Help, please... My convertible top has shrunk
Steve Forrester
the point where I can not put it up!
I have been unemployed for 1 year and can not afford to buy
a new one...
Does anyone know any softeners retail, commercial, industrial
or otherwise that I can use to soften and stretch my vinyl top?
I am really desperate!!!
Thanks!
Steve
gfr...@hotmail.com
mems...@yourpageant.com
heater in a closed garage... not if you value your life.
-Mike
"AZGuy" <jimnaz...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:cb5invkii5r1v4e7o...@4ax.com...
> Can you put the car in a garage, turn a bunch of electric heaters on,
> get the whole top as warm as possible and then put it up and leave it
> up. The heat might soften it enough to let it stretch.
> -----------------
> Jim
> '88 LX 5.0 (now in car heaven)
> '89 LX 5.0 vert
> '99 GT 35th Anniversery Edition - Silver
> Mods to date - Relocated trunk release to drivers side, shortened throttle
cable.
Steve Forrester
Great suggestion!
Having already employed it to its fullest, I feel I am in need of a chemical
answer, i.e., a softener of sorts, to achieve my objective.
Thanks, again!
Steve
"AZGuy" <jimnaz...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:cb5invkii5r1v4e7o...@4ax.com...
> Can you put the car in a garage, turn a bunch of electric heaters on,
> get the whole top as warm as possible and then put it up and leave it
> up. The heat might soften it enough to let it stretch.
>
> On Tue, 30 Sep 2003 00:16:21 -0400, "Steve Forrester"
> <gf...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
Steve Forrester
Great suggestion!
Having already employed it to its fullest, I feel I am in need of a chemical
answer, i.e., a softener of sorts, to achieve my objective.
Thanks, again!
Steve
"mem...@perlcoders.com" <mems...@yourpageant.com> wrote in message
news:xoaeb.1291$FW7...@newssvr22.news.prodigy.com...
GT-Vert-03
can until it mates with the windshield... it's possible that two people may
be able to yank it hard enough to close the gap. But I suppose if the top
is very old, or depending on what it's made of, there is a possibility of
splitting something via this method. What is the top made of again? I
wonder if soaking it with hot water would help to loosen it up a bit, just
enough for you and a helper to stretch the heck out of it and get it to mate
with the windshield. Once it is up and clamped in place, of course just
leave it up for several weeks at least so that it will stretch out nice.
How long was the top down previously? It must have been a while to allow it
to shrink so much.
SVTKate
Warm it up.
Use a blow dryer or find a way to warm the vinyl on it while it's "relaxing"
as you are putting it up..or park it in the sunshine then close it.
Kate
"Steve Forrester" <gf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uNKdnXBF7rs...@comcast.com...
Bill S.
Put the top up as far as it will go, then park it in the direct sun
for an hour. After that, it should regain some of it's "stretch", at
least enough to allow you to put it all the way up and latch it in
place. If you have to, after it has sat out in the sun for at least an
hour or two, you could always have a friend add some body weight to the
middle of it to allow it to fold closer to the latching
mechanism............
Do not use any sort of chemical on the roof, as you will degrade the
material to the point that it will be ruined within a short time period.
Bill S.
a l e x
anything.
- a l e x
"SVTKate" <SVT...@excite.competitive> wrote in message
news:FHfeb.76$dd2.13...@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
Steve Forrester
time I drop the top.
I really need a chemical answer, i.e., a softener or conditioner, to achieve
my objective.
Any thoughts?
Steve
"AZGuy" <jimnaz...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:cb5invkii5r1v4e7o...@4ax.com...
> Can you put the car in a garage, turn a bunch of electric heaters on,
> get the whole top as warm as possible and then put it up and leave it
> up. The heat might soften it enough to let it stretch.
>
> On Tue, 30 Sep 2003 00:16:21 -0400, "Steve Forrester"
> <gf...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
Steve Forrester
time I drop the top.
I really need a chemical answer, i.e., a softener or conditioner, to achieve
my objective.
Any thoughts?
Steve
"a l e x" <x...@x.com> wrote in message
news:oQpeb.165252$3o3.11...@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
Steve Forrester
EVERY DAY???
What is the top made of again?
VINYL
...leave it up for several weeks...
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, DOESN'T LAST
How long was the top down previously?
PUT IT DOWN IN THE MORNING AND FA-GET-ABOUT-IT... IT IS DOWN FOR THE COUNT!
"GT-Vert-03" <eagl...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:iVeeb.16205$Kq4.12...@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
Steve Forrester
I gotta see this...
Do I really look that stupid???
Steve
"SVTKate" <SVT...@excite.competitive> wrote in message
news:FHfeb.76$dd2.13...@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
Steve Forrester
Are you saying there are no conditioners or relaxers available to help me?
Thanks!
Steve
"Bill S." <bil...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:4Gheb.16880$Kq4.13...@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
GT-Vert-03
Is it a stock original top, or a replacement? Sounds like maybe it is a
cheap replacement top, or perhaps it's just really old...? I would think
that good original tops would last a long time before shrinking so bad that
they are almost impossible to put up. The top linkage etc is all adjusted
correctly, yes? I wonder if there's anything that could be done to the
linkage to help give you a little more slack in the top? I am surprised
that once the top gets stretched out that it shrinks back so fast... just
sounds like the top either never fit right from day one, or is perhaps made
from a cheap vinyl that has shrunk way more than it should have. Another
idea... just leave the top down all the time and get a good rain coat.
