Vinyl Top Replacement

Q: Vinyl Top Replacement

I stripped off the vinyl off my 1968 and,after getting it down to bare metal,was wondering-
1- whats the best undercoat? I was thinking along the lines of a rust inhibitor topped off with rust-oleum.
2-whats the adhesive of choice?

A: When I worked at the GM plant in Fremont in the 70’s, cars that were to get vinyl tops got the same rust preventative (i.e. tank dunk!), primer and paint on the roof as the rest of the body. The difference was the weld seam joining the quarter panel to the roof. Cars that did not get vinyl tops had this seam filled with lead solder. I know because I was the guy who would grind the solder smooth (that job was great for you long term health – not!). Cars with vinyl tops had the seam filled with a bondo like product, after the area was painted. My father, who opened the Fremont plant in ’62, said they did it this way ever since they started putting vinyl tops on cars there.

A: In this game never say two words: never and always…. Ive got 2 vinyl top cars in my garage right now, both have been stripped to bare metal and both HAD body solder at the 1/4s and at the front pillars. I seriously doubt that these are the only ones that factory did this to. Ive had other vinyl top cars and all that I can remember had body solder in all joints. What is apparent is the lack of detail on finishing any body solder under the top.

A: I worked in a body shop for awhile and talked to the owner about this very subject due to the fact that my 1968 had a vinyl top. he said they were bare metal at the factory when the tops were put on,if you put too much stuff up there the top may come off.I would just use eastwoods coroless primer under the top,this will give you great rust protection and should not cause problems.be sure to scuff the primer alittle(just alittle,do not go through it…lol).this guy does resto work and insurance work,when I was there he had a 65 GTO conv. body hanging on the wall!!!! it was going through a frame off resto,I was in heaven….lol I did not work on that car,but did work on a 1969 camaro and a 57 chevy that already had pictures taken and was going to be in hot rod when done,don’t know if it ever was,but I would like to see it finished. well,hope this helps out.

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