Author Topic: should i re vinyl or paint the top? (Read 8838 times)

big_iron · « **on:** October 11, 2011, 06:48:46 PM »

im purchasing an 85 eagle sedan and one of the only things wrong with it is the vinyl top has shrunk and needs replaced or painted..... a local shop offered to match the price of paint to recover it but does it look better painted? any info would be nice. and look forward to many more questions as i start fixing this up and look for other amc projects

El Matador · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2011, 07:01:01 PM »

If the car is in otherwise great shape and is only going to see sunny days from here on, then get it redone in vinyl. If you're going to be driving it in rain or snow, or leaving it outdoors year round, and you're not overly concerned with originality, ditch the vinyl and go with paint.

These vinyl tops are major rust traps, especially around the C pillar windows. My own '81 sedan is a prime example of this problem, and therefore I plan to eventually lose the vinyl.

It's too bad vinyl tops were so in vogue during the '60s, '70s, and '80s... because they sure make life difficult for us restorers all these decades later.

big_iron · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2011, 07:03:45 PM »

ill post pics this weekend when i go get it... i found it on cl so im shock at the condition for the 1600 im paying for it. no rust no dents all original except the rims and only 75000 original miles. everything is operational and over all id say on a scale of 1-10 its a solid 7.5

Sunny · « **Reply #3 on:** October 11, 2011, 07:48:53 PM »

I vote ditch it.
I find vinyl roof's look terrible on every vehicle, and like El Matedor said, HUGE rust traps, especially the further north you go.

big_iron · « **Reply #4 on:** October 11, 2011, 08:29:45 PM »

i dont really care for the vinyl top but as im making it a show car would i lose out on wins for painting the top to replicate the vinyl or to match the brown trim? i know there were less than 3k of the 85 sedans made and idk how many are still on the road so im leary on this one of customizing to much.

shanebo · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2011, 01:06:53 AM »

as much as i hate the rust issues they cause i always thought the sedans and coupes looked naked without it.

JayRamb · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2011, 12:04:26 PM »

Re-Vinyl the top!

rohnk · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2011, 12:10:44 PM »

I vote for both. Put a couple of coats of primer on it and a few coats of paint then vinyl over that. Epoxies and adhesives are much better today than 20+ years ago and vinyl is also much better in resisting shrinkage and has UV protection.

jim · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2011, 01:29:44 PM »

I vote for vinyl. It came with it and I think it looks better with it. It's obvious, though, it's a matter of opinion.

GRONK · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2011, 01:51:53 PM »

Quote

The other thing you can do, especially if you like the look of the vinyl top (or at least want to keep it looking close to stock), is painting the area that's normally covered by vinyl with bedliner/rockguard - has the texture & look of vinyl, but since it's paint, it won't trap moisture & crud like vinyl tends to.

I agree with this. You can get a great spray kit (gun/hopper included) for under $150 and you can have the epoxy dyed to match the original vinyl. You can do a knock down texture that looks awesome. This is fun, simple and will last forever. No rust issues, tearing, etc to worry about.

big_iron · « **Reply #10 on:** October 12, 2011, 02:27:35 PM »

thanks guys i appreciate the input

i will post pics of the current condition on sat or sunday when i pick it up and will let you all know and update pics when i get the work done.

milliard431 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2011, 10:36:40 PM »

re-vinyl. The chrome trim is the real problem. They stopped the vinyl just under the edge and the water got stuck behind the trim and rust would eat upward. If you look at any new vinyl or canvas top they run it under the vinyl and fold it under and up. The chrome is then stuck to the vinyl with 3M but with voids that allow water to run through and off. I don't know about up north but in Florida these are extremely common and I have never seen this new type cause rust. The 2 doors look especially stupid when painted. The 4 doors look nice though.

Whuntmore · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2011, 10:44:50 PM »

Only if it's gonna be some kind of show car, and sheltered properly, driven sparely, then I guess go get it re-vinyled.

But as El Matador (and Regalwizard) put it best, if it's gonna be a Daily driver, outside in the sun, ran, and snow I'd seriously consider ditching the vinyl altogether, and just repaint it.

I see more 2 and 4 door Eagles with those rot areas around the opera windows, and in around the back window (sometimes) that it just floors me.

But that's just my 2 cents worth.

shanebo · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2011, 01:27:58 AM »

Rohnk has a good point the tops installed these days are alot better than the tops of the past, not to mention rust proofing technology is much better. There is alot of good products you can use to protect the metal under the top. My buddy, who builds custom lowriders showed me alot about how the vinyl tops of today are so much better than the tops of yesterday...they actually take rust into consideration these days when installing them.

big_iron · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2011, 05:54:19 PM »

so far there is no rust as its been stored in a barn for years. will be talking with the fab shop next week and will share what i do

big_iron · « **Reply #15 on:** October 17, 2011, 12:17:34 PM »

looks like i will be revinyling the top!

rohnk · « **Reply #16 on:** October 17, 2011, 12:19:15 PM »

What drove you to that decision? Just curious as I'm sure others are. How about some pics!

big_iron · « **Reply #17 on:** October 17, 2011, 12:29:07 PM »

im looking (hopefullly) to fix it for a show car so it needs to be as close to original as possible. ill have pics soon i just havent had time yet. plus if the price is the same as paint to have it topped and i dont have time to paint it myself i might as well make it original. thinking of a slightly darker color than stock though.... maybe more of the saddle brown found in new jeeps.

milliard431 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 18, 2011, 06:19:51 PM »

If you look at the 2 door in my profile you can't quite tell that it is the original vinyl. Although I would never paint it over but I have thought about changing the color or going with the new canvas look. Since there is not even one crack in it I just can't make myself ruin a original roof. Although i have not taken it to any shows yet it is just important to me not to change it. Once you do, it is gone forever and given these cars history of rust and vinyl rot there might not be to many like it in the same condition around. Even some of the sweet looking 2 doors that I have seen for sale all show close up pictures of dry rotted or cracked vinyl.

eagleman · « **Reply #19 on:** October 18, 2011, 07:59:55 PM »

You can restore it over and over but it will only be original once! That said keep the vinyl top.Wouldn't be the same without it!

big_iron · « **Reply #20 on:** October 24, 2011, 10:59:44 AM »

looks like the decision is back in the air..... hidden rust traps makes it look like the entire car will need painted

so if it all needs painted i can paint the top rather than vinyl lol

carnuck · « **Reply #21 on:** October 24, 2011, 11:20:05 AM »

Quote from: Regalwizard on October 11, 2011, 08:10:28 PM

The other thing you can do, especially if you like the look of the vinyl top (or at least want to keep it looking close to stock), is painting the area that's normally covered by vinyl with bedliner/rockguard - has the texture & look of vinyl, but since it's paint, it won't trap moisture & crud like vinyl tends to.

+1 Most vinyl roofs are there because there were flaws originally. I used Deck Kote (rubberized porch paint with tread bits blended in) to do the roof of my '73 Buick Le Sabre back @ '82 and it looked sharp (hid the fiberglass patches I did over the rust holes under the vinyl roof too)

rohnk · « **Reply #22 on:** October 24, 2011, 12:38:17 PM »

What about painting the top where the vinyl was a different color than the rest of the car? At least then you can have the illusion of a vinyl top. I think it would be cool anyway as I like two tone or multiple color paint schemes.

My 0.02$ now I'm broke!

milliard431 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 11, 2011, 06:54:54 PM »

I wonder if putting truck bed coating on before you redo the roof would help?

Author Topic: should i re vinyl or paint the top? (Read 8838 times)

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