Vinyl Top Installation - '68 Cougar
Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары
In this video, we watch as a professional installs a vinyl top on a 1968 Mercury Cougar. After observing the process, we think this is a job that the average do-it-yourself-er can handle. It does require a certain amount of finesse, but not as much as a headliner installation requires (see our other video on that subject).
This premium quality vinyl top can be found on our website here: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/st...
Economy vinyl tops also available: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/67...
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Пікірлер: 99
your installer is a pro,tell him I said so,pros know when to grimace and get mad at the cold and inferior products,it was a pleasure to watch him work,thx
always enjoy watching a true craftsman at work.
Been watching these videos, have to say they are among the best at how to. Actually show the process instead of just before and after.
As someone who has done auto upholstry I know this is tricky , but the seam on the right side of the roof is not strait . Why are you installing this in a cold shop ? Thats just asking for problems . If this were my car you would be redoing this . It needs to be at least 75 or warmer in the shop . I bet the material wasnt cheap .
Vinyl installer is a master of his craft Bravo!
I got a top for my 78 Lincoln from SMS. They were helpful. Their price was good and I would be happy to use them again. It takes about a month to get the top.
1000 thank you ! I have to do it on a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow ! This video will help me !
adan yo soy un dalvadoreño que mire sus videos pues yo deseaba aprender a montar capotas convertibles y los vinyl top y ya aprendi muchas gracias gente como ustedes son pocas por que nadie quiere enseñar pues yo estoy muy agradecido con usted y su patron gracias a todos alli tengan buen dia y feliz navidad.
Beautiful job
That's a Damn good job. I dont even own a car with a vinyl top but I see now i have to get one. I was just wondering what all was involved in replacing one. Thanks for posting this
Great, informative vid as usual guys!
este señor hace un fantastico tra- bajo y profesional bueno con el se puede aprender fasilmente hacer esa clase de traba- jo y buen trabajo porque como repi to el trabaja fino gracias por este video
Nice video.. Came out super clean..
Great video, thank you... I have one I may have to do on an old Cadillac Brougham.... I'm hoping I buy the better roof
Great video guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trabalho perfeito, muito bom, parabéns...
Really good job👍🏻
I ordered the SMS vinyl top for my car. $350 to my door- thank you for this video. Now starts the fun part
@327radar
6 жыл бұрын
How did you go?
i thought it looked great without the vinyl roof .. i think it was great that you admitted you couldn't do it .. not many can do this..it always pays to get it done right .. you have to wonder how long it takes at the factory to put in a head liner and vinyl roof . plus the lead filler..
To some extent, you can pull the vinyl up off the glue and reposition it, but it's difficult (especially when you use as much glue as we did). Obviously you want to try to get it perfect the first time, but usually you can fix mistakes if you catch them quickly before you go much further.
Muy buen trabajo muy profecional Gracias
After I fix my limo's roof I'm going to get a garage and do some detailing on the side. I always wondered how this was done.
Your installer should be wearing a respirator. I'm an automotive trimmer, and have installed many vinyl tops. Steam works great on the cheaper vinyl tops, but the more expensive materials, like British everflex vinyls, don't respond well to heat or steam. They just require lots of pulling!
@michaelhaines2282
3 жыл бұрын
Got a question for you about vinyl tops
Mine doesn't have one but i wished it always did so i think i can do that. Probably not as fast but willing to try. Probably need to get the stud gun and trim. Hopefully they are available.
good video thanks i am gonna give it a try on my 72 Caddy
@busterlouie6176
3 жыл бұрын
How did your vinyl top turnout sir?
good job
geweldig mooi geworden
I wish you would of shown how he got the tension that was rolled up in the back corners laid down I wanted to know how he got the back corners to lay down
I noticed there was no insolite used. Is it better to not used insolite under the vinyl?
Hola adan le quiero pedir un favor si puede decirme por que mi pistola tira peloteado mi pegamento me podria decir con que se adelgasa o me podria recomendar. Un pegamento por favor
It could not have taken this long to do it on the assembly line. When it comes to upholstery, brute strength is a big part.
Hi, astonishing job you did there. I was wondering what material you used for covering your roof? Is it easily to get on ebay?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
8 жыл бұрын
+Jarosław Świder This is the top we used: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/store/p/13820-Vinyl-Top-BLACK-Premium-Repro-1967-1968-Mercury-Cougar.html
good music 👍
What type of glue is this?
