Joined: Tue Feb 28 2006, 04:03PM
Location: Virginia
Posts: 39
Loving my new Fury convertible so far. I put the top down last weekend and dug the wrinkled up original top boot out of the well and tried to snap it on. It looks like this thing hasn't been installed in many years. It's in great shape, but seems to have "shrunk". After about 30 minutes of trying to get it attached in the hot sun, it's still about 4 inches shy of being wide enough to snap on both sides. Sadly, one of the plastic clips broke too. Any tips for stretching this thing out? I've just left it on to see if that helps it. Thanks Guy <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited ]</span>
You could try and "steam" it out.The material is now dry and you have to try and put some moisture back in the material.We stretch leather this way and it works.When we have leather that is too loose,we take a heat gun to it to shrink it.We use a steamer to stretch it.I guess you could try and bring it in the shower and turn the shower on to meltdown mode.If you could fit it in the dishwasher on the steam cycle that may be ok also,don't know if it would be ok for the marriage,but thats another story.Use a conditioner on it after that.4 inches is a lot though.Glen
Joined: Sun Feb 05 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Pa
Posts: 3064
I'm sorry to say it's probably junk by now. When vinyl is that old and shrunk, even steam won't make the cloth backing come back - it's like a wool sweater after a trip thru the washing machine .....it might fit a Valiant now
Joined: Tue Oct 11 2005, 01:33AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 5893
Don't know if this help or make worse, but I had a cover for a tent trailer that shrunk a bunch and I soaked it in a bathtub full of hot water and a bit of dish soap. The dish soap is an emulsifier and lets the water really wet the plastic. Anyhow after about half an hour in the tub, the cover went on without any problem.
Joined: Tue Feb 28 2006, 04:03PM
Location: Virginia
Posts: 39
stitcherbob wrote ... I'm sorry to say it's probably junk by now. When vinyl is that old and shrunk, even steam won't make the cloth backing come back - it's like a wool sweater after a trip thru the washing machine .....it might fit a Valiant now
So. was this problem caused by just the way this one was stored....or do most original top boots have this problem due to old age? It's in such nice condition otherwise, that I might try a few things mentioned above. I guess I've got nothing to lose! Thanks
Joined: Sun Feb 05 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Pa
Posts: 3064
It's mainly due to the old cotton-based cloth backing. Most vinyls now use polyester based backings that resist shrinkage. Plus the vinyls have more chemicals in them now to keep them stable over time. When I offered an original boot for a 1961 Chrysler 300G to Legendary for patterning, they declined, saying they needed the car to fit the patterns. And that boot was only shrunk by 1/2" ! I was asked by the owner of a 1913 Cadillac if his boot could be saved. That was Pantasote - an early form of vinyl, and it shrunk and hardened worse than anything we see on our 60's-70's cars
Joined: Tue Oct 11 2005, 01:33AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 5893
Well I guess I'll find out first hand later this year when I try to put mine back on. When I bought the car in 1969, I removed it completely and folded it into box where it has sat for 37 years. I looked at it last year and my biggest concern was whether or not the folding would flatten out. Never thought of shrinking.
Had the same problem with the cover on my 70 Polara. Didn't think of all the possible "wet" solutions mentioned above. I treated mine with vynl conditioner and added a couple male snaps further back and out. Now if I start the plastic hook clips at each end and in the middle and work out to the corners it goes on nice and snug. Fred
Joined: Sun Feb 05 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Pa
Posts: 3064
Bill, you might find that your boot will still work, provided that it was new when stored away. The boot for my Dakota ragtop is still new because it was on the truck probably 5 times since 1989! It was always stored inside a closet so it's still as supple as new. Hope yours is too Just leave it in the sun on a hot humid day and those folds should come out.
ps - for everyone out there - material should be rolled instead of folded. I know it takes up less room to fold, but it will cause permanent damage. And if you have excess upholstery material, it should be rolled on a heavy cardboard tube to prevent wrinkling <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Thu Apr 20 2006, 07:45PM ]</span>