How much work is required if I purchase a Chevelle with a vinyl roof and after stripping it down want to rebuild it without reapplying a vinyl roof? It is basically glued so I am thinking if the body has been cleaned and dipped there shouldn't be any difference except for the special mouldings mentioned in the Restoration guide.

Plenty of people have done just that. It is easy. Just need to take a little more care in the sail panels and tops of the pillars, because the factory didn't spend much time on the seams here. You will have to smoothe them out nicer than the original. I think that vinyl tops had the seams covered with plastic filler or bondo, while the hard tops had lead.

Good luck.

David

As long as the roof area under the vinyl isn't too rusty there shouldn't be too much work. Some vinyl roofs were added by the dealers which means that when you pull it up you'll actually find a nicely finished roof and seams under there. That usually means less rust, but the factory did it quick'n dirty as Monalizaf mentioned.

Safety Note: There is plenty of lead filler at the top of the windsheild pillars, top of the sail panels where the QTR meets the roof panel and on the inside edge of the roof drip rails. It will sand down real fast and of course it's toxic so be careful and wear an appropriate breathing mask. I would recommend sanding these areas by hand and stop just as you start to break through the primer.

Hope it Helps