[Joel Bennett (Joel)]

Has anyone had any dealings with the removal of their vinyl top on their Challenger?

[Roger Bettoni (Roger)]

You can do what the previous owner of my car did and just rip the whole lot off, although he made a bit of a mess doing this. Apparently there are little staples that hold the vinyl around the gutters and windows under the trim. Keep the original vinyl to use as a template if getting another one made up.

[Roger Bettoni (Roger)]

Oh - one more thing - apparently it is easier to replace the old vinyl roof if you leave the original glue on, as this helps the new glue adhere better. I have not got to this stage of my restoration yet, so I don't know for sure.

[Joel Bennett (Joel)]

Thanks Rodger! My best friend, who is going to help me with the tremendous task of restoring the car back to an acceptable condition, and I are just gone to through the vinyl top away and go the hard-top route. I don't like vinyl. I'm always worrying about moisture getting trapped undneath the vinyl and causing havoc and eating away at the metal. I live less than 15 miles from a bay in the Pacific Northwest, so there is moisture in the air and cars are always rusting away around here, unlike the central and mid west parts of the country.

[Joel Bennett (Joel)]

Oops I mean throw the vinly top out.

Oh yeah, one more thing.Do you have to heat up the glue under the vinyl top first, before you can pull the vinyl away from the roof of the car? What is the easiest and least messiest way of removing the remaining glue?

[Roger Bettoni (Roger)]

Good question. My roof still has all the remaining glue on it, as I plan to replace the vinyl roof and was told to leave the glue in place to assist in sticking the new vinyl on. No heat necessary from what I know. Just start at one side and pull. You may like to remove the trim first to avoid bending it as you get to the edges (front and rear glass trims). The only place my vinyl didn't come off with this method was the front pillars, as the previous owner didn't even remove the chrome trim when doing this!

[Joel Bennett (Joel)]

DId the trim get wrecked when he didn't remove it when he was taking the vinyl top off?

[Roger Bettoni (Roger)]

Not entirely, although one piece did get bent a little at the rear window. Just take it easy as you're doing it and the vinyl should come off without too much effort. All they use to stick it on is contact adhesive (Bear-Grip or similar) you know - the stuff you apply to both sides, let get tacky then put together. I'm not sure about the edges, as they are stapled through the sheet metal at the factory (tiny little staples that have most probably rusted away by now anyway).

[Joel Bennett (Joel)]

I just want to get rid of the whole thing and remove the glue and paint the top. DO I need to use chemicals or something or can I just sand it off with a disc sander?

[Roger Bettoni (Roger)]

Once you get the vinyl off, i would start by trying some sort of chemical - perhaps acetone or strong thinners or the like. Experiment with different stuff until you find something that will break-down the glue, or ask a paint shop - they are the experts and will be able to tell you. I imagine that if you use a sander you'll be changing the disc or paper with every stroke as this glue will quickly clog-up the paper/disc.

[Joel Bennett (Joel)]

I know someone who runs a auto body shop, so I can ask him sometime. Hopefully if all things go according to as planned, I'll be going to school and get my associates degree in auto body. I may have to wait until next year though, becuase when I made my decision to finally make my move to go to school, there wasn't enough time to figure everything out and take the entrance exam, but thats ok, I suppose, because my math skills could use some freshing up.

[Jennifer Menard (Jen)]

Instructions for removal & replacement of Vinal top.

http://www.geocities.com/chall318/VINALT OP.html

Its not as easy as it looks. I tried it and had to have it sent out and done over.

[Joel Bennett (Joel)]

I have the same repair manual. I don't have any plans on putting another vinyl top on the car.

[Jennifer Menard (Jen)]

Well excuse me, I didn't know you were the only person reading the board that might like to have that info!!!

[Roger Bettoni (Roger)]

Interesting reading Jennifer - thanks for posting the instructions. Seems a whole lot more complicated than I thought...

I've printed off your instruction sheet. From what repair manual did you get this info? I'm on the hunt for the owners manual published about the Dart & Challenger and if anyone has an email or web contact for the publishers, I would appreciate them.

I plan on replacing the vinyl top on my car eventually, but first need to address the body-work and paint. At this stage everything has come to a grinding halt, due to wet weather and a very damp shed that the car is stored in (I live in the middle of a temperate rain-forest). I don't want to strip the paint off until I'm ready for the paint job and must save a few $$$ before this can take place.

[Jennifer Menard (Jen)]

It's the factory shop manual for the 70 Challenger & Dart. I found mine in the trunk of a junk 70 Dart that I bought for parts. You can get them from
http://www.gearheadcafe.com/cgi-bin/stor e/agora.cgi
I think Year one also sells them.

[Roger Bettoni (Roger)]

Thanks for the link Jen. I've ordered the manual and hopefully will receive it soon, in hard copy as opposed to cd-rom, although I didn't notice that this option was available.
Checked-out your website and must say, you've done a fine job on your western sport special - looks like a lovely machine and I'm sure you're proud of your achievement!

[Jennifer Menard (Jen)]

Thank you. It was a fun car. I don't have it any longer. I traded it for a 68 Coronet R/T for the hubby. I am in the middle of my 72 Dart project now. I need to do some updating on the web site. I will be putting up pictures of the Dart & the Coronet soon.

[Jen]

I had to take the vinyl top instructions off my site to make room for the GTX. If you need them E-mail me and I will be happy to send them to you.

jen

[Christer]

I noticed that Jen´s link doesn´t work any more. Thought I would post some info on this myself. It is from the 1974 Body Service Manual.