Topic: Vinyl Top Install - 67 Coupe

[mtinkham]

If the weather holds out tomorrow, I may embark on a vinyl top install on a 67 Metuchen coupe. I purchased the more expensive top from SMS Fabric. I have watched the available YouTube videos repeatedly.

Briefly, my plan is as follows:

Center L to R and F to B
Verify seam locations
Spray a strip center 3-4" wide down the center of the roof and underside of top
Wait
Slip a piece of wax paper (or equivalent) over the adhesive.
Pull Front to Back maintaining center alignment
Remove wax paper and anchor the center strip
Work out from the center

I have the head liner installed.  I am wondering if vinyl top should fully overlap the headliner or should I try to stop adjacent to the headliner.  I am concerned with windshield gasket installation and of course leaks.

Any advice, tips, precautions, concerns etc. would be welcomed and greatly appreciated. Prayers are welcomed too!!!!

Mark

[MikeG69]

I am interested in this too as I have to install the vinyl top back on my 69 Coupe.

[mtinkham]

The weather turned too cold and my shop is not heated.  The tech sheet for the adhesive states 65F minimum. I got most of the shipping wrinkles out of the vinyl by placing it at the side of the wood stove. The wood stove worked well for the trunk mat, too.

I'll post pictures when I get started.

Mark

[67gtasanjose]

The weather turned too cold and my shop is not heated.  The tech sheet for the adhesive states 65F minimum. I got most of the shipping wrinkles out of the vinyl by placing it at the side of the wood stove. The wood stove worked well for the trunk mat, too.

I'll post pictures when I get started.

Mark

Be careful with that wood stove...I did the same thing a while back when attaching upholstery to my Coupe's quarter trim and "bumped" the glass door momentarily...OOPS!

[mtinkham]

Thanks Richard.

[mtinkham]

I completed the top install this weekend...had to use a torpedo heater to get the garage up to above 65...was very cold and snowy. This was my first vinyl top install and I have to say the process is quite forgiving.  One thing that I learned was to have a helper hold the top away from the surface and simply press the top to the car one-finger tip width at a time. Doing this produced no wrinkles. I did not have to do excessive stretching.
The top that SMS supplied did not have the extra seam on the A-pillar.  The top that I removed from the car (July 67 Metuchen coupe) did not have the extra seams, but it was not the original.  So this may not be concours....

[67gtasanjose]

Lookey good!