Why I hate vinyl roofs (Or, is it too late to get my tetanus shot?)

[Rktpwrd]

Not an unfamiliar sight for many of us, but I thought I'd share my findings with you all via pics so you see what I saw as I went along.

WARNING: Graphic content, unsuitable for viewers unfamiliar with the effects of prolonged oxidation.

VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED.

Didn't look too bad at first to the untrained eye, but all the warning signs were there, and I know better. Rust is like an iceberg: the stuff that's visible is just the tip. The majority is lurking below...

With the driver's side lower moulding removed...

Continued >>>

 

[Rktpwrd]

Wide moulding across the top of the roof removed:

Vinyl coming off:

Continued >>>

 

[307 Regal]

Always a bummer to see. The sooner you get it off, the more metal you can save. Even if it's already "too late" you can try to salvage the best base to work from that you can. My dad has a '71 Sprint with the same problem. He's been letting it go. It's just getting closer and closer to being a one-time-use metallic convertible.

 

[Qdub24]

That is exactly why my Cutlass is no longer a Supreme, and why I hate vinyl tops on everything.

 

[565bbchevy]

I got lucky when I removed my Monte's half vinyl it was apparently done at an aftermarket installer once I got the glue off the paint was perfect and it had the stand offs to install the clips for the rear molding.
When I joined here I started seeing factory installed vinyls and the lack of prep and that is why I bought a hardtop Regal for my project car.

 

[Rktpwrd]

After a bit of wire brushing by hand, and a cleanup of the major debris. This is the extent of the damage:

This is neither shocking nor unexpected for me. I pretty much knew it was going to be this bad underneath. There will still be a bit more to be found once the quarter glass and mouldings come off.

For those of you that know me and are familiar with my work on The Juggernaut, you already know the necessary repairs are not outside my scope of skills. As bad as it appears, I'm not convinced a complete roof removal and replacement is necessary. I'll just take my time, and concentrate on fixing one section at a time.

The next step will be to completely gut the interior, drop the headliner, and remove the quarter windows and mouldings. This will allow me to get down to business.
Guess it's time to stock up on cutting wheels and welding gas...


Progress on the repairs will be covered in my build thread, Project Olds Cool. Thanks for suffering along with me and my nasty discovery.

Donovan

 

[Rktpwrd]

I got lucky when I removed my Monte's half vinyl it was apparently done at an aftermarket installer once I got the glue off the paint was perfect and it had the stand offs to install the clips for the rear molding.
When I joined here I started seeing factory installed vinyls and the lack of prep and that is why I bought a hardtop Regal for my project car.

You're definitely one of the lucky ones with your Monte, 565. I was too fortunately enough with the roof on The Juggernaut. Yep, it was originally a vinyl roof car too. I guess I caught that one in time.

I only bought this one a couple years ago, and could tell the damage had already been done by that time. The price was right however, so I couldn't pass it up. The roof on this one was definitely a factory one, and not done aftermarket. 37 years of neglect and abuse will do this to a car, no matter what. I would've preferred to find to find a hardtop car to start with, but they're not as common around here on Oldsmobiles.

No worries, I'll get it repaired, and fixed up better than new in no time.

 

[pagrunt]

Oh the humanity, find the guy who thought vinyl tops were a good thing, string him up & quater him.

 

[Rktpwrd]

Oh the humanity, find the guy who thought vinyl tops were a good thing, string him up & quater him.

Thanks for sympathizing with me Pagrunt. Couldn't agree more!

 

[pagrunt]

My old '72 Monte was a factory vinyl top car, it caused the all sort of rot in the rear window/shelf area, ate the trunk. Only good thing it gave me pratice with making patch panels. I never understood why the put the glass in on the extra roof material.