Add a Vinyl top?

Hmmm ... are you saying the vinyl goes under the glass like the headliner?

I was just gonna remove the trim ... glue the top down as far as I could and put the trim back on ...

 

Leave trim and add vinyl top. Full or 3/4 top

 

Mark ... (or anyone with a vinyl top) ... could you please let me know what the distance is between the seams on the roof? I'm just gonna have my local upholstery shop sew three strips of the correct vinyl together. Autocrafters is a rip-off ... $129.00 for the top when it's probably about $30 worth of vinyl and $30 worth of labor to sew and cut ...

 

I will have to try and remember to measure the distance when I get home this afternoon..

Technically I don't think the top has to go under the glass. I think it was just easier for them to work on it that way...

 

Found a place today that will make a top to my specs ( vinyl pattern, seam spacing, width, length) for $60. The the seams are pressed and glued to make them waterproof. Comes as a big rectangle and then trim to fit for install ...

 

I called around two shops near me that install vinyl tops ... One guy said $550 to do the top ... yeah right. Another guy said $225 plus materials .... no thanks.

I ordered the Top and adhesive from http://www.atrim.com/ . The tops are custom made to order but are not fitted (just a big rectangle). I carefully measured last night and the 100" long top should cover with an inch or two to spare. I ordered double Seams 42" apart .... Total was $100 for Black Levant 100" Double Seam Vinyl Top, 3 cans of adhesive and shipping.

I stopped by the bookstore yesterday and read the chapter in both the Mustang and Camaro restoration books on how to install a Vinyl Top ... it looks like a piece of cake to me so I'll be doing it myself ...

 

I had a present waiting at my front door today ... a Black Levant Grain vinyl top ... I threwit over the roof of the car to make sure my measurements were correct and it's gonna fit just fine .... seams even line up where they are supposed too ...

 

Nice, how do you install a vinyl top anyway?

Just wondering.

 

The number one ingredient is patience.

 

I guess in a way you could probably compare it to installing a headliner.

 

I've installed both...headliners are much more difficult.

 

I plan on documenting the installation with pictures ... will post when done. And from what I have read and seen a vinyl top is much easier than a headliner ...

 

Lots of glue and a big squegee!!!