Vinyl top pros and cons?
#2131062
08/12/16 12:26 PM
08/12/16 12:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,648 Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
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My cuda left the factory w/ a black vinyl top, but it had already been removed when I got it, holes for the trim filled in, etc. I'm pretty sure I have the trim for it...came w/ the car when I bought it. I am considering putting a black vinyl top back on it when I redo the body and paint in the future. Now, this car is not original at all and never will be (was originally Go Mango, now it's B5), I just kinda like the look of the vinyl tops. The car will most likely remain B5 blue. I've never had a car w/ a vinyl top and wondering what the pros and cons are? Any reason to leave it a hardtop? ![shruggy shruggy](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/custom/shruggy.gif)
CHIP '69 road runner, 440-6, 4 speed, Dana 60 '70 'cuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60 '71 Demon 340, no drivetrain, on blocks behind the barn '73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75....................FOR SALE '90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt '06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax '17 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
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Re: Vinyl top pros and cons?
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#2131065
08/12/16 12:31 PM
08/12/16 12:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,942 Pattison Texas
CSK
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master
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Pattison Texas
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they can cause rust problems, that cuda looks AWESOME like it is.
Last edited by csk; 08/12/16 12:32 PM.
1968 Charger COLD A/C Hilborn EFI 512ci 9.7 compression, Stealth heads, 4.10 gear A518 ODtrans 4100lb,10.93 full street car trim 2020 T/A 392 Stock 11.79 @ 114.5
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Re: Vinyl top pros and cons?
[Re: CSK]
#2131077
08/12/16 12:43 PM
08/12/16 12:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,345 Crook County, ILL
Mastershake340
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Unless you are going to keep the car outside for an extended period of time (years), or in a damp environment, getting rust under your vinyl top is very unlikely to be a problem for you. It's all a matter of personal taste. If you like the look, or are restoring a car to the tag on a car that was built with a vinyl top, go for it! If you prefer no top, that's cool too. I have a friend who has a red Challenger T/A with a black interior that was originally built with a white vinyl top. He has owned the car almost 40 years and removed the top shortly after he bought it. Restored it a few years ago and did not put a vinyl top back on it. Lots of us give him a hard time, who has ever seen a red T/A with a white top? Super rare! But he hated the look and kept the trim for if he sells it some day and the buyer wants to return it to how it was built by putting a top back on it. So that's cool, all a matter of the owners taste!
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Re: Vinyl top pros and cons?
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#2131090
08/12/16 12:58 PM
08/12/16 12:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,648 Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
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The car is definitely not parked outside. I do have the fender tag and a lot of the original stuff for the car, but the original 340 and 727 are LONG GONE. The original owner scrapped the 340 when it blew a head gasket and gouged the deck surface back in the '70s....probably made a couple Hondas out of it by now. No idea where the 727 is. Never realized it came w/ a vinyl top until I decoded the FT.
CHIP '69 road runner, 440-6, 4 speed, Dana 60 '70 'cuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60 '71 Demon 340, no drivetrain, on blocks behind the barn '73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75....................FOR SALE '90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt '06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax '17 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
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Re: Vinyl top pros and cons?
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#2131255
08/12/16 03:48 PM
08/12/16 03:48 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,942 Pattison Texas
CSK
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the holes for the trim is where most rust starts.
1968 Charger COLD A/C Hilborn EFI 512ci 9.7 compression, Stealth heads, 4.10 gear A518 ODtrans 4100lb,10.93 full street car trim 2020 T/A 392 Stock 11.79 @ 114.5
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Re: Vinyl top pros and cons?
[Re: dan9]
#2131808
08/13/16 08:58 AM
08/13/16 08:58 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,748 Motor City
6PKRTSE
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master
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Looks great either way. I like your car better the way it is. What is it with all you Cuda dudes trying to make your Cuda's looking like Camaro's. Lol. Stop it...
1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute 1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack 1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi 1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383 1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440 1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4 2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4 2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
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Re: Vinyl top pros and cons?
[Re: 6PKRTSE]
#2131810
08/13/16 09:01 AM
08/13/16 09:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,748 Motor City
6PKRTSE
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master
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My red Charger has a the factory vinyl top on it still. It does have some rust bubbles forming under it in places but it has taken 46 years to do so.
1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute 1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack 1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi 1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383 1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440 1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4 2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4 2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
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Re: Vinyl top pros and cons?
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#2131975
08/13/16 01:50 PM
08/13/16 01:50 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,042 Florida
BDW
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A vinyl top also works very well with hi-impact colors (including B5 even though its not technically high impact) as it lessens the flood of color.)
Agree with above, I have a sublime challenger with v/top, all green would be too much for me.
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Re: Vinyl top pros and cons?
[Re: NANKET]
#2134107
08/16/16 02:10 AM
08/16/16 02:10 AM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,951 Spokane Valley, WA
Big Bad Bee
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The factory did not paint the top on a vinyl top car. These cars spent many years outside as daily drivers. The rust is a long term problem.
If your collector car has been restored and kept indoors rust under the top will not be an issue. ^^^^ THIS. My last 70 Gran Coupe was B5 with white top. To me, that is just about the best color combo there is for an e body. So striking. Now what you got under that hood that couldn't be covered up by a mopar scoop? ![devil devil](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/custom/devil.gif)
I’m listening.
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Re: Vinyl top pros and cons?
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#2134111
08/16/16 02:23 AM
08/16/16 02:23 AM
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,096 Australia
ozymaxwedge
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super stock
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One option is a vinyl wrap in the old mod top colours, I think it would look stunning but when you are sick of it you peel it off and your back how it is now. might even look at doing my 71 Barracuda.
1963 Plymouth Max Wedge 1971 Barracuda
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Re: Vinyl top pros and cons?
[Re: NANKET]
#2134115
08/16/16 02:42 AM
08/16/16 02:42 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
Striving for excellence
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Striving for excellence
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Granite Bay CA
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The factory did not paint the top on a vinyl top car. These cars spent many years outside as daily drivers. The rust is a long term problem.
If your collector car has been restored and kept indoors rust under the top will not be an issue. Are you sure about that? Seems that they spread filler on the C panel seam, primed the car and put at least a cursory coat of paint over the primer.
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Re: Vinyl top pros and cons?
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#2134258
08/16/16 11:22 AM
08/16/16 11:22 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,648 Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
OP
I Live Here
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OP
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Thanks for all the comments yall, much appreciated. And thanks for the compliments on my car!
When I get around to repainting the car, the hood will be painted body color. It being black is one of those "temporarily permanent" situations, lol. I like the idea of wrapping the roof for now just to see. I have a friend that does wraps...might be an option there.
So as far as maintenance on a vinyl top, just wipe it down w/ some vinyl spray every so often? Kinda like conditioning leather I imagine?
CHIP '69 road runner, 440-6, 4 speed, Dana 60 '70 'cuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60 '71 Demon 340, no drivetrain, on blocks behind the barn '73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75....................FOR SALE '90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt '06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax '17 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
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