Paint job or vinyl top. What would you do first?

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Paint job or vinyl top. What would you do first? #815460 09/26/10 11:49 PM 09/26/10 11:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,621 Detroit area 6PAX OP master
6PAX OP master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,621 Detroit area	With the old vinyl top still being on the car, do you think it makes more sense to paint the car first and then install a new vinyl top or install the top first and then paint the car?

Re: Paint job or vinyl top. What would you do first? [Re: 6PAX] #815461
09/26/10 11:56 PM 09/26/10 11:56 PM

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,652
Hamtramck, PA

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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,652
Hamtramck, PA

Re: Paint job or vinyl top. What would you do first? [Re: Alaskan_TA] #815462 09/27/10 12:04 AM 09/27/10 12:04 AM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows? 1_WILD_RT Management Trainee
1_WILD_RT Management Trainee Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows?	Top goes on after paint & if you can't afford to do both just strip the top & have the top painted for now & you can apply a top at a later date....

Re: Paint job or vinyl top. What would you do first? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #815463 09/27/10 03:09 AM 09/27/10 03:09 AM
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 704 USA R rftroy super stock
rftroy super stock R Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 704 USA	Quote: Top goes on after paint & if you can't afford to do both just strip the top & have the top painted for now & you can apply a top at a later date.... The tops of vinyl top cars got a very thin layer of primer, which was ineffective in preventing rust for more than a couple of years. After 40, the top is definitely surface rusted, and you will be lucky if you don't have to do some metal patching, especially around the rear window bottom. Also, you should pull the headline and see how bad the rust is on the underside of the roof, as well. Clean it, prep and paint also. Don't just use primer, even an epoxy primer; cover the primer with paint. Bob AAR 4-speed 3.91, Tor-Red; 70 440 6 pack Roadrunner 4-speed 3.54, Plum Crazy; 68 Formula S conv 383 4-speed 3.23, Electric Blue; 69 Barracuda conv Slant 6 OD4 2.94, 71 B5 Blue; 78 Lil' Red Truck, Red; 70 Challenger S/E. 505 6 pack, Passon 5-speed, 3.55, B7 Blue

Re: Paint job or vinyl top. What would you do first? [Re: rftroy] #815464 09/27/10 03:18 AM 09/27/10 03:18 AM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,020 Pangaea B5 Bee master
B5 Bee master Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,020 Pangaea	You'll also have to do something with the seam where the roof connects to the C plliar. Painted cars were leaded in, vinyl top cars were only caulked. Caulking doesn't keep the water(rust) out like lead.

Re: Paint job or vinyl top. What would you do first? [Re: B5 Bee] #815465 09/27/10 01:29 PM 09/27/10 01:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 16 NORTHERN IL M MOPAR-OVERLOAD member
MOPAR-OVERLOAD member M Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 16 NORTHERN IL	DON'T PAINT AND THEN DO ROOF, THE ROOF WILL NEED WORK ALMOST 99% OF THE TIME. YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT YOU'LL NEED TO REPLACE IT. CHECK INSIDE AND OUT. YOU DON'T WANT TO PAINT THEN FIND OUT YOU NEED TO MAKE REPAIRS. HOPE YOUR LUCKY!

Re: Paint job or vinyl top. What would you do first? [Re: 6PAX] #815466 09/27/10 08:50 PM 09/27/10 08:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,572 Jacksonville Florida elitecustombody pro stock
elitecustombody pro stock Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,572 Jacksonville Florida	Where is the option of leaving the top off? It's a rust trap keep it off

Re: Paint job or vinyl top. What would you do first? [Re: elitecustombody] #815467 09/27/10 09:22 PM 09/27/10 09:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,551 Eagle, Idaho Neil The Doctor is in.
Neil The Doctor is in. Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,551 Eagle, Idaho	I would paint the entire car first and then reinstall a new top over a painted, not primered, roof. If the car is a weekend warrior that stays dry then I don't think having a vinyl top is anything to worry about. If your daily driving it and it sits outside with 4" of snow on it half the year then leave it off. I found zero rust under my original 1970 top, even the window channels were spotless. After seeing photos of heavily rusty roofs under vinyl top cars I know I lucked out big time!

Re: Paint job or vinyl top. What would you do first? [Re: Neil] #815468 09/28/10 12:51 PM 09/28/10 12:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 943 Mopar World Headquarters P1970HeMICuDA super stock
P1970HeMICuDA super stock Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 943 Mopar World Headquarters	Paint roof, blend into tops of qtrs, dutchman, fenders, etc. Install vinyl top, front and rear glass and moldings. Mask top of car, any moldings, sand and prep around edges. Paint rest of car. Remove masking, This way lessens chance of damage of working around a freshly painted car.

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