Pros and Cons

[mcgheejt]

Just wondering what are the pros and cons of puting on that vinyl top?  Do they cause problems over the years? 

[MEK-Dangerfield]

If water gets under them, you won't know it until your roof starts rotting out.   

[Carlwalski]

Anything that can harbour moisture is a risk, right down to wheel lip moldings. I have moldings but didn't put a vinyl top on my Challenger although she's an V1X car. The main reason was it's not my cup of tea, really cuts the flowing lines away and secondly my decision was final as the rear window trunk area is one of the first places to go worsened with a vinyl top. If you like them, don't fear, just keep it garaged and clean and you'll be fine for a long time. 

[cudax34me]

just my  if you do put on a vinal top be sure to do what the factory did not.they painted up the a pillar,just above the body seam on the c pillar and said to heck with the rest of the roof.if it's vinal you want seal it and paint it first.if you have a purist restorer that doesn't want to because the factory didn't do it that way tell him to do it anyway.nobody's gonna peel it back to make sure it's done the factory screwupway.like i said my 

[ntstlgl1970]

Or never pull the vinyl top off without pulling it out from under the glass, otherwise you get this......

[Rare_T_A]

These days these cars are NOT set outside 24 hrs a day 365 days a year in all kinds of weather. If you're like most people it will be pampered the rest of it's life which will be longer than you if the work is done right. I personally like them and put one on the RR which didn't have one. It is fully painted under it. It's been wet maby twice in the past 4-5 years. When I wash the car I don't spray the top. If you take care of the car it will not be anything to worry about. 

[lemming303]

My opinion:

1) I think vinyl tops are ugly on E-bodies. Like said before, it breaks up the flow of the car. I don't really like vinyl on any car, for that matter. I'm also 26, so maybe I'm too young to like it....

2) I wouldn't want it for the rust factor. Even with paint under it, I would still worry about rust. I know it prolly wont ever rust under there, but I would always worry about it and probably keep checking underneath it, and you can see where that would cause other problems.

Just my opnions.

[73challenger_TN]

I agree. I hate the look of vinyl tops. My car had one factory and I didn't want it back. I'm also not a huge fan of stripes either. I like the t/a stripe though. Some people think my car is to "plain" but I say the correct word is "clean" 

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a vinyl top, but I wouldn't want to have one unless my car was always garage kept, and never in the rain. That doesn't apply to my car.      


  Mike

[farmboy70]

 
 

[71ChallengerSE]

Or never pull the vinyl top off without pulling it out from under the glass, otherwise you get this......

OR THIS!!!!!!!!!

[MJS73]

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a vinyl top, but I wouldn't want to have one unless my car was always garage kept, and never in the rain. That doesn't apply to my car.

Your '70 is kept outside?

These days these cars are NOT set outside 24 hrs a day 365 days a year in all kinds of weather. If you're like most people it will be pampered the rest of it's life which will be longer than you if the work is done right. I personally like them and put one on the RR which didn't have one. It is fully painted under it. It's been wet maby twice in the past 4-5 years. When I wash the car I don't spray the top. If you take care of the car it will not be anything to worry about.

  With all of the above.  Mine did not come with a vinyl top from the factory, but I added it.

Mike

[cudax34me]

another problem i've seen is that top installers whn trimming along the c pillar cut into the paint(dummies should know better)causing rust there later.learned of this from a friend years ago when i noticed it on his 442.

[moparclown]

I am not much of a fan of vinyl tops myself,but that pic farmboy70 of that gator grain is outstanding.

[mcgheejt]

Thanks for the great feedback.  I am leaning towards putting it back on since the car came with one originally.  I will have to make sure I paint everything though.  It will be garage kept so I suppose it will last longer than I will.