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To vinyl top? or to not?

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#21 ·
My El Camino had a vinyl top when I bought it. I had so much rust under it, I had to replace the whole top. I like the looks of the vinyl top so when I paint next month, the top goes back on even if I have to do the whole thing over in ten years.
 
#22 ·
Put it on if you plan to take care of it regardless if it will be a trailer/garage queen. Chevrolet did not paint the rooftop under bit only poorly primed the surface fom what I can tell on my SS when I started restoring it. I will be spraying self-etching primer, primer sealer, surfacer, and topcoat, then the vinyl on mine. This will seal out the moisture for sure. Don't have a real big problem here in the southwest to really worry about it anyway. Besides my car originally came with the vinyl top , so I will restore back to original. Pics due in the spring after its painted and with the vinyl applied.

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1969 Chevelle Malibu
1970 Chevelle SS 396
1971 Chevelle Malibu
My 70 SS restoration project
 
#23 ·
I like it both ways...oh wait, that doesn't sound right.
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Its your preference...yes with the top it is more likely to see rust, but it can also complement the car very well. As for "grocery getter", I don't feel that is justifiable....hub caps, yes, vinyl top...nah..its classy in its own right....kind of like a cool baseball cap can make you look good sometimes.

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"Too fast for love"
Dave Armstrong...New York!
'67 Chevelle 396/Th400/4.10
NOW ALSO '95 Firebird Formula LT1
The Burnout
The Launch
The Engine
The MAN!!!(the guy in the black shirt)
 
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Discussion starter · #25 ·
Hummm this is really hard to decide. I think it would look good against the yellow but would the yellow roof look better? And it sounds like I am one of the lucky few that have gotten a 30 year vinyl top car with absoulty no rust anywhere! And this car is all origional. The quaters, fenders and everything is origional. I wonder how that happend.. Did Chevy put some super No Rust metal on my car or what?

JJ
 
#26 ·
Definitely go WITH the vinyl top.

But before you put it on, you must remember 3 things!!

PREPARATION, PREPARATION, PREPARATION.

If the car roof, window areas are properly prepared, they won't be so prone to rust.

As mentioned by Big James, GM did a crapy job of prepping the roof for vinyl tops. THAT IS WHY THEY RUSTED!!!


My son and I went through this same decision about 3 months ago. His camaro came with a vinyl top. He didn't think he wanted it. I talked him into it (took a lot of talking
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).

Now that it is on, he LOVES it!!
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How many cars do you see on the road that have vinyl tops??

He feels his car is VERY unique now because you hardly EVER see a car with a vinyl top on the road. And it looks GREAT!!
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No new cars have them. But they are part of the nastalgia of the 60s and 70s cars.

My $.02.
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Tim

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Mr. D
72 454 El Camino
68 RS/SS Camaro
73 RS/LT/Z28 Camaro
99 Firebird TA WS-6 A4 Color: Pewter
1995 LT-1 Caprice
1976 Jaguar XJ12L Chevy 350 converted . . for sale.

[This message has been edited by Mr. D (edited 12-04-2000).]
 
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#27 ·
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bill T SS70:
Does my car look like a grandma grocery getter ???
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I second that statement
Image

I had mine replaced about 7 years ago because it was starting to shrink.The trim shop that did it called me at work.I almost fell outta my chair when they said "there was no rust under there".It all depends on how you take care of your car.I say go for it if you like it.


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1970 Chevelle SS396/L78/M21/4.10 My 70 SS396
1972 Olds 442 convertible(455,W25,M40) My 72 442 convertible
1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass 350 Olds,TH350(daily driver)
"Be aware of the possible ramifications of the potential outcome"
Chris Corwel,the man from the too much taxes and over priced gas state of Connecticut
TC Member 785
 
#28 ·
Well, in summary your doing the preperation now so rust shouldn't be a major factor.

I personally like the contrast with the body color (especialy Blues, silvers, golds and red with a black top with chrome trim) and matching black interior and stripes (if equipped)

If your getting grocerys just make sure to buy canned goods only, no eggs or bread as they don't hold up well getting slammed into the seat back.
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Check out my 69 SS 396

Happy motoring!

[This message has been edited by 69396ss (edited 12-04-2000).]
 
#29 ·
I was once told that GM preferred not to concentrate on painting the roofs of cars destine to be vinyl topped and, that if there was any noticable flaw (dent) in a roof it was "off to the vinyl top section"......

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"Laissez Le Bon Temp Rouler' Cha!"
My Car
"Jungle"Jim
A&P/ASE T/C#105
70SS396 & 70 Malibu
"I don't drive FAST, I just FLY low!"
 
Discussion starter · #30 ·
You know JungleJimmie that sounds like it could be very true. Where the sail pannel is welded to the roof, it is not as good as the hard top cars. There is a noticable difference in those seams then hard tops. Maby thats why is has the vinyl top.....

JJ
 
#31 ·
The seam at the sail panels are filled with plastic on vinyl top cars.
on a non vinyl top car the seams are filled with lead, that's why they are noticeably different.
 
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#32 ·
JSL -

When I stripped the vinyl top off my 68, the seams were finished with lead.

And count me as another vote in favor of the vinyl tops, but only on 68-72s. My favorite is a triple black combination.

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Rainer Seitz
Vancouver, WA
Team Chevelle Gold #50
ACES #3784

'68 SS396
'70 LS3 400 Malibu
'70 Malibu convertible 350/300hp
rseitz@chevelles.com
 
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#33 ·
My 67 was lead but it was all mishapen

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Thomas (AKA Hot66ss)
66 Super Sport
67 Malibu Daily Driver
Aces Member 2380

WANTED- decent 64-72 El Camino for a daily driver

Team Chevelle member #262
members.aol.com/chvellss <-- Under Temporary Permanent Construction Just Like My 66
 
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Discussion starter · #34 ·
Humm I wonder how long this post will go
Image

Well now that I looked over the car the other day I am probably going to keep it. But it still screams grandma... Maby a 177ci blower will take care of that
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JJ
 
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MouseOnARampage
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