I want to put a vinyl top on my ride, but it has a real cheap, semi-new paint job now. Since I don't want rust in the future, I want to strip the cheapo paint off (just the roof for now) and coat the roof with either Corroless or POR-15. Which would be better for bare metal, how should I prep, and how many coats should I apply. Should I have any problems with the adhesive bonding strength of the vinyl top glue? I'm shooting for the Corroless since the car may sit outside (FL sun=bad UV light) for a while before the top is put on. It should look wild since the rest of the car is green, but the top will be Corroless orange.

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jack
Ft.Lauderdale, FL
gold #163

Well about this i have the opposite question. I am looking at buying a 70 and wondering if i took the vinyl top off would it have a hard top under it. would it look the same? Thanks

74:The main problem with vinyl tops is water wicking under the edges. Use a high quality adhesive (3M) and run a bead of silicone around all the edges before installing the clips and mldgs. Leave your paint as is.
70:The only difference between a 70 Chevelle with a vinyl top and one without (besides the vinyl and adhesive)is the area painted and the moldings.
Rich

The condition of the area under the top is rougher also, so you have some body work to do before getting it in the topless http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif condition!

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1972 Malibu (1 st. car) Project waiting to happen
Team Chevelle # 427
A.C.E.S. # 1282

Doug is right,
The condition of the roof under the top on my 74 was ugly, with many ripples in the metal along both sail panels and along the side windows. The reason I want to remove the current paint is because it is already pealing in places on the roof.

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jack
Ft.Lauderdale, FL
gold #163

Sawzall,ya'll. Permanent convertible! Scrap that vinyl top talk! Bite your tongue!

POR-15 works best on an oxidized or slightly rusty surface. You must remove all loose rust, and strip as much old paint off as possible. The metal must be dry, clean of oils, and loose rust. I'd use POR-15 Silver because it is thicker, and can fill pits better. Brush a second coat when the first is still tacky, maybe a 3rd would be overkill but.......

After everything is dry, scuff the shine off with 600 grit. Then do the top prep work. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/cool.gif

I've followed a similar process to do my glass channels, trunk and inner fender wells. Every thing looks great so far.

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DG
Springfield, Ohio


My 70 Malibu http://www.wright.edu/~adams.41/chevy.htm
dga@erinet.com
TEAM Chevelle Member #0086
eBay username: dg98adams

Good advice about the condition of the roof under the vinyl Jack. Car craft did an article on replacing a vinyl roof on a camaro. They were realy down on the possibility of converting to non vinyl due to the condition of the roof.

I need to replace the Sport roof Vinyl on my Laguna. There does not appear to have any bubbled rust underneath and the backer is still intact. Plus it is only a half roof from the windshield to the B pillar, kinda like a reverse Landau.

Anybody try to install a vinyl themselves?

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Frank W
Arlington MA
74 Laguna S3 !! ( No motor yet)
73 Malibu Coupe Mighty 305 Power
hometown.aol.com/folingo/ (http://hometown.aol.com/folingo/)