Vinyl roof replacement

[RobCavendish]

For the first time in ten years, I’ve decided to garage my sprint over the winter and carry out some much needed repairs. The first being a well overdue vinyl roof replacement.
This a a stressful job though, as it involves removing the windscreen, something I’ve not done for a long time, and the cost of a replacement has caused me to put the job off before.
However, I decided to get on with it and today have cut out the old rubber from the outside, it was actually pretty straightforward. I’ll just wait for one of my sons be be around now to lift the screen out. I need somewhere safe to store it though, another problem.
I’ve taken a few pictures of what I have found so far:
Both bottom corners of the screen aperture need welding and the roof is rusty in parts, and actually in a hole just above the driver’s A post. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I think that I hoped it would be better than this.
Does anyone know a good supplier of one piece vinyl roofs? Mine has no seams, I presume this is the later style, as my sprint is a 79 model.
Thanks,
Rob

[Mad Mart]

I always get my vinyl roofs from https://www.martrim.co.uk/

They can supply with or without seams and I believe they can still do the 'C' pillar trims in a similar material.

[RobCavendish]

Hi Mart,
Thanks for the reply. I did ring Martrim yesterday, but they say that they now only supply the material by length and width, they no longer supply roof material trimmed to fit.
I do have the old material that’s pretty much complete, but don’t know if I could cut it accurately enough myself, perhaps I will give it a go, as Martrim said they could probably match the material grain if I provide a photo.
Has anyone tried this themselves?
Thanks,
Rob

[Mad Mart]

Rob. You just need to order a length of material. I think 2 metres is enough, but I'd have to look back at my old restos to know for sure.

[Carledo]

Hi Mart,
Thanks for the reply. I did ring Martrim yesterday, but they say that they now only supply the material by length and width, they no longer supply roof material trimmed to fit.
I do have the old material that’s pretty much complete, but don’t know if I could cut it accurately enough myself, perhaps I will give it a go, as Martrim said they could probably match the material grain if I provide a photo.
Has anyone tried this themselves?
Thanks,
Rob

You don't cut the vinyl before fitting it, or only in the loosest sense of giving yourself 3-6" all round. Glue it up, stick it down and then trim round to get it exactly right. Yours, being seamless (yes that is correct for a 79 car) is a lot easier to do than the seamed variety. You will need a good set of heavy duty scissors and a super sharp craft knife preferably with several spare blades. Also a large flat area to lay the vinyl flat on whilst glueing it. I use a pair of wallpaper paste tables clamped together.

If I made it sound easy, i'm sorry, it really isn't! But nor is it insurmountably difficult either. I have to admit that though I CAN fit one, I normally get my good mate Cliff Griffiths to come and do mine and I help him, which makes it quicker and easier than doing it solo. (shameless name dropping)

Steve

Here's one we did earlier!



and another

[RobCavendish]

Mart and Steve,
Thanks to both of you for your replies, I will buy the material and give it a go myself. I can get one of my sons to help. The satisfaction of having done it yourself is still very pleasant.
If I screw up, I’ll have another go

[Carledo]

Another tip or two, to spread the glue, it's very important to a) not put too much on that it forms lumps under the vinyl, b) get a good, thin-but-even coverage on both roof and vinyl, c) wait till the glue is ALMOST dry before mating the two together and d) apply the vinyl initially along the roof centre line and stretch it carefully out, working out towards the sides to eliminate any air bubbles.

Cliff favours a home made glue spreader made from scraps of millboard, but you can buy plastic filler spreaders from a paint supply shop like Jawel Paints for not much money that work as well. I guess when you do as many as Cliff does, the cost would mount up quickly! Be prepared to junk them when you are finished! When applying the glue in tight spots like the guttering, a 1" paint brush is useful, this will also be junk when you're done so don't bother with a good quality or expensive one!

A 1 litre pot of glue will be ample, Martrim will sell you one with the material. Or Cliff recommends Wayside Adhesives high temp contact adhesive HTA1000. I've used both and, frankly, I can't tell the difference, but Cliff swears by the stuff and he should know!

Finally, a drop of panel wipe (also from Jawel) is good for cleaning up stray glue when you've done and doesn't hurt paint. It's also great for dealing with excess screen sealer when you've put the windscreens back in!

Steve

[Mad Mart]

I've always used spray contact adhesive on the vinyl roofs I've fitted, so no lumps & no spreading. Martrim can supply. You definitely need to stretch the material as you go, not excessively though.

[Carledo]

I've always used spray contact adhesive on the vinyl roofs I've fitted, so no lumps & no spreading. Martrim can supply. You definitely need to stretch the material as you go, not excessively though.

I guess i'm old school! When I worked at Car Hood Company back in the 70s, we always used tins of glue rather than aerosols, probably, as with Cliff and the spreaders, for cost reasons more than anything else! A litre pot is cheaper by far than the equivalent in aerosol form. When you are using several litre pots per DAY, as we were back then, this would be a factor! Not so much for a guy doing a single vinyl roof for his own benefit!

As i've never used aerosols in this way, I can't say for sure, but I imagine spraying it on the roof would be a bit problematic with glue overspray going everywhere you DON'T want it and giving you a sticky cleanup problem. Or time and materials to mask it up. But it's only a guess!

Steve

[Bumpa]

I don't think the spray-on contact adhesives are as strong as the pot stuff. I fitted a headlining with a spray can adhesive. During hot summer weather it came unstuck and drooped down. Repeated with a pot of Alpha contact adhesive and it's remained good for 10 years so far.

[RobCavendish]

Thanks everyone for all your advice,
I have bought a trimmed version of the material from Aldridge, and I'm now preparing my roof, getting the old glue off is pretty time consuming, I'm using a stanley knife blade with petrol, slow work, but I'm getting there. I've got a small patch to weld and fill around the drivers A post, and numerous rusty patches to treat and fill. I've also had to weld the gutter at the rear, and around the top edge by the screen, which is a bit awkward, as it is right on the curve. Further welding also needed at both bottom corners of the screen too; it's always leaked on the passenger side, so this should now cure that at last
I think that I will use the glue from a pot, at least it is controllable and you know where you are putting it. I watched a video showing the roof glued starting from the centre and it looked like a good way to do it.
I'll post some further pics next week.

[oily66]

I used a toffee wheel to get the glue off. Had it done in no time.

[Carledo]

I used a toffee wheel to get the glue off. Had it done in no time.

AKA "caramel wheel" I second this, these things are brilliant and not expensive. Got mine from ebay for less than a tenner including postage.

Panel wipe also shifts glue pretty efficiently.

Steve

[RobCavendish]

Update. After welding, filling, sanding and painting my roof over the winter, I've been waiting for a nice enough day when I'm off to fit my new vinyl roof.
Today was the day, and I've completed the job to my great satisfaction. It's one of the more stress inducing jobs that I've done, probably because it's my first one.
"Have I got enough glue?" Yes, but only just.
"can I get that crease/bubble out?" Yes, but only with some stretching and pulling, sometimes I could have done with an extra hand!
Next job is getting the front screen back in, but I think that I've had enough stress for one day.

[yorkshire_spam]

Nice work!