I have to replace my top again after 5 years. Rust has again surfaced between the windshield and the P/S deck area by the quarter panel seem and in two other odd spots. I thought the top could just be picked up and the bad areas fixed but I was told the top backing will fall apart when peeled away. I even had the roof primed and painted before the last top to avoid the issue but rust still came back even though the car is garaged. Can I fix my rust issue without replacing the top which looks great? If not, who make the best top and is there an install remedy to keep the water out!
Does anyone know how to remove the trim around the vinyl top. I would like not to bend the trim or break any clips.
you just have to get behind it with plastic pry tools and pop it off its clips. it is easy to bend. you will basically do the same as you would painting a top but then lay vinyl over instead of paint. i think if it was my car the way vinyl rust i would do a flat black paint instead.
Its kind of like popping off a door panel, just place your prying tool behind the trim and search until you find a peg and gently pry. The rear most corner piece on the quarter panel is held in by a nut, so be careful not to pry so much that you actually break the stud (been there). Little plastic pieces actually slide onto the pegs and give the trim something to clip onto, they are about 1/2" each and easy to loose. Good luck!
Do you have drip rail moldings? PITA to get back on but can be done. Dunno about the A body but the Riv has 2 3/8" nuts holding the back corners down at the rear where it turns to go across and under the back window.
Have the drip moldings but at the moment I only want to pull up the vinyl between the rear glass and deck plus a small section on the side. Need to get only the bottom trim and the window trim off so I can pull the vinyl up and get a look under
I dont see any reason you cant pull up the material and fix the rust then reglue. If you wanna drive up here Id give you a hand.