--------------------------------------
"Steve Forrester" <gf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:mPGcnZJFotD...@comcast.com...
Steve Forrester
How old is the top itself? Is it a stock original top, or a replacement?
ORIGINAL, I AM PRETTY SURE
The top linkage etc is all adjusted correctly, yes?
I DO NOT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT "TOP LINKAGE". WHERE CAN I LEARN ABOUT SUCH
THINGS?
Another idea... just leave the top down all the time and get a good rain
coat.
I HAVE GONE THIS ROUTE, TOO. NOW ALL THE ELECTRONICS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY!
Steve
"GT-Vert-03" <eagl...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:Qjreb.23366$Kq4.16...@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
CrotchViper
>Does anyone have a mirror?
>
>I gotta see this...
>
>Do I really look that stupid???
>
>Steve
Steve, what's your problem?
The Crotch Viper
'95 GT
www.mantisdesign.com/sam.html
(former Modless Wonder #1)
SRQEagan
>
>I gotta see this...
>
>Do I really look that stupid???
>
>Steve
You're starting to. Using a chemical softener (never heard of such a thing
anyway) would degrade the material of the top and you would end up replacing it
anyway. My suggestion:
1. Quit whining about it.
2. Get the top up, and leave it up until you can....
3. Scrape together some money.
4. Have top replaced.
5. Enjoy new top and get on with your life.
Nuff said.
Iggy
'01 Dyna Super Glide
'96 Mustang GT Convertible
Keep your powder dry and don't let your meat-loaf. :o)
Greg B.
problem, you will have a more expensive one in the future: your vinyl top
will disintegrate.
--
Greg B.
'01 V6 Convertible Premium Trim Option
Mods: K&N air filter, air silencer removed
Future mods: anything that doesn't blow up my engine!
http://home.comcast.net/~80ktrkr/ <--My New Website!!
"Steve Forrester" <gf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:TaecnaiR0ew...@comcast.com...
John C.
> It is getting cold and my vinyl convertible roof has shrunk to
> the point where I can not put it up!
>
If heating it up will get it closed, but under normal operating conditions it's
too tight, then this will work:
Are you daring? Do you have a good staple-gun? :)
Put the top half-way up. Pull back the top material from above the rear window.
There should be a cloth strip with staples in it, the strip/staples are holding
the top material taut from the rear-most bow to the windshield. Remove staples,
beginning with just a couple in the center of the strip. Try to close the top
each time you remove a couple staples. You will eventually get it to close. With
luck, there will be enough material there to re-staple the strip in a position
that will allow the top to function normally.
Don't remove all the staples at once! The top will be baggy as hell and will
take forever to get the top looking decent again! Adjusting the corners is a
PITA.
HTH,
__
John C.
'00 GT Convt
'03 Cobra Convt
Bill S.
not meant to be used to help "stretch" your convertible top back in to
place. heater won't work unless they are of the radiant variety and
mounted on the ceiling pointed down at the top. Chemicals will only
damage the top material itself. If you used ambient heat in the past, do
so again, but leave it outside in the direct sunlight all day if you
have to, as this is your only true choice. Otherwise, it's time to
replace the convertible top.
SVTKate
"Steve Forrester" <gf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:zZ-dnYXlhI5...@comcast.com...
SVTKate
Not so much stupid, but nieve and stubborn on this side of the glass *grin*
Kate
"Steve Forrester" <gf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:xNydnUUpvvI...@comcast.com...
SVTKate
Now you've done it John....
*rolling her eyes*
.... another one bites the dust. Let us know how you like the new top you'll
have to install Steve!
Kate
"John C." <idon...@hairyratsass.com> wrote in message
news:y6veb.10085$kD3....@nwrdny03.gnilink.net...
John C.
"SVTKate" <SVT...@excite.competitive> wrote in message
> OH FU*K!
>
> Now you've done it John....
>
> *rolling her eyes*
>
> .... another one bites the dust. Let us know how you like the new top you'll
> have to install Steve!
>
> Kate
>
Dang! I forgot the disclaimer. "Kids... don't try this at home!"
Better late, than never. :]
__
John C.
'00 GT Convt.
'03 Cobra Convt.
SVTKate
Kate
"John C." <idon...@hairyratsass.com> wrote in message
news:ZeCfb.25194$541....@nwrdny02.gnilink.net...
mtwdc...@gmail.com
doughd...@gmail.com
glenmo...@gmail.com
> It is getting cold and my vinyl convertible roof has shrunk to
> the point where I can not put it up!
>
> I have been unemployed for 1 year and can not afford to buy
> a new one...
>
> Does anyone know any softeners retail, commercial, industrial
> or otherwise that I can use to soften and stretch my vinyl top?
>
> I am really desperate!!!
>
> Thanks!
>
> Steve
>
heath...@gmail.com
Cindy
I just did this and heat really does work. I put an electric blanket on the
top of the vinyl top and put an electric heater inside the car. Two hours
later and the top snapped right on.
--
for full context, visit http://www.motorsforum.com/mustang/help-please-my-convertible-top-has-shrunk-11111-.htm