vinyl top

Thinking of removing the cracked full vinyl top this summer before getting it painted. Any suggestions on how to go about it? I've seen plenty of other posts on other forums saying to use a variety of solvents to remove the glue from a GM vehicle. I never saw a definite solvent that would work the best. Others just say to use a sander but to be careful of over heating the roof to avoid warping it. I'm not sure if it is even painted under there or not some people claim they are painted others claim the cars are unfinished under the vinyl tops to save money in production. I think it might be finished because I've pulled the edges back a little in the rear door openings and its painted like the rest of the car. My other option would be to fill the cracks in the top if any one could suggest a way to go about that route it would be considered since its only cracked not waving in the wind yet suggestions are always welcomed. They may not be followed but they are welcomed
Thanks

It's about as much fun as you think it could be...

Cut it open and peel it back, you'll either get the bad or the good. I had the bad. But seeing as yours isn't flapping in the wind you might get the good!







Exhibit A: The bad...





I took all of the glue off with a palm sander. But a big package of paper it eats them bad. I didn't use any solvents.

Well then I guess I'll just have to go for it one day and hope for the best. Although I did have the head liner out last fall and the under side of the roof was solid so hoping I don't find any holes forming from the top side.

Matt, post a finished painted pic to motivate him to get it done. Yours came out great! I'm also a bit biased towards vinyl for 4 reasons
1) ugly
2) rots underneath like Brads A pillar
3) my 87 B'ham was like brads A pillar
4) ugly

yes motivate me to get the car done quicker! current plan is to put an lt1 and matching trans in it, remove the cracked roof covering. I have the motor and trans from a 95, tuner cat software to reset the computer for the rear end and tire size of the 84, chrome window trim for the rear window once the top is gone. still deciding on whether or not to attempt to tackle the wire harness in the donor car or get a new stand alone harness and not worrying about breaking or cutting a needed wire some where. Then the last thing to do aside from drive it will be getting a new coat of black paint from top to bottom. Currently the only major delay in the project is work, I get every other sunday off. The car is located in Sudbury Ma if any one is local and wants to stop in and provide some guidance

Sounds like a good plan. I'm sure he'll post pics, but here's one from a show him and I went to. Not the BEST but you can clearly see it looks 10x BETTER without the vinyl. I mean, CLEAN C pillar says it all!


As far as the harness goes, it comes down to 2 things. Would have been 3, but you already pointed out you have little time to mess around. So...
1) how much you're willing to spend on a new harness
2) how experienced or comfortable to you feel doing the diagrams and splicing

Before = Ugly



After = Depressing because it doesn't look like this now But the roof is good.

Matt, maaaan that looks so good! It'll be BETTER than that after all your hard work!

yes that car looks alot better with out the half top, I hope mine will look just as nice when its done I'm also thinking of losing the chrome trim along the bottom of the car. Its just one more spot to hide the rusty ugliness. As for my wire harness I'm going to be brave and attempt to remove the original harness from the donor car. I figure if I start thinning out the wires from the inside of the dash thru the firewall to the motor it might be easier that way. Figure if the car still starts and idles after I unplug some thing then I don't need that plug or its wires and its safe to cut them out. If it does not still start and idle then I need that plug and its wires and I'll move on to the next plug I find. I know its not exactly the right way to do it but its a start and it gives me the feeling of progress seeing the pile of unwanted plugs and their wires in the corner. Yes I'm leaving enough wire on the plug just in case I find a need for it later down the road although its unlikely that would happen.

How it started the day with the cracked vinyl roof.



Think I lucked out its not to bad of shape under there!



JUst a test view with the trim back in place



From the other side




Next to get the rear window crap off



Hmmm.... Since I don't have any clips to mount the chrome trim thats going back on when its done I think I saw some where I can just use some window gasket stuff and just press it into place.



But thats not happening for a little while still need to clean the rest of the clued fuzz from the roof sides and a little body work and some paint but the top came out clean of fuzz it just peeled off leaving a blanket of dirt

Nice...
Looks like you made out pretty good compared to what it coulda been like

You did luck out. Looks better. Since you're not putting the trim on in a hurry, I'd wait to find the proper clips and stuff instead of "gluing" it in place. That's kinda hack.

yes the glue on method would be a last possible option to get them to stay on. I'll be looking around on ebay and at the hardware store maybe I can find something to use as clips for it

sdstick wrote:

Nice...
Looks like you made out pretty good compared to what it coulda been like

Damn that came out nice! You're lucky! I wish mine looked that good when I was done peeling it all off. Knowing that the roof ain't perfect under there still haunts me

Yea the roof is in great shape accept for the top of the A pillar on the passenger side right where the over lap of material was. I'll need to scrape the rusted stuff out and fill it but its no all the way through so I'll live with considering it could have been worse!

Boxchevy84 wrote:

yes the glue on method would be a last possible option to get them to stay on. I'll be looking around on ebay and at the hardware store maybe I can find something to use as clips for it

..... most auto body supply stores carry those clips. You gotta ask the person behind the counter, usually they have a catalog to thumb through and find what you need.....

Oh good so it won't be too bad of a scavenger hunt for them then. Because I really did not like the idea of gluing the trim back on but I would have if I couldn't have found something to use. Looks like another trip to the auto parts store although some times I wish they would just let me look up my own parts on their computers it would go so much faster when dealing with some of those parts monkey's.

Boxchevy84 wrote:

Oh good so it won't be too bad of a scavenger hunt for them then. Because I really did not like the idea of gluing the trim back on but I would have if I couldn't have found something to use. Looks like another trip to the auto parts store although some times I wish they would just let me look up my own parts on their computers it would go so much faster when dealing with some of those parts monkey's.

you wont find this catalog at parts stores....( autozone,advance, pepboys...) You have to go to a local supply store that serves mostly body shops. you can walk into any one and buy stuff. Most have a binder on the counter with each style clip, pin, button, etc and part #.....

Ok found some window trim clips, they look like what was under the front window trim! These are the type I need for the rear window right?



I found them here in case some one else is in need of replacements

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Wndshld_Rear_Window_Reveal_Moulding_Fastener_p/a2628.htm

no wait maybe I found them on the inside of the car?? Great now I'll have to find time to go to the car and look again! if I just took a picture of it when I was there yesterday!