Installing the vinyl top on my 31 sw 4d ts

[JohnB15632]

I was hoping to install the vinyl top before now, but life got in the way.
So, my question is, is it too late in the year to properly install the roof vinyl such that it will be tight into next summer? Or should I wait until next summer?

Thoughts?

[daveymc29]

I have the same type question out here in sunny Burnafornia. Should I try it on a sunny day soon or wait for next summer and a real hot day? I've heard differing views on paint first or put the top on then paint. What say yee?

[glenn in camino]

Everyone says that you should do it in the sun. If it's black, it will absorb the sun's heat.

[Hoovercw]

I stretched and lightly tacked mine on a cloudy but warm day. I had one or two small wrinkles that bothered me. The next sunny hot day I stretched again. I was able to get a full half inch more beyond the original tack point all the way around. I was glad I tried a second time on a warm sunny day. I did paint prior to putting the top on. Just be sure to mask around the area very well so you don't accidentally nick your paint while tacking. Also it is helpful to make corresponding marks on the tape lining up with your tack holes. That way you are not hunting where to put the tacks.

[redmodelt]

Hoovercw; your last bit about marking the holes on the tape, great suggestion and reminder. Someone posted that before and it was a real help when I did my first top.
The day I did mine might of been too hot but came out ok for my first try and it was a customers.

[Tacoma Bob]

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LOL...don't laugh BUT when I had my upholstery shops I used my heat gun inside pick up truck beds when I was making tonneau covers. I set the gun in the upright position and away I went. Worked great. As long as you don't have the headliner installed yet give it some thought.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Without a SUNNY day, it's even a BITCH to put a NEW Vinyl Tarp on your Modern Truck, the FIRST time. DEFINATELY, wait for SUMMER.
Bill Helper

[Bob Bidonde]

I put the vinyl roof on my 190A in the fall. There are no wrinkles in it. The hard part is bending the roof molding in the back corners. Save the original mold pieces if at all possible.

[George Miller]

Four doors are not that bad. Tudoor is the hard one on the rear corners.

[duke36]

Have done a couple; do it in the sun if possible. Also, the vendors' DVD on top renewal for the SW sedan has interesting info. using a "1/8 hardboard/ Masonite" filler in place of chicken wire.

[TRP]

I was looking at a similar task. What size tacks should be used? Is there a preferred size or brand?

Ted

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Chief, my Dad, used Horseshoe Nails, to temporarily hold it in place, until final stretching & tacking.
Bill Farrier

[Big hammer]

31 tudor, first weekend in the winter, heated up the garage to 70 something. It didn't go well, so plan B, made a wide jawed vise grip. Second weekend heated up garage to 80, using home made wide jaw vice grip and a ratchet strap pulling the top down, installed a tack, move the grip installed a tack and so on. I say it turned out good, I could bounce a quarter off the top when I was finished :-) Start in the middle and work your way to the corners, both side and front and rear. A coworker has a saying " where there's will there's a relative ! Installing my top was very rewarding for me, have fun and think though the job !

[tmiller6]

I didn’t have any seats in the car so I was able to place a kerosene heater inside the car as I worked. It was cool outside and it worked well.

[Richard Lorenz]

My grandson and I just finished putting a top on a '31 Coupe. For a sealant, we used Permatex ULTRA BLACK Advanced Formula, Maximum Oil Resistance Gasket Maker ( 13 ounce size) in the large tube. Fits in the ordinary squeeze gun. Very good stuff.