when i got the car (70' malibu) it had some minor rust on the roof and a i had a shop grind the roof down, however its coming back wich they told me it might do. Is my only option to have a donor roof put in? has anyone had that done and if i may ask how much did it cost? the car is 95% restored with this being the biggest problem. Being in college and low on money, my options are kinda limited, so heres another question for you guys, my dad told me to sell the car and give him the money i get for it and in return he would give me his '96 impala ss (i love that car) but i put so much into my chevelle that it would **** me off to get rid of her. Any opinions?

You did not go into detail as to the location and extent of rust you had. The only thing I have to go on is " minor rust on the roof".....which I would take as surface rust on the surface (middle section) of the roof. If that is the case, then that is a relatively simple fix (if not inexpensive), and can certainly be done without the worry of coming back.

If you are talking about actual rust thrus, and holes around the windows and window channels, then these are more in depth (and even more costly) repairs; but, repairs that can still be done without the worry of coming back and without replacing the roof.

If this is surface rust we are talking about, and the shop actually ground the roof down to the metal and did their repairs properly, then this problem should not have reoccured....my opinion.

Shannon

hey man , I know how you feel . I had just redone my late father's 72 Malibu Spt Cpe , which had a vinyl top and had that similiar
rust patern that you speak of . The only option that I was recommended by the shop was to re-install another vinyl top because if I went ahead and tried to make it a real hardtop . After the paint settled , it would have small little dips all over the top due to the rust reforming and etc. so , another top has been in place for 4 years now and so far so good .