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...I finally got a vinyl top installed. It has its own story and issues in my build thread but this problem I think needs to be said here for awareness of my dumb mistake for the next person.
So with top installed, I posed the question of well how do I get access to the back of the panels to put in the little emblems (72 cutlass supreme hardtop, has those two potmetal "CS" emablems on the exterior sail panel sections. Got a nice response of, no need, they are friction mounted.
So I thought that was cool and walked on out to the car to install. And walked right back. Uhm, so, anyone have a good way to figure out where those two little holes are on each side? Since I figured i was going to be using a speed nut or something on the back, didn't even give the emblems a second thought as I would figure out where they were from my access to the back "plan".
So long story slightly shorter, how the heck do I figure out where the two holes are on each side, without destroying the vinyl?
And the learning for me, hopefully someone has some cool trick to handle this problem, please share! I may be the first dummy to do this, but I doubt it.
Well, there is the Hellen Keller method feeling from the outside, you can pop the sail panels on the inside to find the holes, or it may be in the Fischer Body Manual for the measurements. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-67-Old...pXBFJf&vxp=mtr
About 15 years ago I cut up a 1971 Cutlass Supreme. I still have a sail panel left... its a good piece so I've not been able to bring myself to throwing it in the scrap pile. But it might help with what you are working on. I've taken a few pictures of the outside skin. Then I flipped it over and looked inside and found a double wall with two holes behind the emblem area. I believe you could drill a couple holes in the inner most layer to see these two holes. Then with a sharp pick poke a small hole through the vinyl from the inside out. The last two photos are of me pointing to the area about where the double holes are. I think you could do this without affecting the structural integrity of the piece. Here's the pictures, let me know if there's anything unclear, or any other views you'd like to see. John
There's actually 3 layers. But I suspect a couple holes could be drilled through the inner most layer without causing a problem. The interior sail panel would cover this up. Its a thought anyway. John
So used it all (the info) and had excellent results. Took a needle, the pictures with measurements and my Helen Keller fingers and made short work of this. 2 for 2 on successful needle ****** actually being holes! Figured I would misfire a few times, hence the needle to minimize the damage. Not needed but for the next person reading it helped. When you find one hole use the actual emblem to get the second one figured out.
So I figure I am screwed on the front and rear window reveal clips, seems like I will need to cut out the vinyl at each pin.
Non pro tip - If they dont know how to do it at your local shop, just do it yourself. Paying for someone to kind of do it right, why bother...
February 26th, 2018, 02:33 PM
