I was thinking about removing top on my cutty and just wanted to find out what all is involved and do I need to get any trim pieces? and is it a pain in the *ss? Im only asking bc my top is cracked is there any way to restore that without replacing the whole top?
removing landau top
- Thread starter Cutty454
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I took mine off. You will need to remove the trim studs and get the rear window molding from a hardtop. Also, the side windows are different. I left my originals on and don't think they look bad at all. There will be a small gap because of the vinyl that would normally tuck in.
first you need a case of beer, then a large can of Acetone to clean off the adhesive and foam off the roof after you remove the vinyl and as much of the foam as you can...it is not a fun job and that's where the beer becomes necessary..
for the seals on the windows you need to find a car that had no vinyl top...I have a set of seals with the windows but they are for a GP
for the seals on the windows you need to find a car that had no vinyl top...I have a set of seals with the windows but they are for a GP
thanks for the info ill probably that task after the winter it sucks bc the top is in pretty descent shape its not coming loose or bubbleing anywhere just the top is a little cracked
It wasn't hard for me, just time-consuming...you'll need to remove the window trim, it slides right out, then get rid of the clips....there'll be little studs sticking out that the studs are attached to, you'll need to cut them...I highly recommend an angle grinder, it made my life much easier...the adhesive is easier removed by sanding than using adhesive remover, I used 2 36 grit pads for my ginder then a wheel cutter to remove the studs...just give yourself time....
85Frankencar said:
Do NOT use a grinder. The heat and sparks can potentially damage your paint and/or glass.
Grab them with a vise-grip and twist them off.
Dude why not keep it and have it re upholstered with new vinyl at a glass shop (I had it done to a couple of cars)? Dunno what color yours is, but you can opt for black. I think they look sweet and give the car a nice exotic look. Like mine lol. 
-Remove the metal perimeter trim.
-Remove rear interior pieces to get at your side windows and remove them.
-Peel off the top, then drill out the rivets holding the large plastic retainer around the rear window.
At this point all the vinyl should come off. You can deal with the glue in many ways... sanding, acetone, take your pick.
I was lucky, the glue was all dried up underneath the top and I just scrubbed it off with a rag, no solvent. When you're taking out your side windows, have a rag ready to grab some of the stringy bits of sealer when you push/pull out your windows.
You may not need non-vinyl side windows either. My stock ones fit with zero gap even without the top there.
-Twist off the clip mounting studs with vise grips. You can grind them off, but it's easier and safer to just twist 'em. No risk of grinder spatter on the glass or damaging paint outside the vinyl top area.
Now you're left with a problem... You have rivet holes around the perimeter of your rear window that need to be taken care of, and you have no mounting studs on the inside lip of your rear window to mount clips for the non-vinyl rear window trim.
Your rear filler panel (between the trunk and the rear window) is also not correct.
You may also have some body work to do where the roof joins to the quarter panel, depending on what kind of condition the filler is in there.
-Use butyl tape to reseal your side windows and put them back in (after doing the body work).
-AuVeCo #9877 screws will give you the trim clip mounting studs around the inside lip of the rear window. Use some sealant to prevent leaks.
-The holes around the rear window... your choice.
-Get a rear filler panel from a non-vinyl car, or possibly make your existing one work with some welding/bodywork.
-Get the rear window trim and clips from a non-vinyl car and install.
The two things that I always see missing with "how to remove vinyl top" threads is the lack of mentioning the rivet holes around the rear window that need to be taken care of, and the lack of trim clip mounting studs around the rear window to mount the new(used) non-vinyl rear window trim to... Why are these aspects left out the majority of the time? They're probably the hardest part of the conversion...
-Remove rear interior pieces to get at your side windows and remove them.
-Peel off the top, then drill out the rivets holding the large plastic retainer around the rear window.
At this point all the vinyl should come off. You can deal with the glue in many ways... sanding, acetone, take your pick.
I was lucky, the glue was all dried up underneath the top and I just scrubbed it off with a rag, no solvent. When you're taking out your side windows, have a rag ready to grab some of the stringy bits of sealer when you push/pull out your windows.
You may not need non-vinyl side windows either. My stock ones fit with zero gap even without the top there.
-Twist off the clip mounting studs with vise grips. You can grind them off, but it's easier and safer to just twist 'em. No risk of grinder spatter on the glass or damaging paint outside the vinyl top area.
Now you're left with a problem... You have rivet holes around the perimeter of your rear window that need to be taken care of, and you have no mounting studs on the inside lip of your rear window to mount clips for the non-vinyl rear window trim.
Your rear filler panel (between the trunk and the rear window) is also not correct.
You may also have some body work to do where the roof joins to the quarter panel, depending on what kind of condition the filler is in there.
-Use butyl tape to reseal your side windows and put them back in (after doing the body work).
-AuVeCo #9877 screws will give you the trim clip mounting studs around the inside lip of the rear window. Use some sealant to prevent leaks.
-The holes around the rear window... your choice.
-Get a rear filler panel from a non-vinyl car, or possibly make your existing one work with some welding/bodywork.
-Get the rear window trim and clips from a non-vinyl car and install.
The two things that I always see missing with "how to remove vinyl top" threads is the lack of mentioning the rivet holes around the rear window that need to be taken care of, and the lack of trim clip mounting studs around the rear window to mount the new(used) non-vinyl rear window trim to... Why are these aspects left out the majority of the time? They're probably the hardest part of the conversion...
Some good tips, that's exactly where i'm at right now with my roof. Going to fill in the old holes with my MIG tomorrow. Ordered new clip screws, lower clips and new trim, now i need to determine if i can put install the little screws in the lip WITH the rear glass in? And how far in from the edge do they go? l
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