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How hard is it to apply a vinyl top yourself
#1687251
10/18/14 10:04 AM
10/18/14 10:04 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,908
Athens, Greece
Pyper70
OP
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,908
Athens, Greece
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Or with three other guys. I always loved the Vinyl tops. I thought it was a more executive upgrade. Nothing is wrong with my roof but the sail panel where is meets the quarter had cracks in the paint, battle wounds....road scars.....I know the windshield and rear window have to come out, but over all, how hard is it?
Family owned 1969 Charger R/T DualQuad 440/727/GVO/3.55s
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Re: How hard is it to apply a vinyl top yourself
[Re: Pyper70]
#1687252
10/18/14 11:08 AM
10/18/14 11:08 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,160
Mass
DAYCLONA
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I Live Here
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Posts: 18,160
Mass
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I've done vinyl tops for over 3 decades, a skill nice to learn how to do, while watching an experienced individual install one, if it's your first time, farm the job out, because what you spend on the second top to replace the first one you may have FUBAR'd, is what you'll spend to have a shop install one  FYI...a vinyl top can hide just so many sins under it, don't be fooled in thinking it will cover up bad body issues, repair the issues, then apply the vinyl
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Re: How hard is it to apply a vinyl top yourself
[Re: dan9]
#1687255
10/18/14 11:32 AM
10/18/14 11:32 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 464
KY
Telvis
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 464
KY
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Mine was pretty straightforward. I did the top on my Challenger and I was a first timer. I watched a few youtube videos over and over, followed the instructions and went really slow. As long as you measure everything carefully and mark center lines it isn't that bad. make sure you have enough cans of glue. I think I used 4 or 5 on mine.
That's King Weenie to you!
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Re: How hard is it to apply a vinyl top yourself
[Re: dustergirl340]
#1687259
10/18/14 12:55 PM
10/18/14 12:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,759
North Dakota
6PakBee
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I Live Here
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North Dakota
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I saw a body-shop put one on a '68 Charger when it was really hot and apparently overstretched it. They put the 'Charger' script on the 'C' pillars immediately afterwards and when the top cooled and contracted.....well it wasn't pretty. New top time.
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
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Re: How hard is it to apply a vinyl top yourself
[Re: dustergirl340]
#1687260
10/18/14 12:57 PM
10/18/14 12:57 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
Silver70
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I Live Here
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
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If you buy a good top, like legendary sells, then they are as easy as installing vinyl decals if not easier. If you use a cheap one that stretches easy, all I can say is good luck!
I use dap weldwood gel from lowes... I have had much better results than with 3m spray adhesive. Also makes less of a mess and no need to watch for over spray. Brush it on both surfaces, wait 5-10 mins then lay it in place and then use a putty spreader to bond it and flatten it out.
68 Road Runner, 69 Belvedere, 71 Challenger Vert
340 barracuda, 01 Ram CTD, 95 Ram, 04 Ram, 85 Daytona turbo Z
66 GTO, 06 Magnum RT AWD. 07 Ram CTD, 07 Ram
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Re: How hard is it to apply a vinyl top yourself
[Re: DAYCLONA]
#1687262
10/19/14 12:44 AM
10/19/14 12:44 AM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,732
Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,732
Bitopia
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Does having a roof with a concave crossection complicate matters? Like how do you stretch it and not lift it? And what is the preferred/ideal roof coating for application best life of the job? 
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: How hard is it to apply a vinyl top yourself
[Re: jcc]
#1687263
10/19/14 02:07 AM
10/19/14 02:07 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,160
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,160
Mass
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Quote:
Does having a roof with a concave crossection complicate matters? Like how do you stretch it and not lift it?
And what is the preferred/ideal roof coating for application best life of the job?
