Has anyone removed the fake convertible top from their STS?

[rl256]

I searched and couldnt really find much. I just got a killer deal on a 92 STS. Part of the reason was probably because it has the "fake convertible top" on it. I was wondering if this was a factory option of dealer option on these cars b/c i dont see many of them. If its a dealer option would there be matching paint under there and could it just remove it. It looks to be screwed on there so maybe with a little bondo and new paint it could be done. heres a few pics (not bad for $1900)
anybody?
thanks ryan

[Gearheaad43]

Bondo???? Nahhhh should not need any.... Maybe a solvent to remove the glue.. There should be paint underneath that shit top... Ohh and I hope you don't have a sunroof under that .. Yes I've seen em..... If you can remove all the glue with out damage to the paint You'll have a showroom new painted top....

[rl256]

LOL the top is only glued on? you gotta be messin with me. i dont think theres a sunroof. i would be able to see it from the inside

[CadillacSTS2003]

yuh
they are glued
i read about someone whos top ripped off while driving one time lol

[rl256]

damn thats some bitchin glue to last 14 years. I guess ripping it off the top isnt an option lol

[CadillacSTS2003]

dude
get some like goo gone
or like wd40
and then use a hair dyer and heat it

[Gearheaad43]

Heat gun/ Hair dryer should allow you to get the glue soft enough where you will not have to let her rip "OUCH" .... .. Then you can remove the leftover glue..with goo gone OR 3M adhesive remover. (Like ETC states) The stuff used under the conv't fake top is probably 3M spray adhesive.



Nice Caddy BTW!!!!!

[thu]

I think you might be sorry if you tried to remove the fake roof. It just seems like a can of worms waiting to happen. It looks decent, however ghetto it might seem to you. It also appears to be in excellent shape, so it doesn't look like trailer trash. If you proceed with it, good luck and let us know how it goes.

[rl256]

Originally Posted by thu

I think you might be sorry if you tried to remove the fake roof. It just seems like a can of worms waiting to happen. It looks decent, however ghetto it might seem to you. It also appears to be in excellent shape, so it doesn't look like trailer trash. If you proceed with it, good luck and let us know how it goes.

I was thinking the same thing about it being more trouble than its worth. It really is in excellent shape, and it matches the color of the car which to me looks better than the ones i see that contrast it. I might leave it for now and maybe remove it if i have the whole car painted or something
ryan

[WarrenJ]

It's been some time since I spoke to the "glass guy" during a windshield replacement on my '95 Eldorado. He'd told me it would cost a fortune to replace my rear windshield inasmuch as the car would have to first visit the body shop to have the carriage top removed, then back to the glass shop, then back to the body shop to have the top replaced. I think he mentioned a figure close to $3,500.

Somewhere in there he spoke about the carriage top being part of a "basket" that was riveted to the roof.

In any event, it wasn't simply a matter of "peeling off" a glued top.

I'd leave it alone if its in good shape.

Regards,
Warren

[turbojimmy]

Originally Posted by Gearheaad43

Bondo???? Nahhhh should not need any.... Maybe a solvent to remove the glue.. There should be paint underneath that shit top... Ohh and I hope you don't have a sunroof under that .. Yes I've seen em..... If you can remove all the glue with out damage to the paint You'll have a showroom new painted top....

Mine has a sunroof and a carriage top. I have no idea what people are thinking when they do such things.

It is a fiberglass 'basket' with the fabric glued to it. The basket is riveted/screwed to the body. It's technically possible to remove it, but there would be a fair amount of body work and paint work to do in order to repair the damage that's left. The paint that has been protected by the top for 15 years is not going to match the rest of the car.

Jim

[slc]

I am seeing you have a 92 STS and probably a lot of miles on it. Lets face it, with enough money, you can do anything but you have to ask yourself if you really want to spend the cash to do it.

The car does not look all that bad with the top on but consider this...

parts of the car has the top glued on. You need to talk to a body shop about that glue. I have NEVER seen the glue softened to a point where it would release the paint. THE PAINT ALWAYS COMES UP WITH THE PAINT, then you have to sand, primer and feather then paint.

If the main part is a Fibreglas carriage that is rivited down, now you are dealing with HOLES. Just in the proceedure to rivit this panel down, the metal is distorted. That roof will never look factory without major bondo. When you talk to the body shop about the glue, ask about removing the fibreglas carriage and repairing the holes.

You probably will find it more cost effective to just keep it as is. If the back window breaks and they want a fortune to remove the top to replace the window, then look into all the costs of keeping the top off. You won't save a lot of money doing it this way but if the window breaks again, it will be a cheaper fix with the top gone.

The tops that the Caddy people put on are always elaborately installed and are not intended to be removed, at least not easily and that can translate into expensive.

Go do some research and ask some experts about it but at the age of the car and probable mileage, you probably should just enjoy the car as is, it just does not look that bad.

Good luck

s
98 ETC

[delzy]

I bought my 67 Chrysler 300 with some rust under and tears in the vinyl top. I know that is a lot different than the carriage top, but nonetheless, I was told that replacing the vinyl material would cost about 1/3 as much as trying to do the body work to make it a painted hardtop.

Since the car is more of a driver than a colletor's item, I decided to do a real quick and dirty. I ripped off all the vinyl. Sanded the glue down with a palm sander and used rust killer and primer on the rust spots. I used truck bed liner and cut in around the trim and rolled the rest. It turned out really nice, sealed the top from further corrosion and only cost about $50 and 3 or 4 hours of work.

I also have enough left over to give it another coat if ever necessary or desired.

My reccomendation is to keep the carriage top. It was an expensive option and adds class to the vehicle (although I would never pay more to have it - I prefer a hardtop).

[Kcryan]

Wow, that sounds almost as hard as getting my allantes top down...


Seriously though, just leave it, its not too too bad...

[rl256]

Yeah i think it will stay on lol. way too much work involved. would cost more than i paid for the car to remove it and repair the roof and paint.
ryan