white vinyl top question

[mopar4don]

I know someone who is selling a legendary white vinyl top. He says it has been in the box for "almost 20 years, feels good the fold lines don't feel bad at all. Part number is:L5X02"

I have a couple of questions

Should I be concerned that because it has been in that box for that long the folds may not come out?

Legendary's web site lists a pearl white vinyl top ONLY sku:VTL5X22.
The guy says it is not pearl but white.

[70 sublime]

How long is it going to take you to get your car painted and be ready to use it might be a better question ??

How much cheaper than a new one when you are ready does it have to be to make it worth the trouble ?

[DAY CLONA]

I know someone who is selling a legendary white vinyl top. He says it has been in the box for "almost 20 years, feels good the fold lines don't feel bad at all. Part number is:L5X02"

I have a couple of questions

Should I be concerned that because it has been in that box for that long the folds may not come out?

Legendary's web site lists a pearl white vinyl top ONLY sku:VTL5X22.
The guy says it is not pearl but white.

Buy a NEW one, any money you think your saving on a 20+ year old top is not worth it dealing with folds/wrinkles/curls/etc, the same applies to headliners, buy NEW...FYI Pearl white tops are 68-69, bright white are 70 only

Mike

[GMP440]

    Good advice here.  Just buy a new one and install it after you get it.  Same thing happened to me.  Had a Legendary top sitting in the box since 97.  I actually tried ironing out the folds.
    Folds were flattening out , but still needed more work.  That's when I told myself "just by another one".  And, that is what I did.  Got another one and installed it a week later.
    Good decision I made.

[Nacho-RT74]

Vinyl tops are/must be stretched while being installed and glue will keep it in place, so I wouldn't worry about that.

[hemi-hampton]

Worse yet is pulling out Decals out of a box that are all bent up & folded

[DAY CLONA]

Vinyl tops are/must be stretched while being installed and glue will keep it in place, so I wouldn't worry about that.

been installing all types of automotive roof top fabrics tops for over 30+ yrs, never had to "stretch" a vinyl top to install......

[timmycharger]

Vinyl tops are/must be stretched while being installed and glue will keep it in place, so I wouldn't worry about that.

been installing all types of automotive roof top fabrics tops for over 30+ yrs, never had to "stretch" a vinyl top to install......

And you did one on a Charger I am assuming? I recall having to do a lot of pulling of the Legendary top around the C pillars specifically when I did mine. Maybe that is what he meant?  My thumbs/wrists sure do remember!

[Nacho-RT74]

I can't find any way to install vinyl tops without stretching it specially at C pillar area. Some models could need more, some others less. Any curve will require that.

Even the "horse skinning" article at Mopar Muscle mag I think ( article is gone now ) about how to install a vinyl top talks about that. 2nd gen Charger used on that article.

I have installed 2 times the vinyl top on mine.

Any light stretching job will save the folding lines. No need for a hard stretching job.

In any case, if the money is enough and new pieces are still quality ones sure get a new one will be helpfull.

[CDN72SE]

Bought my vinyl top from Legendary about 25+ years ago and was honestly in the box for that long, had it professionally installed two years ago, came out perfect and with no issues.

I did inspect it first though and looked good.

[DAY CLONA]

Vinyl tops are/must be stretched while being installed and glue will keep it in place, so I wouldn't worry about that.

been installing all types of automotive roof top fabrics tops for over 30+ yrs, never had to "stretch" a vinyl top to install......

And you did one on a Charger I am assuming? I recall having to do a lot of pulling of the Legendary top around the C pillars specifically when I did mine. Maybe that is what he meant?  My thumbs/wrists sure do remember!

Done plenty of Chargers, GTO's, Chevelle's, Cudas, 442, A bodies, and a host of mom and pop sedans, limos, carriage tops, halo tops, landau tops, etc, etc, etc, etc for decades in the shop......never had to "stretch" a top to fit it properly.....




here's my Charger.....



MikeG

[Davtona]

FYI Pearl white tops are 68-69, bright white are 70 only

Mike

Well learn something every day. Good info