Author Topic: Pulling the vinyl top off for rust repair..  (Read 1849 times)

Offline Chris Pauluk

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Pulling the vinyl top off for rust repair..
« on: February 11, 2017 - 05:52:12 AM »
How does the side roof gutter, front and rear windshield trim remove? 

I need to get the old vinyl out from under it and I want to have it powdercoated..  So I'm trying not to damage anything..

I'm surprised there isn't any videos of this stuff on YouTube..   
I'll have to make some videos.     
Chris Pauluk
Eagan Minnesota
1973 Plymouth Cuda 340 4spd (70 AAR clone'ish) bought it that way..




Offline FY1Cuda

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Re: Pulling the vinyl top off for rust repair..
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2017 - 02:13:05 PM »
The screws are under the rubber gasket.  Start by removing the sheet metal screws that hold the front of the gasket at the base of the A-pillar, then pull the rubber gasket out.  You'll have to remove the gasket channel first, and then another set of screws holds the gutter sections on.  Pay attention to which screws hold what, and you might want to measure how far in  or out the channel is so when you put it back on, the windows hit the gasket in the right spot.
Removing the windshield trim is explained in another post right by your's.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2017 - 02:15:15 PM by FY1Cuda »

Offline jimynick

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Re: Pulling the vinyl top off for rust repair..
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2017 - 11:21:36 PM »
Yep, what the man said, but "gasket" might throw you off a bit. That refers to the rubber weatherstripping that the door glass comes up against when the door is closed with the window up. It usually will just pull out of it's channel, but a dull putty knife can sometimes be req'd to help. Note that there's two sets of foam gaskets between the two piece gutters and be sure to replace them when re-installing the gutters. Save the door glass anti rattle clips as they're not cheap to replace and are easy to lose, too. Good luck.  :cheers:

Offline Chris Pauluk

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Re: Pulling the vinyl top off for rust repair..
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2017 - 11:25:26 PM »
Yep, what the man said, but "gasket" might throw you off a bit. That refers to the rubber weatherstripping that the door glass comes up against when the door is closed with the window up. It usually will just pull out of it's channel, but a dull putty knife can sometimes be req'd to help. Note that there's two sets of foam gaskets between the two piece gutters and be sure to replace them when re-installing the gutters. Save the door glass anti rattle clips as they're not cheap to replace and are easy to lose, too. Good luck.  :cheers:
I figured it out with what everyone said.

Ugh.  Found some Mopar herpes.   :(

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Chris Pauluk
Eagan Minnesota
1973 Plymouth Cuda 340 4spd (70 AAR clone'ish) bought it that way..

Offline jimynick

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Re: Pulling the vinyl top off for rust repair..
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2017 - 08:47:07 PM »
Imagine that! Rot, in an E body! Next you'll be telling us that you've found some more somewhere else! LOL  If it's any consolation, you are not nearly alone in this. As a general rule of thumb, figure that there'll be said "herpes" just about every place where two pieces of metal come together and you'll be less disappointed as you progress.  :cheers:

Offline Chris Pauluk

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Re: Pulling the vinyl top off for rust repair..
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2017 - 08:57:01 PM »
I hear ya.    Lol.    I was slightly prepared for this.     I'm guessing this I'd the seam where quarter meets roof.   

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Chris Pauluk
Eagan Minnesota
1973 Plymouth Cuda 340 4spd (70 AAR clone'ish) bought it that way..

Offline jimynick

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Re: Pulling the vinyl top off for rust repair..
« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2017 - 12:01:36 AM »
Actually, it's not. That seam is 8-10" further up the sail panel. It is the area that lays virtually against the inner roof support panels. On my car, when I cut off the 1/4's, those areas were bare as a baby's a$$- not a speck of coating nor primer/paint, so you can see how they rot so nicely. Be careful when you try to weld it up as the inner trim and headliner are pretty close by. Look closely at the whole edge of the roof skin as it goes up and over as they're prone to bubbling all along the edges just above the flat where the roof skin mates to the inner and lower flange. Remember, Mother Mopar expected these cars to last 5-6 years and then you'd buy a new one, right?! Be sure to rustproof it when you're done- all along the whole thing.  :cheers:

Offline rhamson

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Re: Pulling the vinyl top off for rust repair..
« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2017 - 09:37:13 AM »
This is why I removed the vinyl roof permanently. They were a cheap way the factory could roll them off the line without too much worry about how well the roof and quarter panel aligned.

Offline 383WSS

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Re: Pulling the vinyl top off for rust repair..
« Reply #8 on: February 15, 2017 - 02:53:20 PM »
Hey bud, good work. I had to replace my entire roof skin last year. Finally getting on my a pillar and outer kick panels and upper cowl.  :hyper: