Re: vinyl top installation what glue to use
[Re: GI Moparman]
#1092240
10/10/11 06:59 PM
10/10/11 06:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,166
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,166
Mass
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Quote:
Oh cool! I had someone tell me it wasnt strong enough to hold but if you had good luck with it ill try it. You do spray top and roof of car both then let it tack up before you put top down correct?
Been using the 3M Super trim adhesive spray for over 2 decades installing customers, and my own vinyl tops, no issues, I only spray the roof of the vehicle, let it tack for about 1 minute before working the vinyl down, I start by folding the top in half, side to side, establish a centerline on the roof, and only spray from that centerline to where the side seam will lie down, then fold that area after the first seam is down over, go over and finish the other side from the centerline down to the opposite seam, so that now the entire center section up to the seams is down, this way I can now take my time working the area from the seams on down to the C/A pillars 1 side at a time, and don't have to worry about my glue drying to fast..., as the 3M dosen't take kindly to double coating, that's when you'll get small lumps of glue splatter that you'll have to work out with a heat gun, so it's best to work/spray from seam to seam or finish edge, that's why I concentrate on getting the center down quickly seam to seam, but do buy a few extra cans, as they tend to clog once used, and it's better to have more on hand than to be short...usually it takes 2 cans to do an E/B body, so have 4 on hand, just incase
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Re: vinyl top installation what glue to use
[Re: GI Moparman]
#1092244
10/11/11 09:37 AM
10/11/11 09:37 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,211
New Mexico
UCUDANT
Troll Hunter
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Troll Hunter
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,211
New Mexico
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Check You tube for how to videos
Last edited by UCUDANT; 10/11/11 09:38 AM.
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Re: vinyl top installation what glue to use
[Re: GI Moparman]
#1092246
10/12/11 12:18 PM
10/12/11 12:18 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,166
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,166
Mass
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Quote:
I watched the videos on youtube and now im confused! they said to spray both sides of the top or it wont hold. also that spray can glue wont work. I beleive it will but does leave a lil doubt. lol Also they were useing a steamer. Is that a must?
We've all given you our "real world" advice,....in the end it's your choice which route "works" for you 
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Re: vinyl top installation what glue to use
[Re: Danan]
#1092251
10/14/11 10:54 AM
10/14/11 10:54 AM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,047
Arizona
68CoronetRT
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,047
Arizona
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Quote:
Below are some related questions I have that will likely help the OP as well:
Background: I installed a vinyl top on my 69 charger in January (pretty cold). I glued both the roof and the top, and it took a 6-8 cans of Supertrim vinyl adhesive spray. I had to really stretch/pull the vinyl in the cold weather in order to get all the wrinkles out. I'm not a weak guy, and I used a significant amount of force to install the top. In the end, it looked perfect and I was extremely pleased. I re-installed the windshield and back glass but did not reinstall the trim pieces because I had not painted the car yet.
The next summer the vinyl began shrinking in the summer heat (100+ degrees) until it had pulled out of the gutters. I'm obviously going to have to install a new top, but what exactly did I do wrong:
1. Installed the top in the dead of winter (unheated garage)?
2. Used too much effort when I pulled/stretched the top during installation?
3. Some combination of the above?
Thanks for the help, sorry for the hi-jack, and I really hope it helps the OP in installing his top. The glue is but one facet of installing a vinyl top...
Interesting since vinyl normally relaxes and stretches in the sunshine and warmer temperatures.
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Re: vinyl top installation what glue to use
[Re: dustergirl340]
#1092253
10/15/11 02:10 AM
10/15/11 02:10 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,166
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,166
Mass
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Quote:
My guess would be that you pulled/stretched it too much. We always install ours on warm days, and don't really pull/stretch them excessively. Enough to get them smooth. Poor quality vinyl also has a tendency to shrink a bit.
 ...... I usually install vinyl tops during the summer outdoors, or in heated garages, to do it in an unheated garage in the winter is just asking for trouble later,...you shouldn't have to pull and stretch the top to install it, and 6-8 cans of spray glue is excessive, a B-body generally uses 2, maybe 3 cans tops, when you install the vinyl, locate and mark in PENCIL a centerline on the roof, front to rear on the car, fold the vinyl in half, place the fold at the centerline, dry fit the roof to make sure it's placed right, fore to aft, fold back over, and when spraying, large broad strokes and coverage from the centerline down to where the side seam is, then start working the vinyl over by holding up the material with one hand, and the other slowly rubbing and spreading the top down, once you get that half of the roof from the centerline down to the side seam, stop, and fold the remaining material from the seam down, back over the top, go to the other side and fold that over the half completed side, and repeat the process, glueing and applying the top from the centerline down to the side seam, you've now completed the center section, seam to seam install, now you can relax and install the remaining material from the seams down to the gutter/pillers/etc, one side at a time, there should be no need for massive stretching or pulling, your glue spray pattern should be full coverage, but not heavy coating, fast broad strokes to prevent heavy glue build up, which can soak thru and stain a top, esp dark colored tops, it will appear as a dark spot or line, you don't want to soak the roof with "wet" glue, you want it tacky, when I spray a section of roof for install, I wait about 1-2 minutes before applying the vinyl, plus doing a touch test, you want the glue tacky sticking to your finger, not wet and slimey....FYI, I only spray the roof, reason being this gives you a second reprieve should you need to pull back a short section if a wrinkle or air pocket needs to be relieved, spray gluing the the roof and mat'l "locks" it down instantly, and trying to pull the material back results in tearing the vinyl backing, or balling the glue, which results in bumps under the vinyl later.....putting down a vinyl top should be treated just like applying a decal or stripe, the idea being to work out all the air, and no wrinkles, I've been installing tops for close to 30 yrs, and this technique works for me
mike
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