Dart vinyl top install

[1MeanA]

I'm getting ready to do this tomorrow on my '70 Dart. I've read some threads and watched a bunch of videos but still am fuzzy on the final plan. The top is pretty straightforward...mark centerlines and glue the center 4" in position, do one side to the seam, then do the rear of the C pillar and work forward then do the edges and then finish the drip rails then do the other side. The question is about doing the part behind the rear glass. I watched the Legendary video (they did a Charger) and they mention doing the part behind the rear glass if you have that. I think they mean do the C pillar edge near the glass and then behind the rear glass before moving forward...not sure. Anybody done a Dart before and have some guidance?

 

[65dartcharger]

I'm getting ready to do this tomorrow on my '70 Dart. I've read some threads and watched a bunch of videos but still am fuzzy on the final plan. The top is pretty straightforward...mark centerlines and glue the center 4" in position, do one side to the seam, then do the rear of the C pillar and work forward then do the edges and then finish the drip rails then do the other side. The question is about doing the part behind the rear glass. I watched the Legendary video (they did a Charger) and they mention doing the part behind the rear glass if you have that. I think they mean do the C pillar edge near the glass and then behind the rear glass before moving forward...not sure. Anybody done a Dart before and have some guidance?

I foind NOS material but I'm gonna do it this fall.

 

[plumkrazee70]

I'm getting ready to do this tomorrow on my '70 Dart. I've read some threads and watched a bunch of videos but still am fuzzy on the final plan. The top is pretty straightforward...mark centerlines and glue the center 4" in position, do one side to the seam, then do the rear of the C pillar and work forward then do the edges and then finish the drip rails then do the other side. The question is about doing the part behind the rear glass. I watched the Legendary video (they did a Charger) and they mention doing the part behind the rear glass if you have that. I think they mean do the C pillar edge near the glass and then behind the rear glass before moving forward...not sure. Anybody done a Dart before and have some guidance?

I've done it. I would do like you said by finding the center and doing one side of the roof at a time, flipping it on its self.

For the sail panels, again do one side at a time really working it down (you may need to make some relief cuts) just be sure to mark with tape where the trim goes so you don't cut the top top short around the sail and back window.

My dad and I did ours and the front was a piece of cake. We used landau top glue in a cheap HP siphon gun.

The sail panels was tough, but we got em. Here are some pics I took as we went.

 

[65dartcharger]

I've done it. I would do like you said by finding the center and doing one side of the roof at a time, flipping it on its self.

For the sail panels, again do one side at a time really working it down (you may need to make some relief cuts) just be sure to mark with tape where the trim goes so you don't cut the top top short around the sail and back window.

My dad and I did ours and the front was a piece of cake. We used landau top glue in a cheap HP siphon gun.

The sail panels was tough, but we got em. Here are some pics I took as we went.

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Nice job. Thanks for showing!

 

[harrisonm]

I foind NOS material but I'm gonna do it this fall.

I hope you do not regret buying 50 year old material. Vinyl can get brittle with age.

 

[mopowers]

Nicely done!!

 

[65dartcharger]

I hope you do not regret buying 50 year old material. Vinyl can get brittle with age.

Yes, but the material is in excellent condition. But you have a point there.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I'd just take it and get it Rhino Lined. lol

 

[1MeanA]

I'd just take it and get it Rhino Lined. lol

Can they put seams in?

 

[RustyRatRod]

Can they put seams in?

I see no reason why they couldn't rivet some trim pieces on the roof in the right places and spray right over them. They'd look just like seams. But I wouldn't care. lol

 

[harrisonm]

I'd just take it and get it Rhino Lined. lol

Can they put seams in?

LOL. That reminds me of something. When I was a freshman in college (1968), I had a friend who's father painted cars. He had a technique of spraying a roof so that it looked pretty much like a vinyl roof. from 20 feet away, it was quite realistic looking. Close up you could tell it was fake, but even then, it looked pretty good. He would use some kind of tapr to represent the seams and then sprayed a low gloss black paint with a bit of texture. It really looked pretty good.

 

[1MeanA]

First attempt didn’t go well. I had to keep the cussing in control as my wife was helping. After getting half the roof laid down and starting on the back I could see the back corner was short on one side. I had no idea how this could happen. It looked like the top was askew somehow even though we lined up the centerlines. I ripped the top off and started over. The Weldwood Landau glue is great as it allowed me to do this. I then cleaned all the glue off of the roof with wax and grease removed and took any lumps off of the vinyl top and started over. I checked the centerline and it looked like the front was out by about 1/4" which didn't explain the back being off so far. I laid it out again and everything looked good this time. The first side went down well but once I got to the other side I ran into problems behind the back window valence. It’s like the piece was 4" too short. There was no way it was going to fit and the shape seemed wrong overall so I made the call and split the back part so I could finish. Now I have to figure out how to make some sort of mod look good. I might call Legendary and see what they say. Did nobody else run into this? If I look at pics of vinyl roofs I see quite a few variations on how the seams on the valence were done.

 

[1MeanA]

I called Legendary today. He said I should have marked the centerline up top and behind the rear window and done the back window first...I should have asked them 2 days ago However, it seems no one else has done it like that so that make me wonder.

 

[plumkrazee70]

That's odd, I didn't do the back first. I did however have a problem with the first top, it was to short, and mis sewn. We didn't even get to glue it.

I re ordered from year one, I believe. The first was from Vans, if I remember right.

 

[1MeanA]

That's odd, I didn't do the back first. I did however have a problem with the first top, it was to short, and mis sewn. We didn't even get to glue it.

I re ordered from year one, I believe. The first was from Vans, if I remember right.

Yeah I've found a couple of pics of the tops laid out all looking really nice around the back window. Mine was never like that. I really question whether the back piece was cut correctly. Now I will have to make a piece for the back.

 

[plumkrazee70]

Yeah I've found a couple of pics of the tops laid out all looking really nice around the back window. Mine was never like that. I really question whether the back piece was cut correctly. Now I will have to make a piece for the back.

Oh so you're going to do two pieces? How are you going to make the seam look right? Pics?

 

[1MeanA]

Oh so you're going to do two pieces? How are you going to make the seam look right? Pics?

Pics after I figure it out I think I am going to have a new piece made with faux seams on the ends and glue it in. You'll never know. No job is easy on this car.

 

[plumkrazee70]

Pics after I figure it out I think I am going to have a new piece made with faux seams on the ends and glue it in. You'll never know. No job is easy on this car.

I hear you on that!

 

[44o gts dart]

I've done it. I would do like you said by finding the center and doing one side of the roof at a time, flipping it on its self.

For the sail panels, again do one side at a time really working it down (you may need to make some relief cuts) just be sure to mark with tape where the trim goes so you don't cut the top top short around the sail and back window.

My dad and I did ours and the front was a piece of cake. We used landau top glue in a cheap HP siphon gun.

The sail panels was tough, but we got em. Here are some pics I took as we went.

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Any bubbles after install. I had a few after a day or so

 

[plumkrazee70]

Any bubbles after install. I had a few after a day or so

Only 1 on the driver sail panel. Very small, but I think it was due to poor glue coverage on that one spot. Otherwise, nothing.