What is a good top dressing for a black vinyl top? Myn top is an aftermarket / replacement top and it has all the right seams and grain pattern ..it just does not SHINE the way I want it to. The top has VERY VERY VERY litttle time in the sun..the car has been a grage queen for a lot of years so the issue is not UV damage. Way back when I had a GTO with a black top and it look GREAT after a quick simple coat of lemon pledge. This thing just does not have that sort of deep black look. Folks have suggested somehitng called Meguires #40 but until I get some responses I am going to hold off.

I have tried Pledge (looks OK not great for a short time), some other "juice" called "Back to Black" and a few others. I am almost ready to hit this thing with tire black (not Armoral brand). I am getting to where Armoral anything scares me.

My top is in good shape it just doesn't have that wet / shiny look that a lot of tops have.

What is the best material to clean one of these tops? Before I go putting any kind of coating / treatment on the top I want to be sure it is clean.

Suggestions appreciated

1. What is a good cleaner?
2. What is a good "dressing"
3. Could a "tire balck" type of product work? If so what might be a good one to try???

Armour -all super shine,,,, but if it gets rained on it will run on the windows..

Armour -all super shine,,,, but if it gets rained on it will run on the windows..

Iwas kinda hoping for a non Armoral answer! What is you experience with this Super Shine" stuff?

If it runs on the windows it runs on my paint! Should I worry about that?

Also Armoral has some sorta alcohol in it that accelerates the drying out of the vinyl..at least that is a rap that I have heard. Does this "super Shine" stuff have alcohol or whatever the chemical is that people say is bad news for vinyl over the long haul?

The best product I've used is Adams Vinyl and rubber protectant . I use it on my El Camino roof, and it looks great. Not greasy either. I wanted to find something that wouldn't get on the car cover, and the Adams stuff is just what I was looking for. They have a web site to order from. http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-101-adams-vrt-vinyl-rubber-tire-dressing.aspx

Malco PB-2 - Got it from an upholstery shop. Once a year application will keep top looking great - not real shiny.

The best product I've used is Adams Vinyl and rubber protectant . I use it on my El Camino roof, and it looks great. Not greasy either. I wanted to find something that wouldn't get on the car cover, and the Adams stuff is just what I was looking for. They have a web site to order from. http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-101-adams-vrt-vinyl-rubber-tire-dressing.aspx


Where does someone get this stuff? Is there a large Chain that sells it? I am located in Atlanta

Oman I have been down this road just this year. http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/HPIM0999.jpg I coated half the top in this picture with Vaseline. The Vaseline gives the top a glossy look but leaves a grease feeling. I'm currently using http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/imagesEdp/p93568b.jpg it fights uv sunlight ain't a good picture of the Meguiars vinyl protect http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/HPIM1076.jpg

Oman I have been down this road just this year. http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/HPIM0999.jpg I coated half the top in this picture with Vaseline. The Vaseline gives the top a glossy look but leaves a grease feeling. I'm currently using http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/imagesEdp/p93568b.jpg it fights uv sunlight ain't a good picture of the Meguiars vinyl protect http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/HPIM1076.jpg

So I am hearing you say that the Meguires "Supreme and Shine" produces shine results similar to the Vaseline? How did you clean off the vinyl before application of the Vaseline and or the Meguires? What product did you use? I am still toying with using some sort of Tire Black on this roof. Any experience with any sort of tire black that adds a shiny black look?

BTW ..this is a Monte Carlo roof I am fooling with. Funny I should get an answer from a Monte Carlo guy! My car is a 72 with an LS6 Crate motor and a 67 Vette 3x2 intake. Oh yeah a Richmond 5 Speed also.

I have used Nu Vinyl for years and it has always looked good. The best way I found of putting the stuff on is to take a small sponge like the wife uses in the kitchen(my main supply source) and spray the Nu Vinyl on to the sponge and lightly push the sponge down on the car top as I spread it around. I think this works better than spraying it directly on the cars top and its less messy. I buy it at Ace Hardware and I think Wall Mart sells it to.

When i did the top i used some Dawn dish soap on the top which cleaned off all the grime that was on my 39 year old top. The Meguires stuff says to spray either on a rag or on top the surface and then rub it in with even strokes. The Vaseline I used a rag and rubbed it into the top. The down side to Vaseline is if you drive where its dusty it will go straight to the top and stay there. Nu Vinyl is good too I have used that as well, When I used that i poured it on to the top and rubbed it in. I found the Nu Vinyl lasted about a week, the Vaseline roughly a week and half, and so far the Meguires had been on the car in that picture for 2 weeks I just touched it up from where the car cover was on it. Oman I have a 70 Monte ss454

When i did the top i used some Dawn dish soap on the top which cleaned off all the grime that was on my 39 year old top. The Meguires stuff says to spray either on a rag or on top the surface and then rub it in with even strokes. The Vaseline I used a rag and rubbed it into the top. The down side to Vaseline is if you drive where its dusty it will go straight to the top and stay there. Nu Vinyl is good too I have used that as well, When I used that i poured it on to the top and rubbed it in. I found the Nu Vinyl lasted about a week, the Vaseline roughly a week and half, and so far the Meguires had been on the car in that picture for 2 weeks I just touched it up from where the car cover was on it. Oman I have a 70 Monte ss454

Those SS454 cars are pretty cool. I tried to build my car in the "model" of what the SS454 SHOULD have been IF Chevy was smart enough to deliver the car with the LS6. Then I went off the deep end with the 3x2 , the Richmond 5 Speed and some other things. My car started out as a Plain Jane 350 4 BBl automatic. I NEVER leave things alone so one thing let to another to another ....and the band played on

Shoot me some pics of the SS I can send you some pictures of my Home Brewed LS6 . I even have the SS454 badges down on the lower front fender.

Hpexpatriot@yahoo.com

Meguair's Vinyl & Rubber #40

All the other stuff would seep on the windows and paint when I washed the car.

http://www.superiorcarcare.net/meg40vinrubc.html

When I had my Vinyl top redone back in the 90's, the shop who did the work was adamant about never using Armor All on anything you plan to keep as its long term affects dry out the material especially if exposed to the weather. I personally use the Malco PB-2 cleaner and conditoner and it's kept my seats looking new now for 16+ years. Even before that, I was never really a fan of Armor All prducts as they seem to be very cheap and need multiple applications for it to make a difference. I think any of the quality lines like Mothers or Meguair's would be sufficient, but here's the link for the Malco products.

http://www.malcopro.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=28&Itemid=101

Haven't used it, but I believe POR makes some kind of vinyl product that makes it really black and shiny.

EDIT: Found it - POR-GLO

This is not just a temporary top dressing like the well-known product that detailers use to make rubber and vinyl shine for a couple of days. POR-GLO™ is a brilliant clear coating that lasts up to one year!

http://www.marketelf.com/product_detail.aspx?id_product=8953

RMX

Has anybody tried using black shoe polish?

no shoe polish. that would get messy and it is hard to apply.

best shine i have gotten is probably the most simple
MOP N GLOW floor cleaner. just get a rag wet (not dripping, but wet) with it and wipe evenly over the top. You can find it at almost any grocery store. lasts decently, I reapply every couple of months since it is really easy.
pic, hard to see, but top is shiny
http://s827.photobucket.com/albums/zz199/ljfran2383/?action=view&current=DSCF0175.jpg