Rust under vinyl top

[brikut]

Hi Everbody,
So I'm looking at a 70 Cuda with a vinyl top and it has bumps under the vinyl so it must be rusty under there.   Any thoughts on how serious this is?  Does it mean a patch panel job in the future?   Or would some surface flaking cause bumps under a vinyl top?   I think the top is the original.   The headliner doesn't look weird or stained. 

[Bullitt-]

If it's bad enough to bubble it's probably going to need new metal welded in...Remember what you see is only a small percentage of what there will be. The good new is at worst a new roof is available can be put on.

[426HEMI]

If it's bad enough to bubble it's probably going to need new metal welded in...Remember what you see is only a small percentage of what there will be. The good new is at worst a new roof is available can be put on.

  the only way of knowing is to take the vinyl top off and inspect. 

[67vertman]

Here is what mine looked like after taking off the top, and mine only had small bubbles.



Side seams. rusted where they meet the quater panels.



Front roof line, mo bubbles where visable.



Rear dutchmn panel, it will have to be replaced.



Driverside,,,,



Trunk pan.....where all the water ends up.

[femtnmax]

My vinyl top had the bubbles, removed the top...there was bondo above the rear window.  Sanded to metal and had holes many places.
So bought a AMD roof skin and drip edges.  All parts went on with no problems.  No problems block sanding for smooth surfaces, so the sheet metal was good fit and shape.

[wagesofsin]

i was very lucky with my chally. it had a vynil top, and it was already removed when i got it.
the roof was exposed for several years, but after a good thrashing with 40 grit, it came out ok. i only had to repair one spot on the passenger side. after sanding the wee out of the roof, we covered it in ospho.
makes it turn black and nuetralises the affected areas.

i agree, the best way to see whats up, is find out whats under.
be prepared for the worst, and you may not be that dissapointed.

best of luck. 

[brikut]

Hi!
Thanks for the replies and the photos.   They are very enlightening.   I'm fearing the worst as this isn't just bubbles but hard bumps as if rust chunks have popped off and moved around under the vinyl.     The window channel rust pics look really scary...and I'm sure this car has that going on too.     
Thanks again,
-Brian

[carguybradd]

I'm also in the process of restoring the roof/vinyl top on my '70 Chally right now. Make sure you remove the glass to check the channels where the weatherstripping/sealant goes. My roof appeared rust-free until I removed the back glass and found rust in this area (lots of pea-sized holes).

At least now I know how water was getting into my trunk!

Brad

[500Stroker]

Just did my top this year. My bumps were nothing major and were easily sanded down to bare metal.  They looked worse with the top on than off.