I never "stretch" the mat'l, regardless of the shape being applied to convex or concave, I divide the roof in half, front to back, mark my centerline(s) and everything in pencil (so there's no bleed thru esp on white/lite colors) I do a dry run centering the mat'l on the roof so that when I start guling it in place, there's no surprises as I unfold the mat'l, I start by folding the vinyl in half and centering it on my centerline drawn on the roofskin, front to back, I only work one side at a time, I prefer 3M Super Spray adhesive (been using it for decades) I spray just the area being worked, which starts off as being from the center front to back along the roofskin to the vinyl's stitched roof seam, I slowly work that over using my hand to "squeegee" the mat'l to the roof, I stop when the first roof/vinyl seam is down, then I fold the mat'l from the other side over the top of the previously installed section, then repeat the installation of the remaining center front to back applying it again to the vinyl's stitched roof seam, then I go back to the previous applied side, and fold the mat'l back over and up to the glued vinly's roof seam, now I work from the roof seam down into the sail panel, roof drip rails, and A pillars, doing it this way, I get the center section between the sewm/heat pressed roof seams of the vinyl down first, and while the glue is wet, a big mistake is to spray too large an area, and to frantically try and work the mat'l down, this is most beginners problem, by getting the center section down first/wet to the seams, allows you plenty of work tine to work the sail panels/roof rails/A pillars, without having to worry about glue dry times for both sides, as your only spraying/appling mat'l to one side at a time, you just have to remember to fold back the mat'l at the seams to hide your spray transition dry/work periods, I only spray the roof skin, not the back of the headliner, as this will leave a "bumpy" surface finish later because of the random spray lacing upon contact with 2 sprayed surfaces contacting one another, I spray just the area (roofskin) I plan on applying mat'l, wait about 2-5 mins, then start applying the mat'l, too heavy or wet spray glue will "soak" thru the mat'l and cast a ghost image in the vinyl that will always be there...as far as masking the car off from spray glue, I usually buy a cheap car cover, and cut away the roof area, and tape off the cover to the belt/window areas, I find it quicker and for a better finish to install a vinyl without the front/rear glass in place
Mike
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Re: How hard is it to apply a vinyl top yourself
[Re: 6PakBee]
#1687265
10/19/14 06:19 PM
10/19/14 06:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,908
Athens, Greece
Pyper70
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OP
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Athens, Greece
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Thanks Dayclona and everyone else for the input....it's still something I want to do...I wanna contemplate this further...It'd be sexy...Dark Green Metallic and Black Top....
Family owned 1969 Charger R/T DualQuad 440/727/GVO/3.55s
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Re: How hard is it to apply a vinyl top yourself
[Re: Pyper70]
#1687266
10/20/14 10:33 AM
10/20/14 10:33 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,636
Nashville, TN
MOPARMIKE69
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,636
Nashville, TN
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For what it is worth. I have put more than 10 vinyl roofs on during the past 20 years with great sucess. But I won't touch a Charger. The back recess is a real pain. Since this is your first. take it to a pro and watch him do it. A Charger is without a doubt the hardest one to get right.
69 Road Runner vert
69 GTX hard top
70 Road Runner 4 speed
70 Hemi Cuda vert
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Re: How hard is it to apply a vinyl top yourself
[Re: MOPARMIKE69]
#1687267
10/20/14 11:30 AM
10/20/14 11:30 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,575
The Netherlands
BigBlockMopar
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,575
The Netherlands
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I did my first vinyltop placement on my Dart a few years ago, all by myself. First thing that went 'wrong' is that I had to 'really' learn how certain glues really work. (Apply, wait for dry-tackyness, only then apply the vinyl). Then started reading some info about the subject and watched a few videos and went at it. The difficult part was the sides where the material wants to wrinkle. In the end it came out nice imo. Not perfect, but nice enough as I expected/hoped it would be.    
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Re: How hard is it to apply a vinyl top yourself
[Re: MOPARMIKE69]
#1687268
10/20/14 11:38 AM
10/20/14 11:38 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,160
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,160
Mass
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Quote:
For what it is worth. I have put more than 10 vinyl roofs on during the past 20 years with great sucess. But I won't touch a Charger. The back recess is a real pain. Since this is your first. take it to a pro and watch him do it. A Charger is without a doubt the hardest one to get right.
Hmmmm...I always found the Charger no more difficult than a GM of similar design in the C pillars, like 66-67 GTO's, or Mustang Grande's of the 68-70 era...IMHO the real biotch to work on is the wide seam Challenger top
Mike
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