Sheet metal questions

[Racefan]

Can someone give me some insight to whether or not the factory vinyl top cars were painted/primed under the vinyl? I am not finding anything under the current (2nd) paint job there. They left the factory paint under the rest of the car so not sure why they would strip it, unless to get rid of adhesive. Also, at what point would you guess consider actually using the replacement roof panel. My car has some rot on the top lip the windshield sits in. Schoenye, I am getting ready. Driver's side needs a FULL quarter.

[drdave69]

My previous '69 Z/28 had the original vinyl top on it. Upon removing it for repaint, I noticed that there wasn't full paint coverage underneath. It appears that it was primered and then light paint overspray. The seams in the top on the sail panels were not smoothed from the factory. I guess they knew that they would cover it.

[camarojoe]

What Drdave posted in right on the money... usually there is light coverage if any coverage of paint on the metal roof under a factory top, and the 1/4 panel seams are very crudly finished... on original vinyl top cars, its not uncommon for this area to look and feel very wavy/rough, as the original cloth-backed vinyl didn't hide too much. Assembly line workers didn't spent too much time doing any finishing work in the roof area knowing the car was going to get a vinyl top.

[COPO_Anders]

I agree with Dave and Joe. We removed the original vinyl-top from Hasses -69 SS396 Camaro a year ago, and it was very rough underneath.

Anders