C2 Vinyl Hardtop material??l

[George P.]

I'm considering making my 67 hardtop a vinyl hardtop. Where do you find the proper material? How can you be sure of the grain pattern in terms of looking original? has anybody out there done this?

GP

[Jack H.]

Re: C2 Vinyl Hardtop material??l

I looked into this myself a while back. Glassworks was recommended to me for this and I contacted them at:
Glassworks
Matthew Kokolis
113 McGovern Blvd.
Crescent, PA 15046
877-VET-TOPS
724-457-0680

They have the correct grained, precut material in stock. Glue it down and trim off the excess was what I was told.

[Terry M.]

Re: C2 Vinyl Hardtop material??l

I am not so sure the is a DIY project. The trim shop near my house has an array of infra red lights hanging from the ceiling that they lower down close to the vinyl top to heat the material to get it into the shape of the car's top. I have noticed them using this device as I have driven/walked by. Oh and these guys have done cars that have won the Riddler Award, so I think they know what they are doing -- not that those cars have had vinyl tops. They always have some interesting cars, old and new, in the shop for glass and upholstery work -- so I can't help but look.

[Joe R.]

Re: C2 Vinyl Hardtop material??l

The glue it down and cut off the excess is the road to making a mess of a vinyl top. I don't care whose vinyl you use, there will be shrinkage. As Terry says the vinyl needs to be heated to fit the top, pulled tightly around the edges and then sealed to the fiberglass top.

Just to glue and cut will pull along the edges and in a couple of months or year it will look like crap!!!

Get a professional that has installed vinyl tops on cars for years.

JR

[George P.]

Re: C2 Vinyl Hardtop material??l

Thanks for the helpful input.

GP

[Donald O.]

Re: C2 Vinyl Hardtop material??l

Are there any issues with he installation on the hardtop liner on a 67? I have done a few non Corvette headliners and the jobs were fairly straight forward.
It will be one of my winter projects.

DonO

[Joe R.]

Re: C2 Vinyl Hardtop material??l

DonO,

Nothing to it! After all the moulding is removed the liner is removed and the new liner is laid in. The only caution I would give is do not crease the new liner as you are pushing it down around the rear window sides.

Have Fun! It will look great!

JR