I watched a video of a vinyl top installation in which they used a steamer to take out wrinkles as they stretched the top. Do you suggest that?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
8 жыл бұрын
+Joseph Howard We're not experts on the subject, but it sounds like it can't hurt! However, stretching the vinyl over the roof should get rid of any wrinkles anyway, so we're not sure if steaming is necessary.
Is the vinyl for a roof different from doing seat covers? I have vinyl that has the cloth backside and wanted to make my own top to match the seats
@WestCoastClassicCougar
6 жыл бұрын
Good question! Not sure, but it seems like the factory material used for vinyl tops was thicker and more durable than the upholstery vinyl. And of course the texture was different, with more of a rough grain. If your car lives inside most of the time, you could probably get away with using upholstery vinyl for your top, but it wouldn't hold up to the elements as well as a proper vinyl top.
I might be purchasing a 64 Pontiac Grand Prix that originally had a vinyl top. The current owner owned a undercoating shop and had the old top removed when painting the car and did the top in a krinkle black finish. From a distance, you can't tell the difference, however I want to put the vinyl back down. Does the krinkle finish have to be sanded or will the new vinyl top adhere to it? Also, I checked on SMS, no availability for this model/yr...do you have any other recommendations? Great video and the installer is tops!
@WestCoastClassicCougar
5 жыл бұрын
It would probably be best to sand down the crinkle finish, depending on how bumpy it is. As for the vinyl top itself, not sure who else to recommend as Pontiacs aren't our thing! But it looks like OPG has them: www.opgi.com/grand-prix/1964/vinyl-tops/tops/PVT2104/
@Desertskyobservatoy1925
5 жыл бұрын
@@WestCoastClassicCougar I did find OPGI originally, good price...hope the top is good quality. Many thanks for the help!
I have a 68 cougar and am ready to restore it. It does not have a vinyl roof currently, but it is obvious that it originally did have one. What are the pros and cons with restoring it to its original condition with the vinyl top? I like the way it looks better, but maybe there is a reason someone removed it?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
4 жыл бұрын
Pros: taking the car back to original. Some would say it is aesthetically pleasing. Cons: Some would say it is more aesthetically pleasing without the vinyl roof. Having a vinyl top put on professionally is not cheap. Plus back in the day, they trapped moisture, which lead to rust underneath the vinyl roof material and around the rear window. So many have been removed to save the roof from rusting.
Where can I buy yards of premium vinyl? Great video to diy
@WestCoastClassicCougar
6 жыл бұрын
Not sure if they sell the material outright, but SMS Auto Fabrics
I'm having my Caprice brougham vinyl redone can you please tell me what do I use to care for it ?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
3 жыл бұрын
That is not something we know a lot about, but there are several videos here on KZread about caring for vinyl tops: kzread.info?search_query=Clean+Vinyl+Roof
top man
I've had the vinyl top put on my 70 mustang coupe. I need to finish is off. I don't have the original set so I have to be creative. Any ideas? no aftermarket trim sets exist...
@WestCoastClassicCougar
7 жыл бұрын
I'd look for good used pieces on ebay, or find a parts car, or a Mustang vendor who salvages used parts.
is there a better paint to put under the top.. or is the even a oil base paint to use under it. ..
@WestCoastClassicCougar
8 жыл бұрын
+jeremy hunt Something like this would be a good idea: www2.cougarpartscatalog.com/store/p/12594-Chassis-Saver-Paint-SATIN-BLACK-1qt-New-1967-1973-Mercury-Cougar-/-1967-1973-Ford-Mustang.html
Is it 100% necessary to have the drip rail trim off of the car before the installation? The windshield trim yes, but i dont know about the drip rails.
@WestCoastClassicCougar
9 жыл бұрын
Yes, because ideally you want the vinyl to go under the trim and have the trim help hold it in place.
@rustysausage69
9 жыл бұрын
West Coast Classic Cougar I see. Thanks for letting me know.
Why put another vinyl roof on to begin with? --just a moisture trap
@Kristy_not_kristine
4 жыл бұрын
it looks better
Love all that glue ovetspray! Paint brush mush easier and less mess.
does it have to be painted or can it just be primed?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
9 жыл бұрын
Paint is a better sealer than primer, so we'd definitely recommend paint + clear!
