Top Boot Shrinkage

[Brian Rachlin]

On a 76 Eldorado Convertible,

Does anyone know of a way to "stretch" a shrunken convertible top boot?

I have a perfect top boot, but the vinyl has shrunk a bit, and I cant fasten it all the way around.  Leaving it in the sun for a few hours did not help.

1.  Is there a chemical agent that may soften up the vinyl?

2.  Who sells the nicest replacement boots?

3.  Its a black car with a red interior.  The boot is black, but I think it would look better in red to match the rest of the interior.  What do YOU think?

Thanks,

Brian

[Brian Daum, 18809]

Hi Brian, Brian here...

My 72 Eldo Conv has the same problem, but the sun is not hot enough to be able to stretch it. When I first got the car in January I just couldn`t beleive I would ever get it to fit. I still put it on and had a friend stretch it as much as we dared. As weather gets warmer so does the Top Boot, but I figure that I will have to wait for those real hot summer days to get a perfect fit. After I get it on, it`ll stay there!

But the strange thing is that a friend om mine just bought a 1975 Eldo Conv. and mine fit on his car like a glove, is the 72 bigger than the 75???

Anyway, Brian, I think I would go for the black top boot, in my opinion it gives the car a cleaner, more elegant look...

Black with red interior! That`s must be nice!!!

Regards

Brian
Norway

[Bruce Reynolds # 18992]

Gday Brian and Brian,

The tops for the Eldo for 71 through 76 are the same, and the boots are the same.

When I had my 55 Chev Convertible, many years ago, I was advised never to put the top up or down unless it was a hot day, and never to put the top up if the sun had gone down.

It is surprising just how much the material will stretch when left out in the sun for a while.

The worst thing for convertible tops is the cold, and it doesnt get that cold here in Tasmania, but still cold enough to park the car in the garage with it down, until the next day the sun comes out.

My mate with a 64 Galaxie Convertible left his top down all winter once, and when Spring came, put it up after the sun had warmed the car up, and it went up perfectly.   It still had the original top until 4 years ago.

Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV

[Dave Smith]

Hi Brian!

   Usually the soft boot matches the interior color.  The optional Hard-boot would match the exterior color.    I got tired of fighting with the soft boot too and just use the Hard boot.  They show up on Ebay quite regularly and can be painted to match your car.    

  David

  75 Eldorado convertible
   "Bombay Yellow"

[Lars Kneller 8246]

If you put your boot in the clothes dryer for a little while, it will stretch more easily and should fit.

[Brian Rachlin]

I never would have thought of that...

I did have a friend that used to put the wire hubcaps from his Caprice convertible in the dishwasher...

We just keep coming up with new and different ways to get our wives angry at us.

The car does have the hard boot too, which is black (body color), but for short trips, or parking somewhere and wanting to put the top up, the soft boot is a better option.

It is at least 1.5 inches short of fitting, and when I try to tuck it under the belt molding, it wants to pull the molding off!

I think I will shop around for a replacement.

Thanks,

Brian

[jim]

I bought a new boot for my 1975 caprice(same as yours) and it ended up to be the exact same size as the old shrunk one and I still fight with it.

[Lars Kneller 8246]

I have an old dishwasher in my shop for washing parts.  Its one that has wheels and hooks up to the sink.  It keeps my wife happy since I dont use hers.

[Andrew 10642]

What do you use for a cleaning solution?

What parts does it work well on, whatparts doesnt it work on?

Pretty cool idea

[Lars Kneller 8246]

I use regular dishwashing detergent.  It works well for stainless parts, like the wire wheel covers.  The bleach in it does tend to accelerate rust on iron parts.