Im looking at buying a coupe deville that was origionally a vinyl top car. Im planning on repainting it if I buy it, but the roof has some DEEEEEP surface rust My question is, is it cost effective to replace the vinyl top, or should I bite the bullet and muriatic acid and prime the roof? I sure hate messin with that acid Iv never priced a vinyl top before so I have no idea what they cost. $250? $500? $1500?
"I'll be in the back of my black cadillac, when Jesus finally comes to call his children home" Shooter Jennings
Really? Why is that? Im not talking about rust holes, just pits. I don't see how you could see it under the vinyl. But then again, I know nothing about vinyl tops except the fact that they cause rust. Does anyone have a guesstimate on what it costs to have one done?
Pits DO show under vinyl, especially if they are significant. Sand the roof smooth, like you were prepping to paint it. Prime, sand, and seal it, then install the vinyl roof. You will not regret taking the extra time to do it up right, versus quick and half-assed. Vinyl tops do not cause rust, but they do help facilitate the start of rust if the top is allowed to deteriorate, or otherwise allowed to gather water in tears in the material, or areas where the top has shrunk up and pulled away from trim pieces
Hmmmm. If thats the case, might as well paint it. Im not really a fan of vinyl tops anyway. Thanks guys
Years ago my mothers car need a new vinyl. I found one guy in the phone book who said $600. "So how much if I take off the old one" sez I. "$600." So I took off the old one, rollered white undercoat on and painted it with hardware enamel and another roller. Looked great.
Spray the roof with "rocker panel" deadener [ a-la mercedes ] then blow some flat paint over it. The $500 you save could either be sent to me, or spent on the ladies. [this is bad advice given to you by a "motor trimmer" from down under ]
Por15 will be fine under vinyl, you have to lay down a layer of closed cell foam anyway, it will hide the pits. But you do need to deal with them some way either por15 or blasting or phosporic acid.