Is it possible to replace the vinyl top without disturbing the headliner?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
5 жыл бұрын
Yes, probably! You do have to have the front and rear glass out, but you should be able to carefully peel away the old vinyl top while leaving the headliner wrapped around the pinch welds. If that doesn't work, and the vinyl pulls the headliner off with it, you can use contact adhesive to glue the headliner back in place as you go. It should be pretty easy to get it back into the same position, since it will be creased where it was before.
@fireyman99
5 жыл бұрын
@@WestCoastClassicCougar Thanks for the reply. I'll have to get that done one of these days. The vinyl top on my 68 is in very poor condition...
There she goes, ready to rust again. Good job btw.
How much to install the vynil top. labor only?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
7 жыл бұрын
It all depends on who installs it! If we remember right, the labor cost for this top was around $250.
@dukebmxrider
6 жыл бұрын
West Coast Classic Cougar you cheepskate! I woulda paid him a grand & gave him a hug for that beautiful job
👍👍👍👍
whereor what type of glue is it ,,or where do you buy ?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
3 жыл бұрын
Just do a web search for "landau top adhesive contact cement", there are several companies that make a contact cement that will work for vinyl top applications.
@streetfire7787
3 жыл бұрын
@@WestCoastClassicCougar ok i did ,,,it looks like DAP makes one ..and if its sprayed in a gun,,,does it require a reducer ?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
3 жыл бұрын
@@streetfire7787 You would have to read the instructions for the product you choose to see what is required.
What abot the seam not being strait... did he fix that?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
5 жыл бұрын
Sadly not, it was too late by the time we noticed. Something to keep in mind!
@jonnysrods
5 жыл бұрын
would rip that new top right off of there and start over. To me, a restored car should not have such an obvious defect. you were too nice. @@WestCoastClassicCougar
Use a 6 way streatch material
I need to put new vinyl on my 71 monte carlo
@mr7.62gang5
4 жыл бұрын
Ebay
I thought vinyl tops were a No No as they trap moisture?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
5 жыл бұрын
There's always that potential danger, but it's more of a style and originality choice. Many of these Cougars came with vinyl tops from the factory, so people restoring their cars to factory appearance want to replace the vinyl. Considering that these are now classics that are usually stored in a garage and pampered, the danger of rust is significantly reduced. Another factor is that factory vinyl top cars didn't get painted on the roof, whereas most people doing restorations will coat their roof to help protect it. So at the end of the day, it's up to the owner to make these choices.
any other brands other than sms that have as good of quality? the customer service for them has been pretty miserable to deal with.
@WestCoastClassicCougar
7 жыл бұрын
Kee makes a pretty good one. Texture isn't quite as nice but it does have the more durable backing like the SMS. Would still recommend the Kee over the "economy" version.
@flanagan515
7 жыл бұрын
ty very much for the prompt reply!
so no padding is necessary?
@WestCoastClassicCougar
Жыл бұрын
The Cougar did not use a pad under the vinyl top. Here is the most correct vinyl top offered for the 67-68 Cougar: secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/store/p/13820-Vinyl-Top-BLACK-Premium-Repro-1967-1968-Mercury-Cougar.html
"Looks more natural...." Vinyl.
"relatively simple installation"...says the guy holding the camera. It takes years to master vinyl tops, brosef. The cheaper tops you mentioned form better to the body and don't crack from over exposure to the sun. That, and your installer will thank you as they go on in half the time and are just easier to do.
@donrush5690
10 жыл бұрын
The problem with the cheaper tops is if you make a mistake and have to lift the top up to make a correction the backing peels from the vinyl. The only way the premium quality tops crack is if you do not garage your car for years on end. Not too many people would pay the big $$$ and leave their classic in the sun for a decade. It is in fact a daunting task to install a top and this video might better be titled "why not to" as opposed to "how to"
U got glue all over it
car porn!
OMG I cringed watching this... Did this for a living back in the 80s. I pumped out 20 to 30 roofs a week, plus pop-up sunroofs. Next time you have a top to do, I'll do it for free, just fly me out there..Haaaaa
@mnunya5614
Жыл бұрын
I hope he didn't charge extra for those waives in the seam. Nope he's not touching my cars.
I hate vinyl tops. Why would you????????