64 Valiant top storage

KosmicKuda said

Well my prior commitment backed out and freed up my evening so I had the time. Even so, I didn't get going until almost dusk. One trip around the block and I came back to check things out and install headlights.
Here's a pic of the slit in the top. Both sides have identical slits. Other than that it's in pretty good shape. I cleaned it with the tiny scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner like I read in this forum. The car has been stored since 1982 so it may be a little stiff. Maybe I can soften it a little with some kind of vinyl prep.
The 225 feels like it has good power. Just my luck summer is over and it's supposed to rain the next 3 days.

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car looks great BTW.
those slits are (or were) covered at one time(vinyl shrinkage) or they were really aggressive in cutting the top so it didn't tear when you put the top down , that area is a pivot point for our cars when lowering the tops.
in this pic you can see where the top goes inside the body and the top is slit so the rest of the sail section and back can be put under the trim. After finishing you should not see the slit.
my guess is shrinkage.
I use meguiars vinyl & rubber cleaner/conditioner (works but more expensive than>>),Murphys oil soap (works slower but it's cheap) and or pledge (pledge only helps keep in the volatiles that escape from the vinyl helping it stay soft..and for some reason it seem to stop the florida mold/mildew on vinyl)