Vinyl Top Removal
Short answer: Yes, you can pull the vinyl top and repaint as a hardtop — but expect to find problems underneath. The factory didn’t finish the bodywork or paint well under vinyl tops, so you’ll often find rough lead joints at the tops of the quarters and sometimes hidden rust (one owner found his roof rusted through under the top).
Doing it right:
- If the top is coming off for good, weld the trim holes closed (no Bondo). The trim “tits” can be hacksawed off and ground smooth — use minimal heat and cool carefully so you don’t warp the panels.
- Take the whole top area to bare metal, use metal prep, then a good urethane or epoxy primer.
- Keep in mind that deviating from stock (e.g., a custom color) lowers the car’s value if resale matters.
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Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
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