HOT!!! HELP vinyl top

[Sleepychallenger]

Hey guys and gals. I'm afraid of the answer I'm going to get on this... So my buddy emailed me cause he is laying the top on the car and we need to know what to do to get rid of the air bubbles under the top. Is there anything that can be done. The pictures were sent to me about an hour ago

[Sleepychallenger]

Photo 2

[anlauto]

I've been restoring cars for over 30 years and this is the first time ever I've heard of "air bubbles" in a vinyl top....therefore I can not provide and sound advice or even crappy advice...

[Sleepychallenger]

What about all that slack around the back window. It almost looks like the whole top needed to be shifted forward before it was started.

[burdar]

Could be too much glue was used.

[ToxicWolf]

Are you sure that's air under there?

[Sleepychallenger]

That's the word I'm getting from my buddy that's doing it.

[Sleepychallenger]

Any ideas for the slack?

[ToxicWolf]

If you cant pull it back up and and rub them out with something, I'm at a loss.   

[Sleepychallenger]

I found some stuff about using a hypodermic needle


Quote:

Hey,

is there anyway to fix a few small spots on a vinyl top that are lifting without having to redo the top?

Maybe a heat gun or somthing to try and soften the adhesive?



Here is what the 73 Cuda factory body manual says:
Place strips of masking tape over the bubble.
Use a hypodermic needle and syringe to insert 3M vinyl trim adhesive 8064 into bubble area. Avoid getting the adhesive on the top service (this is in bold black print).
Remove needle and work adhesive to cover the area by pressing on the vinyl cover.
Allow to dry 5 minutes at room temp.
Heat bubble with low heat (150 to 160F) until the bubble area begins to enlarge in circumference. Inrared heat lamps provide suitable heat.
Remove heat source allow cover to cool. A method of rapid cooling will be beneficial.
Using a dry hypo, puncture the cover 4 times equally around the bubble to allow air and trapped solven to escape
After bubble collapses, press cover to metal surface staring from one side of bubble and working toward the opposite side until it conforms to metal surfaces and all raise surfaces disappear.
Keep vehicle from hot sunlight and other direce heat sources
Examine top after a 24 hour period.
That from the manual.


Or some people are saying hear and a rolling pin

[DocMel]

Yes on the hypo and adhesive.  That is the only way to fix the bubbles.  If that doesn't work, you have a prob 

Only I have done it without all the heat lamp, extra holes, etc:  I just injected a tiny amount (dont use TOO much!) of adhesive and then worked it with my thumb

[Chlngrcrzy]

I did my own top. (first one ever) I never had any bubbles when doing it. It lays pretty flat when you pull it down and clamp it. Could the bubbles be excess glue? I did have a little excess in the bottom corners of the rear window when i was done. I wasn't about to tear it off and buy another one. I chalked it up to first time experience. I slit the corners with a razor blade and took out the excess. Glued them back down and then used some of the vinyl repair filler and color about a week later. I can see a little difference, but no one else can pick it out. The next time i will have a professional shop do it, but for now it will be fine.

[Sleepychallenger]

I did my own top. (first one ever) I never had any bubbles when doing it. It lays pretty flat when you pull it down and clamp it. Could the bubbles be excess glue? I did have a little excess in the bottom corners of the rear window when i was done. I wasn't about to tear it off and buy another one. I chalked it up to first time experience. I slit the corners with a razor blade and took out the excess. Glued them back down and then used some of the vinyl repair filler and color about a week later. I can see a little difference, but no one else can pick it out. The next time i will have a professional shop do it, but for now it will be fine.

do you know what the vinyl repair filler is called or where it can be bought? we are going to have to cut the vinyl below the rear window and remove the slack...

From what he is saying is that they are air. They could be glue but Im not there to check.

[1970 RT Challenger 1970]

It could be a Black Hole if not air or glue.

Are you sure that's air under there?

[burdar]

Too much glue!