Coach Vinyl Roof Issues

[87gtVIC]

I'd weld them shut honestly. Best bet would probably snip out a circle just a smidge smaller then the ones there and put a nice hunk of copper behind the hole while you tack it in place. Grind smooth and give it a smear of waterproof body filler...something with fiberglass.

The hole is pretty big and I don;t know about filling it with a fiberglass mesh and resin. May work but may fail over time.

Regarding the trim...Now the back side of the trim...is it flat to accept some double stick tape? or is there a ridge? May have to double up the double stick tape to get the proper depth/adhesion if there is a ridge. Been a while since I had my window trims off.

[BigT]

Here's some more pics of the removal. You can see the fiberglass shell makes a huge gap. The coach glass was much easier to remove than the stand glass.

[gadget73]

yeah, weld the holes shut. Anything else will just fall in and cause you problems long-term.

The stock trim clips attach to a special type of rivet that was installed when the car was assembled. I believe they are welded in somehow. Likely the places that sell resto supplies have them. I have to imagine that they rust out and need replacing sometimes. Not really sure what to call the things tho.

[87gtVIC]

I think he is missing the actual teet/rivet for the clips to go onto. How the hell to get those on??? I'd hate to rty and weld those small things in place or even drill into the car that many times to put clips in place for the trim.

[gadget73]

I'm guessing they go in with a stud welder. Probably just a matter of finding the proper type of stud to weld in there. Either that or you could try and use small self-tapping screws to hold the trim clips in place.

[CheeseSteakJim]

The studs that hold the clips on are welded on with a special attachment on a stud welder. I've never seen one before because there's not really much call for them as there used to be back when the majority of trim was held on with more than just adhesives. I don't even know where you'd get one, and it certainly wouldn't be cheap.

In the past, to install clips where a particular car previously had none, I've drilled 1/8" holes and used small self-tapping sheet metal screws dipped in silicone sealant. I did that to my personal car about 8 years ago and they've yet to leak. They also hold on very well provided they aren't over tightened. I believe I also did it on Thain's car 5 or 6 years ago to hold the stainless panels on - how're yours holding up, Thain?

[gadget73]

Still there, not rusty last I peeked inside a door. The silicone is the trick, it'll rot like crazy without a sealer.

[BigT]

Ugly!

Found some ugliness under the roof. Rusted all the way through to the headliner, almost a crossed the entire roof, and with spots as wide as 1.5 to 2 inches. I'm going to need some Naval Jelly or some other kind of rust encapsulator! I'm thinking of using the outer shell on the inside to support the area for body filler.

[gadget73]

yeah, thats the unfortunate problem with those tops, and why they must be dealt with immediately if they start to get bad. Also why i'm not a fan of the frenched in rear window deal, that fiberglass top thing is nothing but a water holder.

[BigT]

By the way, if anyone in the Montgomery, AL area wants a coach rear window for free, let me know. I'll give it a week or two than I'll pitch it.

[87gtVIC]

That blows. My heart would have sank if I found that. Good for you to stick with it as the rest of the car is in nice shape.Time for the welder. You are not going to fix this with body filler and have it last at all.

Inside voice: It bugs me how most half ass the slick top job. TAKE OUT THE INTERIOR AND REMOVE EVERYTHING FIRST. It would have been easier and then everything is out to do the job correctly.

[Toploader]

Do not use VLP!!! That stuff will turn dark brown and stain the hell out of the roof!!! You will have to paint the entire roof!!!

My 86 GM needs a new vinyl roof. This will be the 2nd time I’ll have to replace it since I’ve owned (2002) the car. It sits outside with no car port year round including the Alabama heat. I have a couple of ideas I’m thinking of trying and looking for advice, or suggestions of other ideas I haven’t thought of trying.

My first idea is to use VLP to repair/fill in the cracks and repaint the top. This would be by far the cheapest. Not sure how good this stuff works. http://www.amazon.com/Performix-0758...nyl+repair+kit Anyone use this product?

My next idea is to convert it to a slick top. But having a coach rear window mean more work on top of the already labor intensive glue removal process. Has anyone converted a coach to a slick top? How hard is it? Has anyone converted to a slick top and still keep the coach window in place? Maybe using fiberglass/bondo around the window?

My final idea is to replace the vinyl. The going price around here for a shop to do it is $750-$1,000, if they can order it from their suppliers. I found some folks on the internet switched to canvas top because they last longer. I’m thinking of replacing it myself, but not sure where to buy the top. Has anyone done their own top? Anyone use canvas? Where do you recommend buying a quality top?

I went through a prison program the last time I replaced the top and not sure of the quality vinyl they used. If I do replace the vinyl, what do you use to keep lasting as long as possible?

Any other suggestions/ideas folks have done I haven't thought of doing?

[BigT]

Here's some pics of my progress.

I cut out as much of the rust as I could and still leave some good metal to work with.





I wired brushed and grinded what was left. Then I used Naval Jelly twice and painted with Rustoleum. I cut and used a section of the fiberglass panel for support.




Then I used Kitty Fiber to fill in every thing.

[p71towny]

Fuck that. I'd have just thrown an old school light bar on that bitch. Best of luck to ya buddy, cause if the body flexes it will crack there. I just don't understand how it is so ate up.

[Grand Marquis GT]

I will say the slick top will be awesome. The car looks so good as is, it's worthy!