Vinyl top question

[randy73]

Is there ANYTHING I can put under the vinyl to protect the paint and roof from more rust damage??

I have put a TON of work into my roof and plan on keeping the car and do not want to do this again in say 5-6 years.

Reason I am keeping the vinyl, is the car is a 73 Rallye triple black.

[NHCharger]

I'm assuming the top is currently off the car?
a good layer of paint and clear is the best you can do. Sometimes the tops were not fully painted at the factory if they were receiving vinyl tops. My 71 & 72 both have canopy tops. When I bought the 71 in 95 it was on it's second top that was failing (large bubbles underneath). When I removed the top I found that there was only primer under the top. My 72 still has the original top and looks almost brand new, so I'm assuming it is fully painted under the vinyl.

[green69rt]

So the way to protect it is with a full paint job then the vinyl??   Sounds right but I just want to know....

[don duick]

I used to work in a panel shop in the early 80s and we ripped off many vinyl roofs. Chryslers rusted the most because the factory did not bother to paint the roof before fitting the vinyl. Paint stopped halfway up the C pillars. However the fords and holdens {GM} {I am from Australia} had fully painted roofs before the vinyl was glued on and they had very little or no rust after 10 years.

[Ghoste]

Yep, paint that sucker.

[randy73]

thanks everyone, will paint the sucker!! 

[ODZKing]

  Only what I know from my paint guy and guy that installed my vinyl top.
Paint and clear the roof as you would the rest of the car.  And the roof guy said and epoxy based glue/sealant keeps the water out.
That is what I was told.

[Silver R/T]

Use good quality Epoxy primer under paint.

[Charger-Bodie]

I used to work in a panel shop in the early 80s and we ripped off many vinyl roofs. Chryslers rusted the most because the factory did not bother to paint the roof before fitting the vinyl. Paint stopped halfway up the C pillars. However the fords and holdens {GM} {I am from Australia} had fully painted roofs before the vinyl was glued on and they had very little or no rust after 10 years.

I've takin many tops off in my day, but I've never seen a mopar without at least some paint. I have however seen a few pontiacs and buicks without paint.

[bill440rt]

Both my '69 & '70 the paint stopped midway up the A & C-pillars. '70 had the letter "W" handwritten in orange crayon on the C-pillars for a white vinyl top.
Rest of the roof on the '70 was just gray primer, with very little rust.

If you are using modern materials, whatever you put on there will far surpass the quality of the primers of the era when these cars were built. Prepped properly, even epoxy primer alone will last years & years compared to what was on there. Putting some paint up there would be even better.

[Ryan.C]

should clear coat be used as well under the top?

[green69rt]

should clear coat be used as well under the top?

And, I was wondering if a coat or two of some urethane paint would be ok??

[Dino]

If you use a base coat then you have to seal it with clear.  Or you can use any single stage paint.  Be sure to have a good epoxy primer down first.

[Charger-Bodie]

Both my '69 & '70 the paint stopped midway up the A & C-pillars. '70 had the letter "W" handwritten in orange crayon on the C-pillars for a white vinyl top.
Rest of the roof on the '70 was just gray primer, with very little rust.

If you are using modern materials, whatever you put on there will far surpass the quality of the primers of the era when these cars were built. Prepped properly, even epoxy primer alone will last years & years compared to what was on there. Putting some paint up there would be even better.

I thought he meant bare steel . That's what I was referring to.

[ODZKing]

My paint guy said as long as we were painting the car, we do the entire thing, base and clear as you can see.  And then just scuff the roof.

[Ryan.C]

If you use a base coat then you have to seal it with clear.  Or you can use any single stage paint.  Be sure to have a good epoxy primer down first.

THANKS! 

[Dreamcar]

A few good coats of  quality epoxy is probably all you need under the vinyl, especially once the glue is on there. Today's epoxy is much better than the stuff that went on 40+ years ago.

[bill440rt]

Both my '69 & '70 the paint stopped midway up the A & C-pillars. '70 had the letter "W" handwritten in orange crayon on the C-pillars for a white vinyl top.
Rest of the roof on the '70 was just gray primer, with very little rust.

If you are using modern materials, whatever you put on there will far surpass the quality of the primers of the era when these cars were built. Prepped properly, even epoxy primer alone will last years & years compared to what was on there. Putting some paint up there would be even better.

I thought he meant bare steel . That's what I was referring to.

You've seen GM's with bare steel?? 

[Charger-Bodie]

Both my '69 & '70 the paint stopped midway up the A & C-pillars. '70 had the letter "W" handwritten in orange crayon on the C-pillars for a white vinyl top.
Rest of the roof on the '70 was just gray primer, with very little rust.

If you are using modern materials, whatever you put on there will far surpass the quality of the primers of the era when these cars were built. Prepped properly, even epoxy primer alone will last years & years compared to what was on there. Putting some paint up there would be even better.

I thought he meant bare steel . That's what I was referring to.

You've seen GM's with bare steel?? 

yes. not a pretty sight,but not much was in the late 70s USA cars....

[fy469rtse]

So the way to protect it is with a full paint job then the vinyl??   Sounds right but I just want to know....

Mitch , yes paint your roof like you would the rest of car, scotch bright the roof lightly to remove gloss , something for the glue to hang on to , prep is the key , these cars if top was selected no paint just primer, cheap chrysler

[Dino]

Oh and make sure all the off gassing is done before that glue goes on.  Once you remove the gloss it'll speed up the process a bit.