Vinyl Top Install Help

Going to help install a vinyl top on a buddys car this weekend.Never done one.Need help,tips,etc.etc. Thanks

 

what make and model is the car?

 

69 malibu

 

Mark the center of the top, car and vinyl..Fold top in half and glue only about 12" to 18" length ways on car and top roll top onto the car, check for bubbles and wrinkles.if you have to pull do not pull to hard or the seams wont line up when your done. keep gluing and rolling it over 10" to 12" at a time..theres more to it than that but that is enough to get you in trouble

 

Not a job for a novice! That said. I ***ume you are using a ready made quality vinyl top.

Roof surfaces must be clean, like for a paint job. All chrome trim removed. Front and rear gl*** trim etc. Temp of at least 75-85 degrees.

Lay out top, backing side up, on a large surface. Check for flaws. Loose thread, fuzz balls etc. Mark the center of the top from front to rear. With a wide pencil.

Mark roof of car center front-rear. DO NOT USE ink markers. They will bleed thru.

Lay top on the roof. Line up center marks and position top so there is equal hang over all around. Then take some masking tape, tear into eight inch strips and tape the top to the gl*** five or six places front and rear. I use one piece for the center and two each side. Once tape is in place>. Cut at top edge leaving a piece on top/gl***.. Now you have a target for the top drop.

Industrial quality vinyl top adhesive(contact adhesive) is then applied To the roof and the spread out flat top. I advise a spray gun if possible. Contact cement can ball and leave underside marks if brushed.

Once glue has dried to the touch(not sticky).on both the car and the top.You are ready.

I have used two different ways to do the actual lay out of the top.
I'st is when I have little or no help. I lay out glazed butcher paper taped together with pieces clear tape, on the roof. Long ways. . So the adhesives can't touch when top is laid on roof.

Then I carefully lay the vinyl on the car. Match up the tape marks top/gl***. Roll the top material back to the center line. On the work side. Remove the paper from the half of the roof that I'm working on and Carefully squeege vinyl from the center out about 4 inches. The full length front to rear. Then STRETCH/squeege to the front and side contours.

Repeat to do other side. Remember once contact cement touches. Itself it's all over!! No move any more..

If I have competant help. I just have helper on one end. Fold top on center line and slowly drop !/2 top onto car lining up tape marks as dropped. Stretching and squeeging as it comes into contact. Then do other side, stretching as it is rolled out from center to edge. Rear quarter sides and around gl*** are a bear to get correct.

 

:d

 

This is something that you really need to see to get a drift of how to do it. I'm afraid we could write pages of info here and it would just give you enough to screw it up good. Maybe someone has some videos posted online?? Or maybe a Hamber in your area can volunteer to help lay it? There really isn't a 20 footer cl*** in vinyl tops. They are either done right or look like ***.