Vinyl Top Installers - need advise

[two69chargers]

I once again tried the search function and got a huge list of unrelated topics, so admin or anyone, point me at this information if it has been covered before.

I got my replacement vinyl top on my 69 White Hat Special back in August. Wow! What a chore that was! But it turned out great for being the first time I ever did one. Only flaw was the driver's side outer sail panel you can see a crease in the vinyl from where it was folded, sitting on the shelf for the last 20 years. This car is a "driver" as well as a 50-footer on looks. So since it is a driver, I've been driving it up through last week. The temperatures here in Michigan had remained mild for November, but the last 2 weeks the temps have dropped below the freezing mark over night.

About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that the vinyl had started to "bubble up" near the drip rails and last week, where the "bubbles" were, the top has pulled loose from the drip rail and out from under the drip rail moulding. What would be the correct way to re-glue this area?

Clean all the glue off, re-spray, re-install?

Or since the glue is only 3 months old, can it be "re-activated" with a little more glue and some heat?

Let me know what you guys have done in the past when this happened to you.

Thanks - Keith

[superbirdtom]

Ive installed a few vinyl tops but don't claim to be a pro installer.  I did work next to an upholstery shop for a while and watched how they did it. they used goos glue and sprayed it out of a pressure pot with a pro gun.  That being said most of us do it yourselfers you probably used 3m rattle can vinyl top glue which I found works just fine.  The whole trick is to spray some on the vinyl material and the painted car roof then let both sides set up for 15 minutes or so then set it down and it will stick like its supposed to.  In your case maybe you stretched the vinyl too much and after the temperature fluctuating from hot to cold many many times the vinyl went back to its static state and the glue just couldn't hold anymore.  I just hoe its not to short now. I would lift up the loose parts and take some 3m adhesive remover and try an smooth out what glue is there if its balled up or other loose glue.  Then spray both sides and let it dry for 15 minutes on both sides then restick the top without pulling or stretching . temp should be 70degrees if possible.   

I did one 70 charger vinyl roof and those are a pain trying not to stretch is hard not to do while using a hair dryer as a heat gun is just too darn hot.  Some ppl have used contact glue out of a can with a small brush for edges that have come up its probably better quality but same principles apply.  only diff is that your brush is pushing on the roof which hopefully makes It stick better.  good luck hope this helps.

[BLK 68 R/T]

There is some helpful info in this post from moparts that Dayclona points out. How he describes it is how I'm planning on doing mine when the time comes.
http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/6865061/site_id/1

As mentioned above you could try cleaning off the glue from the areas and try sticking it down again. Did you put it down over smooth paint or did you scuff it real good before the initial installation?

[Kern Dog]

You want advice?
I'd advise you to remove all the old glue first. If nothing else, it will minimize unwanted bumps in the surface. That is the advice that I can offer. I am always willing to advise.

[HANDM]

Mine did the exact same thing, looks great everywhere except where it pulled up from the molding, tried to reglue it and now it is bumpy, pulled up and looks like total shit, in other wrds, a complete fail!   

[two69chargers]

Top was installed over a well scuffed surface that was freshly painted 2 weeks prior. The 3M super trim adhesive was used that everyone agreed was the best to use (this forum and others). Top was glued in sections and not stretched too much. It was about 75-degrees in the shop during the install.

Thanks for the advise, I'll do the adhesive remover, then re-glue, but not till spring at this point. I do not have heat in my shop, and my friend's shop that we installed the top in is too far away to make the drive this time of year (we just got 2" snow so far this morning).

I'm trying my first multiple picture attachment of the progression of my top install. Let's see if it works....

[two69chargers]

Picture thing did not work. Here you go 1 at a time

[two69chargers]

metal work and paint done:

[two69chargers]

and the gluing on:

[AKcharger]

if it's not too late..
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,56079.msg624455.html#msg624455

[Kern Dog]

Advise? We did that.
Advice? We gave that.