Monitor the vinyl with a surface thermometer and when it is about 100 f turn off the heat and pull the fabric toward yourself to stretch it.
How to stretch vinyl on hot rod roof.
With the vinyl centered on the roof re install the aluminum track.
It has an ultra matte finish that is really pretty.
My little coupe rocks a stock body so it hasn t been chopped or had its roof filled.
Now that the foam has been trimmed the vinyl material is ready to be installed.
The vinyl supplied in the kit is a high quality vinyl that is completely waterproof.
Stretch heat transfer vinyl is an iron on vinyl that has well a bit of stretch to it.
All this needs to be done in a warm shop or preferably in the sun so that vinyl will stretch as much as it can.
Many hotrodders choose to weld a metal insert into their roof for various reasons but we chose to use fabric for a more traditional look.
To stretch out a piece of vinyl fabric first place the material facedown on a smooth working surface.
Seal edges with a modern rubber sealant to keep water out.
Hopefully that s as clear as mud.
The measurements were 1 front and rear and 2 1 2 on both sides to keep a stretch 6 1 2 all the way around.
Place the wood frame with the vinyl attached to it on the roof.
This post has a lot of photos but like speedy bill always said a picture is worth a thousand.
Glue and work the compound curve area at the back corner of the roof separately so you can pull hard on the vinyl as it forms around the curve.
Carefully center the vinyl on the roof.
Then hold a heat gun 6 to 8 inches above the fabric and use it to warm the material for 1 to 3 minutes.
Transfer those measurements to the backside of your thin cardboard and round the corners as before.
Recently done this very job on my 32 5w i would suggest that you take a mould of the roof so that you can take a replica out of it this panel you make would want to be about 3mm thick cut it to the desired shape and rad the edges cover that in vinyl and stick it on to the roof of your car with stikaflex or similar as it was moulded off your roof it will be a perfect fit.
This makes it ideal for applying to all kinds of fabric.
It works great on stretchy materials like lycra spandex or cotton and it s also fabulous for cotton poly blends polyester and even leather.
Do centers front and back centers on sides then start working toward corners stretching tight.
You don t want a billowing top going down road.
