I want to replace my vinyl top.

[Mick Semantel]

My top is getting beat up, and I would like to replace it. Anybody have tips for me? Do I have to pull the front and rear glass? Any help appreciated.

 

[Bill McLeese]

I pulled all my moldings around the front and rear glass,took the vinyl top off.Then i sanded the top smooth and primed it .Took it to a friend of mine that does tops and upolstery.He had to put a few new clips into hold the chrome on.He made a new top and put it on for me for $400 .So you do not have to remove the glass

 

[340john]

I have installed a bunch of vinyl tops over the years. On Darts, you don't need to remove the glass, but the moldings do need to come off. I remove the old top, sand off all the old glue residue, then I epoxy prime the roof. I mark the center of the windsheild and the rear window with masking tape and lay the new top on the roof and line up the center of the vinyl with the center with the glass. Tape the vinyl in the center so you can fold it back reveling half the roof. I start in the middle of the roof and apply the adhesive to the vinyl and the roof and lay the vinyl down streching and working out air bubbles and wrinkles. I do one side at a time, after one side is complete I move to the other side. After you are finished glueing and are satisfied with the top, trim off the excess and reinstall the moldings.

 

[Mick Semantel]

Thanks for the help, guys.

 

[jos51700]

I have installed a bunch of vinyl tops over the years. On Darts, you don't need to remove the glass, but the moldings do need to come off. I remove the old top, sand off all the old glue residue, then I epoxy prime the roof. I mark the center of the windsheild and the rear window with masking tape and lay the new top on the roof and line up the center of the vinyl with the center with the glass. Tape the vinyl in the center so you can fold it back reveling half the roof. I start in the middle of the roof and apply the adhesive to the vinyl and the roof and lay the vinyl down streching and working out air bubbles and wrinkles. I do one side at a time, after one side is complete I move to the other side. After you are finished glueing and are satisfied with the top, trim off the excess and reinstall the moldings.

Blast from Da Past! Great little write up!!