Has anyone taking off the vinyl top down to metal prior to painting? Im thinking of going hardtop vise the vinyl top look on my 70 Chevelle. Any tips or hints would be appreciated.

I have taken mine off, to find a whole bunch of rust, pits, etc.

A friend (former body shop guy) said don't ever think of NOT putting the vinyl top back on. Said I'd never get the top good enough to look good without a vinyl top.

Personally, and this is just my opinion, I think the vinyl top cars look better. I like to contrast the colors. Sort of like how a two tone paint job sets a car off better than one color all over.

If you can get the colors to contrast, all the better. Example, light color paint, black top. Dark color paint, white top.

The number of white vinyl tops I have seen on a Chevelle though I can count on on hand with fingers left over. That's one reason mine will be white smile.gif

Steve

I have removed the vinyl top from the '70 before painting it. Luckily, the roof was in good shape.

Before:
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/BillsCamino/70Chevelle3.JPG

After:
Is shown in my signature...

When I bought my 69 the vinyl top was already off. I sanded it down to bare metal and coated it with rust encapsulator, then primer, then sealer, then paint. If your roof is in good condition Iwould go for it. The roof on my 69 was a little left to be desired so I put the roof back on it, I think it looks better anyways. Click the link in my sig to see it.

If there is already an ammount of bubbling under the vinyl top what sort of steps will need to be taken when removing and repairing those areas? My areas are mostly above the rear window below rear window and near the lip where it seals on the quarters. Im thinking about the worst possible case situation with severe rust rot.

Thanks
Brian

Brain,
If you're going to paint the car, you might as well do it right and put a new top on. You will not know the extent of the rust damage until you pull the top off. If you have any rust holes then its like any other good rust repair. Replace or most likely in this case weld in new patches. Then etch/epoxy, primer, and top coat.
My 72 will have its vinyl top reinstalled after painting. I really like them.

Mike

Well we went for it last night. Got it all off, minor hassel with the trim but nothing too bad. The top is in great shape, but as I suspected there is rust and pitting out under the rear window and corners. Plan on starting that today. I like both looks, clean top and vinyl but since I had a bad suspision about the window area I didnt want to put it off. I plan on going straight hardtop. Good looking cars all, thanks for the help.
Dickson