[mitmaks]

How would I go about doing it under vinyl top, dont want any rust coming back ever, even though my roof was 99% rust free, I saw some horribly roofs with vinyl tops. it looked like I only had primer, base and no clear originally on my 68's roof. would that be ok

[evilone]

IMO....I would strip the top,then prime it with a good metal etch primer.After that I would block the etch primer and apply a good ureathane prime.Then I would prep it,base coat it,then clear it.No wet sanding ness. since you will put a top back on it.But .....thats just my oppinion.Hope this helps

[mitmaks]

you dont sand etching primer

[roger1]

Originally Posted by mitmaks

How would I go about doing it under vinyl top, dont want any rust coming back ever, even though my roof was 99% rust free, I saw some horribly roofs with vinyl tops. it looked like I only had primer, base and no clear originally on my 68's roof. would that be ok

Why not use the best product available from today's technology?
That would be an epoxy primer. Strip to bare metal, sand with 80 grit and apply the epoxy. You would then never have to worry about it.

Roger

[Bee4Me]

They didn't have bc/cc in 68 is why. You had the good ol' Dupont.
I don't recall what the name was,Duco or Dulux,Something like that.
My 69 is still factory all though it's faded now but that was some good paint to hold up for 35 years with it being just paint.
I'd finish the whole top out like the rest of the car. That way you don't end up with an area that could possiably haunt you later. It would just be easier to shoot the whole top than trying to do 2 different shoot's IMO.

[evilone]

Well,Mitmaks.....I would deff.clear it or it will not be as durable.I have owned my own shop since 1998,and been fooling with cars since birth,and have yet to have a problem with rust coming back under a top if you follow the way I do it.But thats just my oppinion.Im sur someone will prove me wrong tho.

[roger1]

I still stick to my recommendation on the epoxy primer over the 80 grit sanded bare metal.
I'd like to hear what BarryK or MARTINSR would say as whether it would be necessary to put anything over it. I am thinking not.

Roger

[baddbob]

Put down three coats of epoxy primer over the clean and sanded steel, re seal the drip rails with good urethane or epoxy seam sealer. Then paint the roof with 2 coats of single stage urethane. This will provide about the best protection you can get before the top is installed. Use plenty of adhesive on the top, you don't want any voids between the vinyl and paint where adhesive should be. Most of the problems on these older cars with vinyl were do to just primer under the top then rust after the vinyl and glue break down, also the factory installers weren't very carefull trimming the material and often cut into the paint making areas for rust to form.

Pay attention to clip areas where the trim installs, these are also areas where failures are found. I usually use some good urethane sealer where the clips install just to keep moisture away from the hardware, etc. The old style black strip calk also works good for this.

Pay attention to the details and it'll live a long time.