C4 vert tops??
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
C4 vert tops??
Can some of the experienced guys shed some light on the differences in the convertible tops available for the c4 ? mine is a '90, I've noticed that there is like 3 different materials available, whats the difference? My current top seems to be more of a cloth material as opposed to a vinyl, how water repellant is that and would it be a good thing to treat it with scotchguard? thanks.
#2
Can some of the experienced guys shed some light on the differences in the convertible tops available for the c4 ? mine is a '90, I've noticed that there is like 3 different materials available, whats the difference? My current top seems to be more of a cloth material as opposed to a vinyl, how water repellant is that and would it be a good thing to treat it with scotchguard? thanks.
First hand information I believe is the better choice than mine or anyone else here might offer up. There are differences!
#3
Team Owner
All convertible tops were made from cloth (I think the material was called Sta-Fast??) except for the white convertible top. It was vinyl. The reasoning behind that was that a white cloth top would have been extremely difficult to keep clean.
When I had my '92 convertible, I never had any issues with water repellancy or leaking with the OEM top. The only cleaning material I uses was car wash soap and a soft brush.
Some people have had good luck with 303 Aerospace Protectant. They have a fabric water repellant that's supposed to work very well.
When I had my '92 convertible, I never had any issues with water repellancy or leaking with the OEM top. The only cleaning material I uses was car wash soap and a soft brush.
Some people have had good luck with 303 Aerospace Protectant. They have a fabric water repellant that's supposed to work very well.
#4
Safety Car
Convertible top
I've got an 86 with the black canvus top on it. It may have been in it's first rain earlier this month, came from N.M. so don't know what it experienced there. The top got wet, didn't repel the water and ironically had just gotten the 303 top kit in the mail the day before we'd left to go out of town where it got rained on.
I used the top cleaner on saturday and cleaned it up per instructions and left the car in the garage till sunday before doing the sealer. I put it in the sun for about an hour or two just to insure everything was fully dried out prior to treating.
I did it a little different, I have some 3 mil plastic leftover from an insulation project in the house. I cut some pieces out, released the top and slipped a piece between the top and the windshield, the top and the toneau cover and around the door windows so everything had a drop cloth setup. I also taped off the rear window and covered that also. The idea was cleanup would be easier, any overspray would be on the plastic, not the car.
I then coated the top per instructions and left it for another day that way to fully dry. when I finally pulled off all the plastic etc, I had to try it out and see how it worked. Water beaded up very nicely on the top so I call that a success.
I expect that's something I'll likely do every year or two. Don't know if it's really needed if it's beading water up properly, but seems to be cheap insurance.
I used the top cleaner on saturday and cleaned it up per instructions and left the car in the garage till sunday before doing the sealer. I put it in the sun for about an hour or two just to insure everything was fully dried out prior to treating.
I did it a little different, I have some 3 mil plastic leftover from an insulation project in the house. I cut some pieces out, released the top and slipped a piece between the top and the windshield, the top and the toneau cover and around the door windows so everything had a drop cloth setup. I also taped off the rear window and covered that also. The idea was cleanup would be easier, any overspray would be on the plastic, not the car.
I then coated the top per instructions and left it for another day that way to fully dry. when I finally pulled off all the plastic etc, I had to try it out and see how it worked. Water beaded up very nicely on the top so I call that a success.
I expect that's something I'll likely do every year or two. Don't know if it's really needed if it's beading water up properly, but seems to be cheap insurance.
Last edited by hcbph; 07-25-2014 at 09:51 AM.
#5
An interesting video of the two most popular products:
#6
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jan 2009
Location: Puyallup Washington
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 0
Received 285 Likes
on
134 Posts
The fabric tops should be completely waterproof with no protectant at all. The outer layer of Stayfast is a polyester, which will absorb water. It is bonded to a layer of rubber, which is waterproof. On the inside cloth is bonded to the rubber for appearance. If you do not want the polyester outer layer to absorb water when it rains or the car is washed then a protectant like Ragg Top or 303 can be used.
#7
Safety Car
Top
The fabric tops should be completely waterproof with no protectant at all. The outer layer of Stayfast is a polyester, which will absorb water. It is bonded to a layer of rubber, which is waterproof. On the inside cloth is bonded to the rubber for appearance. If you do not want the polyester outer layer to absorb water when it rains or the car is washed then a protectant like Ragg Top or 303 can be used.
PS I used to have a Spitfire Convertible, I can definitely tell you that top passed water till I dressed it, this top looks to be of the same material.
Last edited by hcbph; 07-25-2014 at 09:11 PM.
#9
Team Owner
Member Since: Dec 2012
Location: Outside the Quick Stop N.J.
Posts: 30,426
Received 1,596 Likes
on
1,074 Posts
After 28 years your top is probably not the original one, if it was it would probably look pretty ragged. Any halfway decent upholstery shop should be able to point you in the right direction as far as what to use on the top.