Sportsroof Vinyl Top Protectant |
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havanariviera
Senior Member Joined: 24-August-2015 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 243 |
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Posted: 26-August-2015 at 11:32AM |
Hi, I am new to the forum, I have a 72 GTS fastback with a black vinyl top. I'm looking for recommendations as to which product(s) to use and processes for cleaning it, to protect it, etc. Any feedback would be much appreciated. note: it's not really dirty, and is kept in the garage - so the sun exposure is infrequent, but I want to maximize look, longevity, and integrity. Thanks!
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mcford
Senior Member Joined: 31-May-2003 Location: Utica, Michigan Status: Offline Points: 2160 |
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For protectant use Aerospace 303 http://www.goldeagle.com/product/303-aerospace-protectant
for cleaners, i would think a convertible top cleaner would be ok. You might also try mr clean erasers. just test a small spot but it worked wonders on the vinyl top on my 74 cougar xr7. turtlewax used to make a product years ago but no longer does. On my Pewter 72 sport with black vinyl top, i used a dye for truck bed liners and it worked great and looked fantastic even after a couple of years. Autozone carried it, I don't know if they still do. I have a spare kit i picked up if you can't find it.
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Mike
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havanariviera
Senior Member Joined: 24-August-2015 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 243 |
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Thanks, I am going to order the protectant you recommended. I don't think I need a dye as it still has great color; I think the 303 should do it. Originally, I was going to try: http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g15812-ultimate-black/
but I wasn't sure what to expect out of the product. Thanks again for the advice.
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Big Bird
Senior Member Joined: 25-August-2013 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 4194 |
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Don't use shoe polish...
It's wrong...just wrong... (I would put the little giggling smiley thingeys here, but sadly, I've seen people do it...)
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"What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind."
Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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welcome! post some pics
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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mcford
Senior Member Joined: 31-May-2003 Location: Utica, Michigan Status: Offline Points: 2160 |
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Mike
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mcford
Senior Member Joined: 31-May-2003 Location: Utica, Michigan Status: Offline Points: 2160 |
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Worked great, stayed on even after running it through automatic car washes.
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Mike
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havanariviera
Senior Member Joined: 24-August-2015 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 243 |
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Hi Mike, thanks for the information. The 3M product seems like a great option for restoring the color if faded; as mentioned, the color still looks good on mine. I'm hoping to find a means of keeping it that way. Great looking car by the way, mine is the same trim level, scheme, etc., but in black with the standard black vinyl bench seat.
Let me take this thread in another direction - there is a bulge or indentation (depending how one characterizes it) beneath the roof line on the vinyl top as shown. My car has the exact same characteristic; is this due to how the top was installed at the factory? I thought it was something unique to my car that needed to be corrected at some point. However, seeing your car is making me think otherwise. Thoughts from anyone would be appreciated. Thanks again!
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dave302
Senior Member Joined: 08-October-2009 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 3171 |
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If you are referring to the "indentation" in the roof that the arrows in the picture below are pointing to... Then I will say that that is where the roof was welded to the car body, originally at the ford factory.
Some people have removed the vinyl from the roof and filled in that area with body filler or other products to make it smooth and "Flush" with the roof. But as long as it does not have any rust in that area, most people leave that part alone.
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dave302
Senior Member Joined: 08-October-2009 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 3171 |
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Most of the gran torinos have the roofs welded to the body in that same location, but sometimes you can not see it because that indentation is sometimes filled in with body filler, or some other product originally from the ford factory. In the picture below, you cannot see the indentation. This is how most sports roof gran torinos (without the vinyl roof covering) looked when they originally left the ford factories.
Edited by dave302 - 27-November-2015 at 10:00AM |
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dave302
Senior Member Joined: 08-October-2009 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 3171 |
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In the pictures below, you can see where the roof is welded to the car body.
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dave302
Senior Member Joined: 08-October-2009 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 3171 |
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dave302
Senior Member Joined: 08-October-2009 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 3171 |
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Sometimes when you remove the vinyl roof covering and/or the roof trim and roof moldings (to do repairs, or to install a new vinyl covering for the roof), you might uncover more rust holes that might need to be repaired.
You can see what I am talking about in the pictures below. Edited by dave302 - 28-August-2015 at 4:16AM |
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dave302
Senior Member Joined: 08-October-2009 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 3171 |
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havanariviera
Senior Member Joined: 24-August-2015 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 243 |
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Thanks Dave, I really appreciate the information. I'm learning as I go, and it is helpful to know the origin. I was puzzled as I've never seen (or noticed) the indent on fastbacks without the vinyl top. Thanks again-
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dave302
Senior Member Joined: 08-October-2009 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 3171 |
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You're welcome.
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71 429CJ 4SP Spoiler
New Member Joined: 17-August-2015 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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The owner of PPC is chemist and a friend of mine and I use all his products and completely endorse all of them. Here is the rest of his products. Dean, the owner formulates all of his own products. Goes through extensive testing on everything. He is a classic car owner so believe me - he is very picky on his products used on his cars. Edited by 71 429CJ 4SP Spoiler - 28-August-2015 at 10:46AM |
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kychevyguy
Senior Member Joined: 16-December-2013 Location: Lexington KY Status: Offline Points: 1996 |
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Welcome to the forum.
It was common practice at the factory that when a car came down the assembly line that was to get a vinyl roof, only minimum dressing of this seam was done. They would do a final dressing on the car if it was not getting a vinyl top and would therefore be seen later. This was actually was quite common with all cars (Ford, GM, Mopar) of that period when vinyl tops were common. The seam is fairly "invisible" on the padded tops like mid-late 70s Cougars. Welcome, and post some pictures of your car! (It doesn't need to be a concourse show quality)
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JT, USAF Ret./Architect
1971 Ford F100 "Lizzy" 1971 Cougar XR7 "Kitty" 1984 Chevy Silverado "Sylvia" 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabrio "Lil Dude" 2015 Volvo XC60 R-Design "Sven" |
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havanariviera
Senior Member Joined: 24-August-2015 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 243 |
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Thanks everyone for the information. I will post some pictures once I'm setup on photobucket; in the meantime, the exterior looks virtually identical to the car in this listing. (except for the wheels, I have the Magnum 500s)
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72GTS351CJ
Senior Member Joined: 30-November-2010 Location: NY Status: Offline Points: 1481 |
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Les, Great looking car. Any more pics? Where did you find that beauty? Rick
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72GTS Clint Eastwood Special
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