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kirk knighton
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2005
Posts: 282
Location: Seattle
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 Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:39 pm Post subject: Cabriolet top preservation? |
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My lovely '85 Cabriolet has only 64,000 miles on it. I am only the second owner, it's always been garage kept, never driven in winter weather, etc.
The top is still in great condition, but in a couple of places where it folds it's starting to show a little dry "crustiness". Just little spots, almost unnoticeable.
This makes me wonder if there isn't a product out there that will help preserve the top, some kind of vinyl therapy or something to rub into it.
Any suggestions out there? |
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MrPapageorgio
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2014
Posts: 27
Location: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 10:12 pm Post subject: Re: Cabriolet top preservation? |
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I use "303 Protectant" .. I get it at Mountain equipment Co Op..
Clean the top well and spray it on... I then use a clean micro fiber and "massage" it in.... Top will look like new
https://www.goldeagle.com/product/303-aerospace-protectant/ |
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12848
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 6:56 am Post subject: Re: Cabriolet top preservation? |
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Don't put it down, the more you "exercise" it, the faster it will deteriorate.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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Butcher
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015
Posts: 1285
Location: Right Here
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 8:46 am Post subject: Re: Cabriolet top preservation? |
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Canvas tops seem to last longer with little maintenance.
Once the vinyl is starting to crack, it's not going to stop. |
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kirk knighton
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2005
Posts: 282
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 10:12 am Post subject: Re: Cabriolet top preservation? |
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I'm guessing new tops are $$$$$$$$$$$$$$?
And are they even available? |
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12848
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 10:30 am Post subject: Re: Cabriolet top preservation? |
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| kirk knighton wrote: |
I'm guessing new tops are $$$$$$$$$$$$$$?
And are they even available? |
$200-$500 depending on material, expect two to three times that for labor depending on locale.
I’ve installed a couple of dozen of these...
https://www.topsonline.com/model/Convertible_Tops_...olf_1.html
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7916
Location: Arizona
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ach60 
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2001
Posts: 4139
Location: Santa Maria
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 1:25 pm Post subject: Re: Cabriolet top preservation? |
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| Butcher wrote: |
Canvas tops seem to last longer with little maintenance.
Once the vinyl is starting to crack, it's not going to stop. |
The chemicals in the vinyl that allow the vinyl to be flexible degrade and outgas from the vinyl over time.
The sun makes it happen sooner, but it happens even without exposure to the sun.
There is nothing you can put on them to stop it.
Canvas is better, has about twice the lifespan as far as I can tell.
The Cabby rear window pops in the top like the old VW Convertibles, unlike the New Beetle rear window which is bonded to the top.
Don't delay installing a new top, the car rots away if you don't.
_________________
Good Luck
Al |
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12848
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Cabriolet top preservation? |
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One of the problems with canvas tops is that cats like to use them for both hammocks & scratching posts.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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1990 Vanagon Westfalia: 
