Topic: 1966 coupe vinyl top

[usapony]

Need some help identifying my coupes vinyl top I've heard if they were ordered from the factory they would have had rivits right along to drip rail area which held the vinyl top down were the non factory vinyl tops were just glued down along the drip rail area well my car has 19 perfectly spread out small holes on both sides of my cars drip rail area but no rivits in them , is that how the factory installed vinyl tops and if so what did the rivits look like and was there a mold of some sort covering these rivits .

[67gtasanjose]

Here is how it was done in early-67, which is likely the same as 65-66 because they used the same aluminum strip...
The thin aluminum strip would be clamped into position, 18-regular (1/8" x3/16"long I believe) Pop-Rivets entered from below, all except the very rear rivet which entered from the inside of the drip rail. Depending the color of the top, a white or black sealant filled over to cover the crimped rivet end, within the drip rail.

[usapony]

Thanks for the info would you or anyone have any pictures on how this looked , funny thing is i have 19 holes on each side of the car drilled into the gutter are and you say it was 8 holes that were drilled per side .

[67gtasanjose]

Thanks for the info would you or anyone have any pictures on how this looked , funny thing is i have 19 holes on each side of the car drilled into the gutter are and you say it was 8 holes that were drilled per side .

8 is the wrong amount, I will look again at my 67

[J_Speegle]

A bit of the 66 subject but the TSB Article #1216 discuss the use of snap in retainers and the change to the use of rivets on factory installed vinyl tops

Don't have a picture of a drip rail on a vinyl top 65 or 66 but don't recall rivets being used on the coupes those years.

[mgmradio]

65 and 66 coupes with vinyl tops used the aluminum strips and rivets with color keyed urithane in the channel. On the low mileage ones I've seen including mine it appears they also put body colored touch up paint on the exposed rivet heads.

[J_Speegle]

Thanks Mike.

[196667Bob]

usapony, I know that you are "talking" Factory, but thought that the 1966 Accessory Installation Sheets might help. Note that the Instruction Sheets show, and discuss screws, but never note what size. Luckily, the MPC shows that they are # 52711-S40. These are #4 x 1/4", Pan Head, Phillips Screws, Zinc Plated.

Hope this helps some.

Bob

[usapony]

Thanks to all for your knowledge thanks for the picture Bob

[67gtasanjose]

usapony, I know that you are "talking" Factory, but thought that the 1966 Accessory Installation Sheets might help. Note that the Instruction Sheets show, and discuss screws, but never note what size. Luckily, the MPC shows that they are # 52711-S40. These are #4 x 1/4", Pan Head, Phillips Screws, Zinc Plated.

Hope this helps some.

Bob

The dealer installation instructions are not using the aluminum strip and the screws are going the wrong direction, when compared to a factory installation.