Taking the vinyl top off my 69 Newport

[Gelgoog13]

Had not planned on starting this job yet, but started noticing water in the trunk. Found a bigger mess than I planned for. Looks like this is the cars second top. Wondering if Earl Scibe also installed the top when they painted her 25 yrs ago. Was expecting the holes at the rear window. The surprise was the driver side a pillar. Looks like when they installed the new top, they just stuffed the holes full of the butyl for the windshield. Going to see if I can find a patch panel for it . Fortunately Looks like the rest of the top is in good shape.

 

[73 New Yorker]

Do you plan to put a vinyl top back on the car?

 

[JJ300]

My 300 was the same way. Found a great metal man to form and weld in a new PC. Good luck!I didn't put it back on ...

 

[73Coupe]

That is some serious decay and structural damage. Hope you can fix it or find a good body guy that does metal work. Good luck.

 

[Gelgoog13]

Fortunately my brother is an aircraft mechanic. So we should be able to get the back welded up. We know a junk yard in the area that has a 72 Fury. Hoping that it ha close to the same curvature at the corner of the windshield and we can get a patch panel out of it.

She won't get another vinyl roof. Hate the things for this reason. Plan is to leave the top in black primer for now and repaint the car over the winter.

 

[73 New Yorker]

Look forward to seeing it without the vinyl top. Will you stay with the stock body color and black painted roof?
I ask because my New Yorker is similar in the paint/roof color scheme.

It would be nice to see what someone else’s looks like finished.
I would love to get my vinyl roof removed and my top painted black.
Great to see another beautiful c body getting a second chance from someone who has the skills to bring it back to peak condition.

 

[Gelgoog13]

Haven't quite decided yet. Thinking about either something like a Hurst 300 but different colors or stripes like a 75 roadrunner or the roadrunner strobe stripe. Definitely staying white just haven't decided how to break up all that white.

 

[MONC440]

I’m in the same boat with my SF. Mine is really bad around the windshield but not as bad around the rear window. Luckily I already have a parts car with a good windshield and frame area.

 

[xxcarguy]

Had not planned on starting this job yet, but started noticing water in the trunk. Found a bigger mess than I planned for. Looks like this is the cars second top. Wondering if Earl Scibe also installed the top when they painted her 25 yrs ago. Was expecting the holes at the rear window. The surprise was the driver side a pillar. Looks like when they installed the new top, they just stuffed the holes full of the butyl for the windshield. Going to see if I can find a patch panel for it . Fortunately Looks like the rest of the top is in good shape.View attachment 721639View attachment 721640View attachment 721641View attachment 721642View attachment 721643View attachment 721644View attachment 721645View attachment 721646View attachment 721647

Look at the post from a while back “I’m not a metal man”
Looks like the same sort of repairs.
Good luck!

 

[RWCearley]

I was lucky that my 71 New Yorkers roof was in great condition. I believe the rust started because of the way the trim is attached. Its held in place with spring clips that chipped the paint (leaving bare metal) when pushed in place.

I installed a new vinyl top and when installing the trim will make sure the paint is not chipped in the process.

With respect to the rust around the windows, dirt tends to collect at the bottom trapping water and causing rust to form. Make sure this area stays clean.

 

[RWCearley]

Further none of the metal (interior) was rust proofed. I did this treatment while restoring my New Yorker. This chrysler has been in the family since new. Hopefully, will remain so for another 50+ yrs.

 

[Gelgoog13]

Got out to the junk yard this morning. Found a 72 Fury to cut a patch panel out of. Probably start on that tomorrow.

 

[Rustyrodknocker]

Been there my car has been two tone ever since... the entire top is wasted now but I got ten more years out of it. I have a new roof for it. Just need to get the time. Coincidentally behind the car in one Pic you can see myself suburban. I cut it's top off at the pillars and put that green roof on it.

 

[Rustyrodknocker]

Keep an eye out for a parts car with a good roof. Because i had already rebuilt my window channel and sail panel i foolishly had the parts roof cut off and hand and a half below the factory seam in order to minimize what I took from the parts car.

I would recommend cutting lower windshield pillar. Then in rear start in the bottom center of the quarter window. Cut down below the body line, then rearward far enough to come back up and take the entire sail panel and trunk seal and hinges.
Would have been less metal work.

 

[Rustyrodknocker]

As far as splitting the color up I will be reinstalling all the vynil top trim and painting the top a contrasting color. These cars look the best that way in my opinion.

 

[RWCearley]

These old Chryslers were never intended to last 50 yrs. Thats why they did such a poor job in sealing the vinyl top trim. Not sure why my top is not in the same condition as the ones here. Maybe just lucky. My 71 New Yorker has over 200,000 miles. It only had a few pin holes in the front and rear glass area (easily repaired before painting.) Also no rust on the fender and door trim holes.

I plan to seal each hole from inside with sensor safe silicone sealer. This product will not create rust problems later.

 

[Gelgoog13]

Pulled the Newport out and got the glue sanded off the top. Looks like when they replaced the vinyl top, they put down a few layers of primer. Probably saved the car.

Hopefully start patching the rust next weekend.

 

[RWCearley]

The trim at the bottom has some clips with nuts. Nuts can be reached from inside the trunk

 

[carguy300]

Im glad to see Im not the only one that has found this rust issue around the windshields and back glass. I have same problem with my 68 300, not quite as bad as some. I thought about fixing mine and leaving vinyl top off and painting it. It came with green top over gold so Im not sure yet which to go. The windshield doesnt seem to be that bad but body fill on roof pillar seams are in bad shape. Hoping I can do must myself, the pics some of you guys posted helps me alot.

 

[cbarge]

Fortunately my brother is an aircraft mechanic. So we should be able to get the back welded up. We know a junk yard in the area that has a 72 Fury. Hoping that it ha close to the same curvature at the corner of the windshield and we can get a patch panel out of it.

She won't get another vinyl roof. Hate the things for this reason. Plan is to leave the top in black primer for now and repaint the car over the winter.

The front windshield should be the same. But the rear totally different.