Hey everyone, i have a question about the vynl tops, particulary on the Regals, has anybody removed them before to switch to hard top? Is it a pain and is the vynl rivitted or bolted to the actuall sheet metal? I was at a junkyard and saw a monte carlo and the top was peeled back and i noticed it was rivited or pinned on threw the sheetmetal at some points. I ask this cause im searching for a regal, but it has to be a hard top, but if i get a vynl top i would remove it but dont want to bondo up any holes from the soft top. I one of those people who hates bondo. Thanks.
Vynl top removal
- Thread starter 6bolt4g63
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Yes it is doable. I did it to my regal, but it is alot of work and need the proper tools and dry place to keep the car. Couple of things to consider before taking on the task.
First off is deciding if it is worth the trouble. If the vinyl top is complete and no rust I would just leave it alone. As you can see on mine in the first picture I did not have the trim peice so it was best just to remove it all together.
Is it rusty? depending on how bad it is will really depend on whether or not you should keep the top or not. If the roof is totally rotted, it will be hard to ever make it look right again, so keeping the top would be the best choice.
If you do choose to take a vinyl top off for good, remove the quater windows. I didnt, not only was it a pain in the *ss to work around i scratched them up some. Had i known how easy they were to remove i would have. You will then have to grind down all the rivets i guess you would call them. The only holes you should have to fill are for holding on the plastic trim peice on the back window.
You can see some of my progress pictures on this link and see somewhat how i did it. Just ask if you any more questions. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2601815
Thanks for the info, helped alot. Its funny cause i saw your car on cardomain before and im looking for that factory tan color(just like yours) without the soft top... and than when i saw that u painted it, i was like, NOOOO!!
Its all good cause it looks really good. I probably going to stay away from the soft top removal... unless i get a really good deal.
Thanks for the info.
Its all good cause it looks really good. I probably going to stay away from the soft top removal... unless i get a really good deal.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks, Im sorry that you liked that color, it was ok. Actually it was a color i didnt like, i just delt with it. It would make a good sleeper though, in its original state. I wanted to do performance first but a number of factors prevented me from doing so.
Since the vinyl appears to be in great shape, I'd search real hard for the missing trim band. Personally, I can't see removing the vinyl top, actually it's called a Landau top. It dresses up the car, people paid good money for them, you rose above the plain entry-level G-body, which many of you find better looking.............go figure.
No it was definitley not in good shape, and was rusty underneath. I wanted to make damn sure that it didnt get a chance to rust again. And honestly i see more regals, or g-bodies in general with landau tops then i see with out them, so its a little different in that since.
6bolt4g63 said:
ewww, someone actually likes that color! j/k
That is identical to the regal i just bought, same colors, cream w/ brown vinyl top, (and f'd up bumper fillers too!) my top is in great shape though, but i want to do a sliding rag so i will be removing mine as well.
this thread ansered a couple questions i had, but i still have two: do i use the same window molding/trim when the vinyl is off, or do i need to get trim from one that didn't have the vinyl? and how do the 2 side windows come out and what is the best way to reinstall them when I am done?
thanks guys
The quarter windows are different from vinyl to non vinyl, but the only difference is that the rubber around the window is larger on the non vinyl top cars. The windows will work, youll just get a better look with the appropriate windows.
Im not sure how to take them out, since i never removed mine. I asked this same question on turbobuick, ill see if i can find it. Heres what I do remember, is that you have to take them out from inside the car. I think it requires taking off some of the interior off around the windows. Then it should have some screws that screw out. Youll probably need a second hand to catch the glass or make sure it doesnt fall out.
ETA: I found it but it wasnt as detailed as i remembered. I know i got this information from somewhere. Could have been here I guess.
Im not sure how to take them out, since i never removed mine. I asked this same question on turbobuick, ill see if i can find it. Heres what I do remember, is that you have to take them out from inside the car. I think it requires taking off some of the interior off around the windows. Then it should have some screws that screw out. Youll probably need a second hand to catch the glass or make sure it doesnt fall out.
ETA: I found it but it wasnt as detailed as i remembered. I know i got this information from somewhere. Could have been here I guess.
STLRegal said:
on that note then... how do you find specific windows for non-vynil tops?
im going to be taking off the vynil on my cutty and ive heard this before that; the current windows will look cheesy when I put them back on.
as far as I can tell all cuttys have vynil tops. so, the only thing to make the windows sit proper would be to shave something down, no?
You best bet is a junk yard, or maybe someone off this site can find them for you. Since ive posted ive also found another eason to get the non- vinyl windows, because i saw some sort of stain forming under the window, after it rained and it ran out of the window area. It scared me because it kind of look like a rust color, but i think it was just bondo dust traipped behind the windows.
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