Opinions Needed

[BobR]

Did Ford ever put a Vinyl Top on 1970 F100. The reason I'm asking is I'm considering putting one on my F100. Also does anyone know if there are kits available. I'm aware of a seller on EBay but they apparently don't wish to answer my request for info.

If anyone has pictures please post them.

All constructive opinions and comments welcome.

Thank You BobR

[69rangerf100]

i havent seen any vinyl tops on the cabs but i think it might look good done right and having the right color scheme

[BobbyFord]

Vinyl tops breed roof rust...

[Joshpow]

Nevr seen vinyl but ford did a textured black top and white paint top. I had a 70 f100 with the textured black top. Looked kinda neat. No worry of vinyl rust issues either. Reminded me of a bedliner's texture.

[BobR]

Thanks to all who responded

I agree with rust concerns. The idea of Bed Liner type material sounds like a good idea.

Any further comments still welcome

Thank You
BobR

[Joshpow]

A little digging and look what i found! Here is from a 1970 brochure scan keith posted. It is just called simulated vinyl.

http://www.fordification.com/library/ma ... temId=2097

Hope this gives you an idea.

[1982 flareside]

http://www.fordification.com/myprojects/my67_p02.htm
Keith found one.

[Joe Kriston]

BobR,
I'm glad I'm not the only nut on this site who considered a vinyl top for their truck...i was scavenging thru a junkyard a few years ago looking for some bump parts and came across a weathered green '72 with a genuine black vinyl roof...Though it was well tattered, I thought "How cool is that?"...I'm sure it wasn't original, but in keeping with my '70's look, I thought it would be the final detail on my truck in making me 17 again....Well, maybe not, but i think a vinyl top would be super cool...

[cdeal28078]

There is a yellow shortbed not far from me with the black textured top. Looks pretty good to me. I wouldn't do it to my truck but it looks good on that one.
clint

[BobR]

Again I can't thank all enough for your great input.

So here's a little test I'm doing. I took a piece of sheet metal roughed it up with 80 grit sandpaper. Cleaned it. Then I took some scrap pieces of vinyl the wife had left over. I cut a couple of 1/2" X 12" strips then used Permatex Super Weatherstrip Adhesive, sometimes called "Gorrilla Snot" to stick on the sheet metal.
The purpose of the vinyl strips is to simulate seams.

After the adhesive dried I then brushed some left over bed liner coating on the entire piece of sheet metal and vinyl strips. After doing the brushing I could see that a foam roller would have gave a better look. Overall my little test didn't look all that bad.

My main concern is how well will this hold up during all types of weather.

Oh by the way, Joe Kriston we aren't NUTS just a little different. Also at my age 71, I think I've earned the right to be Nuts or a little different. In fact it's fun to be different. LOL

Again Thanks to all for your help
BobR

[70_F100]

Back in the early 70's, the Blazers and Jimmys (I know, I know...) used a textured paint on the roof that gave a simulated "vinyl top" look.

I think that more closely resembles the vinyl top look than bedliner.

I'm also pretty sure you can still get the "real" vinyl top material. The secret to helping prevent it from rusting underneath is to have a good coat of paint underneath. They usually didn't put much paint on the roofs of the vehicles on which vinyl tops were installed, thus allowing rust to form. Simple enough to install, they just sprayed on an adhesive like the 3M weatherstip adhesive and laid the vinyl over it.

Just my

[mk]

That textured vinyl roof option actually started about halfway through the '69 production run, probably about the same time they introduced the 302 in the bumps.
Here's a bump with a padded vinyl roof I came across at a wrecker in Calgary a few years ago...




mike