Vinyl top installer

Good morning,
Does anyone know of a good place/person in the Pittsburgh PA area that installs vinyl tops? I purchased the top from Legendary and now am having trouble finding someone who still installs these. Thanks for any and all help, Kevin

Good luck. Around here nobody does it. At the last car club meeting, a few of us that have vinyl roof cars came to the conclusion we'll have to develop that expertise within the group and do it ourselves.

Other than removing the front and rear glass, it's something you can do yourself successfully.

Watch a few you tube videos, be patient and methodical. Like learning any new skills, be prepared for failure on the first try. My first attempt wasn't perfect, a couple air bubbles and a couple small lumps where I didn't smooth the adhesive enough.

Kevin,

About 6 or 7 years ago a former coworker wanted a white top put on his 2011 challenger. He found an older gentleman who has been doing this type of work full time since the late 70s. I believe he was in Chambersburg, which is about 1.5-2 hours from Pittsburgh.

I never got a name or business name out of that conversation though. Hopefully this helps a little.

I think Dayclona on here wrote a nice start to finish how-to on vinyl top installations. I searched for it, but can't find it.

There are numerous YouTube videos I've seen where guys are pulling on the tops like their life depends on it, and many people say to not do that no matter what unless you want to tear the fabric or seams apart.

If me and the wife could install it back in the 90s for the first time on a 71 B Body

It really isn’t that difficult honestly

Why would you have to remove the front and rear glass ?

You do not have to pull the glass. It does make it easier but not required. Same for the headliner.

The real reason I took on the challenge

When I called numerous companies back in the 90s for a quote in WI

Sure , we can do it for this price , just drop it off and we will get it to it when we have time

So the car will sit outside ? Or do you have storage until you have time ? Serious




I figured for about $500-$750 per quote I could go thru multiple vinyl tops thru Legendary

Remember this was in the 90s

Still on my 71 Bee and Perfection

Trim and location and measure and only cut once is everything - Don’t cut and then

Believe it or not , I used 3M spray adhesive in a can

That’s why I was asking - My factory glass never left the car

Thanks for the info guys, I have been toying with doing it myself and given it’s a tough task finding someone who does it, I may still have to. I’ve had a couple leads but when I call they said they don’t do it anymore. Given it’s a wide seam for a Challenger I’ll just need to be careful of the centering of it and watch how the seam follows down the back sail area. I just got the car back from the painter in June so the windows are out so that’s not an issue.
Thanks again everyone, Kevin

Start from the center out and be very careful to start centered. A heat gun helps but a killer hair dryer works.

Glass removal makes it way easier, maybe not required on vehicle with glued glass but maybe required for gasketed glass. Pretty sure 68 70 B body front glass gasket covers the edge of the vinyl.

I recently had my 69 Charger done. The glass was out so it helped make it go easier. The front molded rubber seal is not in the way if you needed to do it with the glass in.

I just installed a vinyl top on my 70 Challenger. When I bought it from Legendary they told me it was the hardest top to install, they were right.
The previous top someone cut the top below the back glass to get it to fit.
I found that if you glue the area below the rear glass to the body line above the back glass before you do the c-pillars it makes a easier.
As was said it is very important to center the vinyl top to the roof and a heat gun helps. Also don't try to do it yourself.
Good luck!

Try Executive Motors in Gibsonia.

From the tech archives:

http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/misc/4.html

Thanks for the archive article, very detailed. But I actually found someone in Bethel Park Pa to install it. Specialized Auto Interiors, guy named Rick.
I will post some pics when he completes it.
Kevin