My 66 sd came with a vinyl top as an option. I would like to have one installed. Did you have it done in a shop? Has anyone tackled this project? Where did you purchase your top? Any info appreciated.
Al GM factory installed vinyl tops were 'LEVANT' grain' (it has pebble surface) A lot of shops don't know this and try to sell you the leather type grains which usually are cheaper for them and not correct. I know from selling vinyl tops for many years. Hope that helps . Top is the same as Chevelle so any Chevelle supplier should be able to help
good luck"
dale
-- Edited by NOS on Wednesday 8th of February 2023 04:34:57 PM
-- Edited by NOS on Wednesday 8th of February 2023 04:44:24 PM
there are some really good instructional videos on youtube on how to do this - I would think that if you take your time, it should go well.
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1970 Formula 400 Carousel Red on black (std) interior 350hp, Hurst shifted Muncie 3 speed, steel wheels w/poverty caps 1:411 1970 Firebird Formulas originally sold in Canada
i did my own vinyl top this summer its not really hard to do just make sure to do a small area at a time i did mine by myself and took about 4 hours if you have a helper it may go a little quicker
That's encouraging thanks. We're the chrome mouldings strips over your doors on the car already? How did you finish the edges of the vinyl top along the top of the doors by the chrome moulding straps?
i assume you r talking about the drip rail mouldings. they have to come off before install because the vinyl has to go underneath the chrome and over the drip rail so you don't get water under the vinyl roof . after you r done with the install reinstall the chrome mouldings. be careful taking old mouldings off so you don't bend them. you don't want to have to by repop mouldings they are garbage, very thing and don't fit
when you go to install make sure your vinyl is centred on the roof so the two seams are the same distance on both sides. put a mark on the centre of windshield and back window them mark the centre of the vinyl front and back then when you go to glue roof down you can line up the marks and your seams will be straight and same on both sides.
yes you will have to cut and trim, your vinyl roof will come bigger than what is needed but make sure you lay it out on the roof before u start to install to make sure you have it fitting right, my vinyl only had a couple inches extra all around so had to make sure it was placed right to make sure i wasn't short in any areas, you will also have to stretch the vinyl in certain areas especially the sail panel area to get rid of wrinkles
There's also a trim piece that goes inside the drip rail after the vinyl. I'm not sure that most cars have that installed after the vinyl, people probably leave that off. I've never had to remove my chrome drip rails, but if they're really mint condition I don't know if I'd bother to take them off to install a top.
I've never done a roof, mine was added in '72, it's still in excellent shape.
ak
