Bill,
The vinyl roof delete is one of my winter projects... possibly this next week since I will have some time off. I started this once but got interrupted and had to back up.
This is what I learned...
For the most part you can do this yourself. The roof is painted and clearcoated under the vinyl and unlike older cars the vinyl padding is self-adhesive instead of sprayed on glue. This means that it WILL peel off! It comes off perfectly clean although there is some effort involved. Use a hair dryer to warm it up and it just rolls off.
Now for the minor complications...
The molding at the bottom of the C-pillar is held on by clips on a stud that is welded to the body. There are about 3 on each side that will have to be ground/cut off and refinished/touched up. Also the rear window does not have the rubber molding around the edge. You will have to get the entire rear window ($100 +/-)from a non-VR salvage because the molding is not sold separately.
The only other issue is that you may need a roof joint molding at the top of the C-pillar. #10205994 & #10205995 $31.75 each. When equipped with the VT the factory just throws some filler in there which will also have to be removed or finished and painted.
Let me know when/if you get into this... I can give you the procedures for getting all of thh moldings/trim off.
BTW, The Fleetwood Brougham was available as a special order without the vinyl top. Good Luck finding one though... I have tried. The only ones that I have ever found were NOT for sale
The vinyl roof delete is one of my winter projects... possibly this next week since I will have some time off. I started this once but got interrupted and had to back up.
This is what I learned...
For the most part you can do this yourself. The roof is painted and clearcoated under the vinyl and unlike older cars the vinyl padding is self-adhesive instead of sprayed on glue. This means that it WILL peel off! It comes off perfectly clean although there is some effort involved. Use a hair dryer to warm it up and it just rolls off.
Now for the minor complications...
The molding at the bottom of the C-pillar is held on by clips on a stud that is welded to the body. There are about 3 on each side that will have to be ground/cut off and refinished/touched up. Also the rear window does not have the rubber molding around the edge. You will have to get the entire rear window ($100 +/-)from a non-VR salvage because the molding is not sold separately.
The only other issue is that you may need a roof joint molding at the top of the C-pillar. #10205994 & #10205995 $31.75 each. When equipped with the VT the factory just throws some filler in there which will also have to be removed or finished and painted.
Let me know when/if you get into this... I can give you the procedures for getting all of thh moldings/trim off.
BTW, The Fleetwood Brougham was available as a special order without the vinyl top. Good Luck finding one though... I have tried. The only ones that I have ever found were NOT for sale
