Does the vinyl top wrap into the drip rail valley and over the top of the drip rail to be covered by the SS drip moulding?

I'm ready to do it but I don't know which is correct. I saw a couple cars at the Olds reunion that had the top go into the drip valley and razor bladed off. Hard to believe Olds would do that. Wouldn't seem very durable and water would get under the top.

2nd question is how low does it go into the front fender? Does it go to the front fender mount or under the mount/bolt hole?

Thanks for any help.

 

'68 4-4-2, Probably not factory correct, as my top was added by a previous owner. The top is in the drip rail valley, somewhat rolled up to the trim - hard to tell, and has some sort of silicone sealer on it. At the fender line, the top simply ends below the level of the door and is now separating from the A pillar. I'm pretty sure the sealer is not factory correct. My intuition says that the bottom of the A-pillar should have been rolled under, or "cuffed" similar to where the top extends onto the pillar. These are probably examples of how Not to Do It, LOL!

 

Thanks.
I really don't see how the SS trim would snap over vinyl top if it was rolled over the drip rail. That stuff barely snaps as it is. I think I'll have him roll it completely over the rail and razorblade later if I can't get it to snap.
I will take as many opinions as I can get.

 

Yes. This is why all vinyl top cars got B80 stainless drip molding, even on F85s that didn't normally get it.

Note the description of RPO C08.

 

X2 what Joe said, the vinyl absolutely wrapped over the driprail, but not totally around it. That said, the problem is the vinyl now is thicker than the original stuff. Either the vinyl or the backing is thicker. When I did my top many years ago, I dented the ss mldg with the palm of my hand trying to get it on. Had to put a new piece on it. You have to be real careful putting the mldgs back on there. If you do wrap it over, keep it very short. If you can't do it, you can always trim it at the top of the rail even and the mldg will still hold it. Some GM cars had a piece of plastic retainer trim in the gutter, but not ours. It's also a big problem on the A pillars, where the seam is.

 

My wife's '68 vinyl roof car had the vinyl go under the fender mount bolt. The car did not have the original top on it when we bought it. When we cleaned up the car for a re-paint the vinyl was under the fender bolt on both sides. The drip rail valley was still filled with the factory filler to make a smooth roll but was painted over. Without the filler there would be a sharp vee and gaps underneath for water.

 

My top was original when I did it. I'm not near the car, but...I think it goes under the fender bolts, too. I can see yours is not original because you can see that hairy backing on it. I don't remember the gutters having a filler, but maybe they did, I didn't strip the whole roof.. I do remember the leaded seams of the roof at the rear being not really finished well. That's why GM loved putting vinyl on the tops. They both saved money by not finishing the roof perfectly, and made $ on the option. I did finish those seams better before the new vinyl went on.

 

Thank You guys for the replies.

One more question. I picked up the car today from the upholsterer and he ran the vinyl over the entire drip rail and wrapped it under the SS trim piece that the windows roll up into. He hasn't done an Olds but said the Chevelles were done this way. I was just curious if this sounds right. I thought it would end at the drip rail covered by the SS drip trim.

Thanks, Brad

 

I re read mrolds69 response and it appears he answered my question. Car is still in the trailer and I'll take a picture once it's unloaded. Might a have a bunch of glue to remove but no bid deal.

 

That is not right. The Fisher Body Manual shows that the vinyl material is glued into the drip rail and ends under the drip rail molding. This applies to all A-body cars, including Chevelles.

 

Thanks Joe,

I told them to end it under the drip rail ss trim and they wrapped it under. I hope they just glued it and didn't scotchbright the paint. If they did that then I have to repaint the area.

 

If you are looking for a vinyl top I would recommend SMS Upholstery they have the original material
Always use them for my vinyl top cars that I have restored Not cheap but exact.
Also get someday that knows what they are doing for installation get a pro.
Alain

 

The vinyl top was completed. I spent more time cutting and fussing the edges under the trim than the guy that installed the top. I also had to clean all the glue from under the underside of the opening. I'm happy with the results. I pushed the vinyl top because I didn't want to cut and buff a roof but I ended up having a lot more time into the detail work than I would have to just paint/cut/buff. Oh well, It's a detail that really works with this color.

I had to razor blade the top material to the very top edge of the drip rail in order to get the trim to snap on. It wouldn't if I left it wrapped around the drip rail. To much material. I never base/cleared the drip rail either. I masked the leading edge off that was under the trim in order to minimize paint build up.

I had a friend stop by that worked in Lansing during this era at Fisher Body and he stressed that each job had one minute to complete or it held up the line. He said a buddy did the tops on the assembly line and two guys would do it in under a minute. They sprayed the vinyl top with glue only. Whatever glue they used he said they could slide the vinyl around into position, smooth out the imperfections, and took scissors to trim the excess. The glue wasn't contact adhesive but something else.

 

Brad it looks like you've done a bang-up job on that top! Congratulations, it looks great. Is your color the Jade Gold Iridescent, Code "S?"

 

Thank You.
Yes, Jade Gold. My dad bought one of these new and I've been helping him recreate the color combo he had. Cool color in the sun.

 

Nice job, looks great. I'm less afraid now on replacing my top when the day comes. I think the vinyl tops set these cars off nicely vs. a painted roof.