the thicker the coating becomes.

product called Dip & Grip

Absolutely right. Hadn't thought of that stuff in years and think there is similar with slightly different name. Just need to pour a bit in a smaller container so you can get it flush and coat high enough.

Two Questions:

Does anyone know if these flippers cross (interchange) with other marques? Also, anyone ever replaced their "fuzz" along the interior of the units?

Thanks much.

Don't know about the interchange but since the fuzz looks like it might be on a separate piece almost crimped in might be a couple of options. Doubt it could be uncrimped without damage but maybe if it was started at one end could be pulled up & loosened.

When I did the 56 HT, there was fuzz on the rear quarter chrome pieces the window slides up into that was in bad shape. Replaced with Steels bow drill tape for convertibles which looked very much like the original fuzz & worked pretty well.

See Restoration Specialties has several varieties of similar & wonder if something like that could be applied if the old fuzz is mostly gone from the support. Also, they have several sizes of belt weatherstrip which might be a possibility if the crimp could be maintained while getting the old support out & glue the new piece in it's place.

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HH56,

Thanks for the thoughts. As I eyed the pieces, I was confounded as to how I would "break" the grip of the long crimp that holds one side of each the "fuzz" strip. I attempted to "pry" ever so gently and that didn't appeal to me. I tried pulling the "exposed" end of the "fuzz" underneath my pry location and the metal just tore.

I do like the possibility of using glue to affix over the old/worn "fuzz".

BTW, I ordered welting (for fender skirts) from the business you cited last week and found them to be a pleasure to deal with.

Thanks again.

"Flippers?"

I knew what Kevin meant by the thread title, but am amazed that I'm not the only one who doesn't know what the heck they're called. There must be a for-real name. Flappers?

This will require further investigation by us nit-pickers.

"Y'know, Flippers with Fuzz." That would be a great one to ask at the parts counter.

AKA "Head bumpers." How many of you have bumped the "flipper" down getting in the car and then closed the door on it? For such a flimsy looking gadget, they seem to take this kind of abuse fairly well.