1967 Chevelle Vinyl Top Install - The AMD Chevelle, Part 6

A vinyl top can be a polarizing thing on a car. Typically, you either you love it or you hate it. Some think they bring a touch of class while others think you take some of the muscle out of the muscle car. We even heard a guy call it the toupee of the car. No matter if you're for or against them, GM did them at the factory, so we put one back on our AMD Chevelle. The team at C. Hopkins Rod & Custom in Commerce, Georgia--Craig Hopkins, Aaron Hopkins, Caesar Brecino, and Chris Dyer--has been elbows-deep restoring this '67 SS 396 Chevelle.

The previous five stories were focused on replacing all the sheetmetal with new AMD parts, and coating it with DuPont's Emerald Turquoise Metallic paint. Now we are going to cover up the roof. Yes we are putting a vinyl top over a brand new roof skin. Like we have been stating since the day we started, it's being built with an as-close-to-stock as possible theme, and that includes a vinyl top.

The height of the vinyl top era was the late-'60s to early-'70s. GM offered these tops on just about everything. Some got halo-style tops that didn't actually cover the entire roof, like the '69 Camaro or '70 Monte Carlo. The Chevelle on the other hand got a full top and this author thinks the '66-67 styles takes a vinyl top very well. The awesome rear roof pillars get even more accentuation with the molding and the black top makes the roof appear to be chopped just a bit. Also, the tops are not as easy to damage as paint. So a very large chunk of the vehicle will never need color sanding, polishing or wax.

Even though Craig runs a full service shop, he enlisted the help of Danny Reese, Chuck Wehemt, and Bo Anderson, who have a little more knowledge working with vinyl. These new guys (along with Craig's normal crew) went at the top install full-speed ahead and had it all done in a few hours.

1 The top from Legendary Auto Interiors is a very nice piece. It is made from a 35oz vinyl that has the correct Levant grain, double stitched and die-electrically sealed deck seams, and Sateen-style cloth backing. They are vehicle-specific and tops are available in either black or white for the '64 all the way up to '72 Chevelles.
1 The top from Legendary Auto Interiors is a very nice piece. It is made from a 35oz viny
2 Here is a close up of the Levant grain, which is exactly what GM used back in the day.
2 Here is a close up of the Levant grain, which is exactly what GM used back in the day.
3 Check out the Sateen backing. This backing is much better for bonding the top to the car, but it also makes it a bit more difficult to stretch. Even with the added work needed to install the top, the Sateen backing will be better than what has been out in the market for years, which is a fuzzy back material.
3 Check out the Sateen backing. This backing is much better for bonding the top to the ca

4 Here is a shot of the more common fuzzy backing. This backing allows the material to stretch much easier and, in turn, make the top easier to install. The drawback is that it's harder for the glue to make a strong bond to the car so lifting is a concern. Another issue with the fuzzy back is water wicking. This stuff will draw water into it like a sponge and that can cause rust. This is why the Sateen backing is so great to have.
4 Here is a shot of the more common fuzzy backing. This backing allows the material to st
5 Since the AMD Chevelle has had all its sheetmetal changed, none of the mounting points for the molding are there any more, so Danny is mapping out the location. Danny laid down a few layers of tape to protect the paint and then taped the moldings to the car. With a pencil he traces the outline of the moldings onto the tape.
5 Since the AMD Chevelle has had all its sheetmetal changed, none of the mounting points
6 This leaves a perfect blueprint to position the molding clips. There will be multiple clips along the side molding that will be pop riveted to the car.
6 This leaves a perfect blueprint to position the molding clips. There will be multiple c

7 Here's Bo Anderson drilling the holes for the clips. This is done with a lot of care and a new drill bit to prevent walking.
7 Here's Bo Anderson drilling the holes for the clips. This is done with a lot of care an
8 After the needed holes were drilled, the car was masked off and the area that will receive the top was scuffed with a Scotch-Brite pad. This will make sure there is no loose dirt and the surface has the right tooth for the DAP Landau Top Cement, AKA glue, to stick. This stuff is ideal for vinyl top applications because of its high heat resistance and working time.
8 After the needed holes were drilled, the car was masked off and the area that will rece
9 Danny sprays the entire surface of the top and the car and lets the glue dry. Even though this glue will be dry to the touch it will still stick to itself. The cement/glue is designed to bond to the surface its being sprayed at first and then once its dry to the touch it will stick to itself once pressure is applied.
9 Danny sprays the entire surface of the top and the car and lets the glue dry. Even thou

