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Well it happened, I had my car parked in a well known parking lot while I was in the store; I came outside and noticed a cut in my top on the drivers side just above the first snap. The odd thing is its in the shape of a "V" about and inch long on each leg. Have any of you repaired your tops with anything that works? This is a bad spot for the repair as the stress from pulling it to the first snap is right in the area. Its the original top on my 78 midget and im guessing it is vinyl.
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Vinyl top Repair
- Thread starter Midget78
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Jim_Gruber
Yoda
Offline
Sweendog, It's age related. Time for a new top. Some vinyl scraps and Contact cement, applied from the inside will provide a very temporary solution to keep the top from ripping more. The only real solution is a new top. Some upholstery shops could repair and sew but that's going to require taking the top off so it can fit in a sweing machine. At that point in time, you are better off buying a new top. I bought one last year with zip out rear window. Came from England and exchange rate is better now. Took 5 days to be delivered from overseas. Like the quality, finally goes on this weekend. At the time with shipping $250-275 based on exchange rate.
Zip Out Rear Window is excellent for those really warm sunny days when sun is absolutely too much and you need the shade. Typically $20-25 more than non Zip Out Window.
Zip Out Rear Window is excellent for those really warm sunny days when sun is absolutely too much and you need the shade. Typically $20-25 more than non Zip Out Window.
bill_young
Jedi Warrior
Offline
I agree with Jim, sounds like a mild impact and the material is just so brittle it's starting to rip. I also agree about the zip out rear window idea. I got the best quote on one of these from the Little British Car Co. https://www.lbcarco.com/
bthompson
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Yep, when it starts to go, there's not much you can do long term but just replace it. Fortunately, Spridget bonnets are cheap compared to most any other car.
I've had to repair a few rips in mine until I get a new bonnet. I've had a lot of luck with this method:
Cut a vinyl patch to cover the rip, both top and bottom. With the top unfastened and slightly slack, use the rubber cement to stick both sides on. Hold it in place until it's firm. Then, pull the bonnet in place, but don't latch it. With an upholstery needle and upholstery thread (I used spiderwire fishing line, 'cuz I had some) sew across the rip. Go out a fair distance to get into the meat of the vinyl; about 3/4 of an inch wide, and run long stitches about 1/16 apart: lllllllll. Latch the bonnet (carefully if the rip is in a really strained place) and smear over the stitches with silicon gasket maker. Let it all dry, and that'll keep you leak free until you can buy a new top.
I've had to repair a few rips in mine until I get a new bonnet. I've had a lot of luck with this method:
Cut a vinyl patch to cover the rip, both top and bottom. With the top unfastened and slightly slack, use the rubber cement to stick both sides on. Hold it in place until it's firm. Then, pull the bonnet in place, but don't latch it. With an upholstery needle and upholstery thread (I used spiderwire fishing line, 'cuz I had some) sew across the rip. Go out a fair distance to get into the meat of the vinyl; about 3/4 of an inch wide, and run long stitches about 1/16 apart: lllllllll. Latch the bonnet (carefully if the rip is in a really strained place) and smear over the stitches with silicon gasket maker. Let it all dry, and that'll keep you leak free until you can buy a new top.
I just replaced my top the other week since there was a rip aobut 12" long by the passenger quater panel. To keep the old top sealed (while I was waiting to replace it), I used duct tape on the inside and used some silicon caulking on the outside. The repair job kept the inside nice and dry while I waited to replace the top.