Cut it off or try and fix it?

[Ghoste]

Just wondering here.  Some of you other folks who have restored rusty old vinyl top cars, did you fix the junk or just cut that sucker off and weld a new one in it's place?

[RogerDodger]

I guess it would depend on the extent of the damage. If the damage is so severe you would cut off the top and replace it then whats the condition of the rest of the car? Any pics?

[tan top]

depends on the condition of the rest of the really , if it is only a few holes and the rest of the roof  D/S 's up with 80 grit or some thing  ,ok to shiney metal  with no weak spots  from wire brushing rust patches ,being the roof is only thin gauge stuff then it is good to go . but i have seen a few roofs that are like they have just been pulled up from the middle of the Atlantic after 30 years & the roof is just sheet of rust , buy the time you try  wire brushing  it  to try to get to bare metal   #1  the roof is pitted it would need a skim coat of bondo #2 more than likely you would wire brush through be fore hitting good metal  #3 witch is more common over the hole roof panel , no matter how much you wire brush the rust 99% of the time you are allways left with a tiny dark dot in the centre of pitted areas witch is corrosion press it with a nail or something & it will go through ,  for me thats the time to change the roof .

[Ghoste]

It's more where it is than how much that worries me.  The roof overall seems pretty good but it's bumpy pretty bad around the top of the windshield and the backlight.  Those are pretty touchy areas to start replacing metal aren't they?
I won't know the real extent until I remove the top of course.  Just trying to plan ahead a bit.

[tan top]

with out looking under the top it is difficult to estimate . if the vinyl top has been on there a long time / original it could be bad , as opposed to one being fitted  five years ago &  the roof not being prepared properly ,  (Ghoste ) got any pictures

[Ghoste]

I don't know for sure but I think that the top has been replaced but that the roof was crusty before and that it wasn't properly prepped before changing the top.  I'm only guessing though based on good the vinyl seems and how crusty the bad spots seem.
I realize I'm getting ahead of myself and asking a question that is basically impossible for you to answer without seeing it.  I'll have to get the top peeled off and and get some pics of it.

[bull]

I'm just guessing here but I would think it would be easier to try fixing what you've got rather than replace the entire roof, unless it's a complete loss. Especially when you consider the process of trying to find a good donor, buying it and having it shipped or picking it up. But on the flip side, a roof is about the last thing to disappear off a parts car so you might find the skeletal remains of a Charger locally that has the roof still left on it compared to say a fender or grille. I definitely wouldn't look too far from home though.

[Ghoste]

Agreed and luckily there are a couple of skeletons in a yard not too far from me.  The roof is about the only usable part left on both so I should get one before they are turned into Chinese raw stock.

[K9COP]

Hey guys.. I just imported a '68 and found that the roof was so shot, that just transporting in on a flat bed was enough to lift the roof, vinyl and all, off the frame. I've now got to import a second hand roof, and have found one in Plano, TX. I'll replace the whole lot. Anyone know of a member in Plano or nearby who could package it for me? Seller is not helping out..