Vinyl Top Install

I am debating installing the vinyl top on my 69 Charger. I am in the process of re-assembling the car so no glass is installed. I am sort of gun shy on doing it myself. What is the best glue and what tools and supplies should I buy. Just need some help to boost my confidence. Thanks.

My ............ Have it "Professionally" done ! I did it looks perfect !

For the money, and given the Charger's flying buttresses, I'd have a pro do it.

Dayclona on here did a nice write up on how to do it at home awhile back. See if the search function brings it up...

There are you tube vids, but some of them don't do it right. Avoid the ones where guys are trying to pull the vinyl tight with everything they have.

I did my Cuda 15 years ago.

3M Super Trim Adhesive, (rattle cans). You will use 2-3 cans so make sure you have 3 cans, maybe even 4. My wife and daughter assisted. You need the hands. I would recommend 3-4 people just to be pressing down on the vinyl as it’s laid in place.

A Charger shouldn’t be too hard as it doesn’t loop around the rear window....I had trouble with about 1” too much material on the Cuda cause of the loop. But trial fit yours by taping it in place first. Then you do 1/2 at a time. I did the front half first, then the back. Turned out fine.

Have a good plan for how you are going to trim the excess. I very carefully laid out tape lines to determine where all the edge trim will be when the job is done.

In hindsight the vinyl top was easy. The headliner was NOT!

I install vinyl tops here in my shop and I can tell you if you have never done it before you will probably ruin your first top. It takes trial and error to learn when to stop pulling, when to apply more glue, how long to let the glue setup, when to use the heat gun, etc. Keeping it perfectly centered and the seams straight is a real challenge too. You also need to use a dedicated professional quality glue sprayed from a gun. I also have used rattle cans long ago and it is very hard to get the even coverage that is very important. Just my opinion.

on overstretching a top. I saw a professional shop install a vinyl top on a second generation Charger. They pulled the top too tight and installed the "Charger" emblems on the 'C' pillars that same day. The next morning the top had shrunk overnight and every pin in the emblem had torn a slit about 3/4" long. They got it right the second time. Not being critical, it's just part of that learning curve.

Thanks for the replies. I have no problem paying someone to do the job. Its just in my area there is only one guy that does it and he will not come to my shop. So I have to find an enclosed trailer to transport it there and back. I do not need to do it now as there is plenty else to do. It just would be nice to get the top and headliner done as those are the two jobs I would rather not do. With all the social distancing I thought maybe I could attempt doing it.

Dap landau top adhesive sprayed with a gun.

It's not that difficult to do. I did a vinyl top install myself 1 1/2 years ago on my 68 Coronet. A member her called DAYCLONA posted instructions on a vinyl top thread on how to install a vinyl top.
Something to keep in mind; when you receive your new vinyl top try to install it right away. Don't let the top sit in the box for a long time because the folds will not come out. Now, Legendary will
ship the top rolled instead of folded. Shipping rate is more. That's a good option if the top won't be installed for a few months.

My top has been folded on the shelf for 15 years .

I'd put it on the car and let gravity smooth it out. A warm day will speed it up.

If it's been folded on the shelf that long, don't even waste your time with it. I did that too. Sat in box for years . I let it sit out for days in the hot sun. Ironed the folds out. Nothing worked
I took it as a loss and bought a new one from Legendary. When I got it, I installed it. Never had any issues with folds.

I am going to lay the vinyl on to the car roof and see what it does. It is loosely folded with no weight on it. After a week or so I will post pictures to see what people think.

Toss some blankets over it to help weigh it down.

Note that this works for getting carpet to settle out before installation. Simply throw the carpet in the car and stack a bunch of stuff on top of it and let it sit for awhile. Makes getting the folds and wrinkles out a lot easier.

The top I installed was included with the car when I bought it. No idea how old it was but it was folded in a box. Stayed in the box for another year until I was ready, it’s was, and still is, fine.