1966 Ford Mustang GT National Parts Depot Vinyl Top Replacement

Continuing to trim, Bobby cuts out the side window area.

A putty knife is used to press the vinyl material into the driprails before final trimming along the sides of the car.

Instead of removing the windshield molding clips, Bobby cut slits in the material and presses it behind the clips.

Bobby's work is done. The top is smooth and wrinkle-free. Now Merv can install the driprail retaining strips.

Made from thin aluminum, the convertible top driprail retaining strips are usually broken and have become hard to find in good condition. We found these via Mustangs Etc., a Van Nuys, California, company that specializes in original and NOS parts.

Merv lays the strips in place and aligns them with the factory driprail holes using a sharp punch. We were concerned that the holes in the strips, which came from a different car, may not line up with the driprail holes in our '66 GT, but they fit perfectly.

Long rivets were used to keep the strips in position.

With a small sheetmetal vice-grip tool holding the strip firmly in the driprail, Merv used 1/8 x 3/8 rivets to secure the strip. Like the factory, the rivets were installed from the bottom up.

Here's how the aluminum strips look once installed. Not very pretty, which is why the factory covered them with a silicone sealant.

Just like the factory, Merv applied a layer of waterproof silicone sealant over the aluminum retainer strips. Notice that Merv has protected the top material with masking tape. The sealant color should match the top color, either white or black for '65-'66 Mustangs.

A finger can be used to smooth the silicone in the driprail.

Chrome trim covers the edges of the vinyl top at the top of the quarter-panels. It is retained with nuts behind the sheetmetal.