10 That means the top can be repositioned a few times as long as no pressure is applied and still bond, unlike other glues that once they touch they are stuck. What's not shown in the picture is Danny finding the center of the top and roof of the car with a tape measure. He uses the center marks to find out exactly where the deck seams should be.
10 That means the top can be repositioned a few times as long as no pressure is applied a
11 Having at least four people will make a top install less difficult as each person can grab a corner. As you can see, the cement does stick to itself, but doesn't permanently bond until pressure is applied so the guys can straighten out any wrinkles by pulling up on the material.
11 Having at least four people will make a top install less difficult as each person can
12 Now Danny lines up the center and deck seam marks, which properly positions the top side to side on the car.
12 Now Danny lines up the center and deck seam marks, which properly positions the top si

13 With the deck seams in the right place, Danny confirms the top has enough hanging over the front and back. He is setting the front to back position before he applies pressure to the top between the deck seams, locking the top down.
13 With the deck seams in the right place, Danny confirms the top has enough hanging over
14 Now the fun really begins. Danny and Chuck both grab some top and start pulling. Danny pulls down and towards the front while Chuck pulls down and back. This technique smoothes out any wrinkles in this area and helps it go around the C-pillar.
14 Now the fun really begins. Danny and Chuck both grab some top and start pulling. Danny
15 The drip rail area will have the material doing all kinds of bending so some heat is applied to soften the vinyl, making it more pliable.
15 The drip rail area will have the material doing all kinds of bending so some heat is a

16 The vinyl is tucked all the way down into the drip rails and then back over them. This will keep any water from getting under the top. A plastic tool is used to push it into the tight area.
16 The vinyl is tucked all the way down into the drip rails and then back over them. This
17 The handle of a putty knife is used to push the material down tight against the seam, leaving a super crisp line.
17 The handle of a putty knife is used to push the material down tight against the seam,
18 Remember the pulling technique we talked about earlier? Well, here is the reason for it. You want as much slack in the material as possible so it can come around the C-pillar.
18 Remember the pulling technique we talked about earlier? Well, here is the reason for i

19 Once the top was completely stuck down, Danny started trimming the excess with scissors. This is not the time to use a razor blade because it can score the paint down to the bare metal creating a place for rust to form. The material was trimmed at the base of the window area, and just above the bottom of the drip rail. It was notched around the studs for the window molding clips as well.
19 Once the top was completely stuck down, Danny started trimming the excess with scissor
20 Along the C-pillar the material was trimmed right through the centerline of the molding.
20 Along the C-pillar the material was trimmed right through the centerline of the moldin
21 Now the molding clips were pop riveted to the car. A little dab of silicone was applied to the pop rivet to seal the raw edge of the freshly drilled hole.
21 Now the molding clips were pop riveted to the car. A little dab of silicone was applie

22a As a finishing touch to the installation: the car will receive all new drip rail and vinyl top moldings from National Parts Depot.
22a As a finishing touch to the installation: the car will receive all new drip rail and
22b Even though the stock stuff was in decent shape and could be restored, the new stuff from NPD costs less than the labor would have to bring the stock up to snuff. Craig told us he was very impressed with the fit and how hefty the moldings feel.
22b Even though the stock stuff was in decent shape and could be restored, the new stuff
23 Other than snapping on the moldings, the job is done. Even though our experts make it look easy, this job is not for the beginner. If you have a little knowledge of how to work material, then it should be something doable. Danny and his crew did a great job, as the top looks totally factory. It should last a long time thanks to the UV protection impregnated into the vinyl.
23 Other than snapping on the moldings, the job is done. Even though our experts make it

SOURCES
Legendary Auto Interiors 121 West Shore Blvd. Newark NJ 14513 800-363-8804 http://www.legendaryautointerior s.com	Dupont Performance Coatings N/A www.pc.dupont.com
Auto Metal Direct 940 Sherwin Parkway Suite 180 Buford GA 30518 866-684-5942 www.autometaldirect.com	National Parts Group 800-874-7595 www.npdlink.com
C. Hopkins Rod & Custom 7314 Hwy 115 E. Cleveland GA 30528 706-348-6653 www.theinstallationcenter.com