Canvas or Vinyl?
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,563
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From: Seattle, WA
Canvas or Vinyl? Does anyone know how to tell if the tops for our cars are canvas or vinyl? Mine is a 1999 WS6 with a black top. It looks like canvas up close but I have been told by reputable sources that it is vinyl but also by reputable sources that it is cloth. Is there any way to know for sure? I know GM used both in this period. Someone might say to ask the dealer, but they are more clueless than I am in such cases.
Deranged Rat Fink
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,495
Likes: 1
From: Right here at my laptop, DUH!
The top material if it is cloth is called Stayfast,which is a durable canvas material with a rubber backing on the inside. It is vastly superior to the vinyl tops.
RaggTopp protectant is what you want. Search it up,
wide range of retail pricing to be found, worth the
digging to get a deal. Last time I bought a couple of
cans it was from some hole-in-the-e-wall Yahoo store
that mostly sold car miniatures etc. I forget the name
now.
wide range of retail pricing to be found, worth the
digging to get a deal. Last time I bought a couple of
cans it was from some hole-in-the-e-wall Yahoo store
that mostly sold car miniatures etc. I forget the name
now.
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,563
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
ok, I have MY answer. I had to call GM and get them to do a vin search to tell me flat out. (and even then they did not sound 100% sure.) Mine is a cloth top, but they used both on all fourth gens. The test seems to be that if when you dry the top with a towel and lint is left behind, it is cloth. If no lint, then the top is vinyl. If you really want to know though I would contact GM directly. Even my local Pontiac dealers did not know.
Launching!
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
From Haartz.com who manufactured our tops:
Stayfast
Construction: A three ply composite made of
100% acrylic square weave
outer fabric, a butyl rubber
inner layer and a 100% cotton
drill lining fabric.
Benefits: - Superior Tailorability
- Excellent Wrinkle Resistance
- Superior U.V. Resistance
- Superior Weatherability
- Excellent Durability
- Excellent Cost/Performance
- Excellent Low Temp. Flexibility
Original Equipment
EUROPE
-Alpha Romeo Spider
-Lotus Elise
-Rover MGF
-Peugeot 306
-RR Bentley Azure
USA
-Chevrolet Camaro
-Dodge Viper
-Plymouth Prowler
-Pontiac Firebird
Japan
-Toyota Celica JAPAN
-Mazda Miata
-(US O.E. and Replacement standard for 20 years)
Suggested Cleaning and Care:
CAMBRIA®, STAYFAST, TWILLFAST®
Solution Dyed Acrylic Topping Fabric
Ordering Information at bottom of page
Although the fabric does not promote mildew growth by itself, mildew may develop on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed. This is especially true in warm, humid, dark environments. A program of keeping the fabric clean through regular washings, BEFORE it gets dirty, will enhance the life and beauty of the acrylic and make successive cleaning easier.
Most automatic car washes will not harm cloth top fabrics. Washes with water jets and hanging cloths provide a more gentle cleaning action. Those using heavy barrel brushes could damage the top material. Haartz recommends hand washing.
The Haartz Corporation recommends using RAGGTOPP™ Cleaner and RAGGTOPP™ Protectant (available from Wolfsteins Pro-Series at tel: 800-377-4700, fax: 770-395-1353, e-mail: info@wolfsteins.com).
Hand washing in shade or partial shade, not direct sunlight, is best. DO NOT USE DETERGENT. Bird and tree droppings, as well as other loose particle soils, should be removed immediately. Vacuum with a brush attachment and rinse thoroughly with water to remove loose particle soils. This will also prevent the soils from being redeposited during the cleaning process. Once the fabric has been rinsed thoroughly, spray RAGGTOPP™ Cleaner evenly over the entire surface while still wet. Allow the cleaner to soak for 10 to 20 minutes and then scrub lightly with a soft nylon brush or terry cloth rag. Rinse thoroughly, preferably until no remaining soap foam is observed. Additional cleanings may be required. It is best to determine the need for additional cleanings after the fabric has dried completely.
Washing with soap (ie. Ivory or Lux) and warm water is a safe alternative to RAGGTOPP™ Cleaner, but not as effective.
For more stubborn cases, mix a solution of no more than 1/2 cup (4oz.) bleach and 1/4 cup (2oz.) RAGGTOPP™ Cleaner per gallon of water, soak for approximately 20 minutes and scrub lightly as indicated above. (Excessive soaking with the bleach solution can deteriorate seam threads.) Rinse thoroughly to prevent streaking on painted and chrome surfaces. Several cleanings may be necessary.
Once dry, cleaning must be followed by re-water repelling with RAGGTOPP™ Protectant. (This product does not contain CFC's and therefore, is not harmful to the environment.) Failure to apply will result in rapid resoiling of the unprotected fabric.
Construction: A three ply composite made of
100% acrylic square weave
outer fabric, a butyl rubber
inner layer and a 100% cotton
drill lining fabric.
Benefits: - Superior Tailorability
- Excellent Wrinkle Resistance
- Superior U.V. Resistance
- Superior Weatherability
- Excellent Durability
- Excellent Cost/Performance
- Excellent Low Temp. Flexibility
Original Equipment
EUROPE
-Alpha Romeo Spider
-Lotus Elise
-Rover MGF
-Peugeot 306
-RR Bentley Azure
USA
-Chevrolet Camaro
-Dodge Viper
-Plymouth Prowler
-Pontiac Firebird
Japan
-Toyota Celica JAPAN
-Mazda Miata
-(US O.E. and Replacement standard for 20 years)
Suggested Cleaning and Care:
CAMBRIA®, STAYFAST, TWILLFAST®
Solution Dyed Acrylic Topping Fabric
Ordering Information at bottom of page
Although the fabric does not promote mildew growth by itself, mildew may develop on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed. This is especially true in warm, humid, dark environments. A program of keeping the fabric clean through regular washings, BEFORE it gets dirty, will enhance the life and beauty of the acrylic and make successive cleaning easier.
Most automatic car washes will not harm cloth top fabrics. Washes with water jets and hanging cloths provide a more gentle cleaning action. Those using heavy barrel brushes could damage the top material. Haartz recommends hand washing.
The Haartz Corporation recommends using RAGGTOPP™ Cleaner and RAGGTOPP™ Protectant (available from Wolfsteins Pro-Series at tel: 800-377-4700, fax: 770-395-1353, e-mail: info@wolfsteins.com).
Hand washing in shade or partial shade, not direct sunlight, is best. DO NOT USE DETERGENT. Bird and tree droppings, as well as other loose particle soils, should be removed immediately. Vacuum with a brush attachment and rinse thoroughly with water to remove loose particle soils. This will also prevent the soils from being redeposited during the cleaning process. Once the fabric has been rinsed thoroughly, spray RAGGTOPP™ Cleaner evenly over the entire surface while still wet. Allow the cleaner to soak for 10 to 20 minutes and then scrub lightly with a soft nylon brush or terry cloth rag. Rinse thoroughly, preferably until no remaining soap foam is observed. Additional cleanings may be required. It is best to determine the need for additional cleanings after the fabric has dried completely.
Washing with soap (ie. Ivory or Lux) and warm water is a safe alternative to RAGGTOPP™ Cleaner, but not as effective.
For more stubborn cases, mix a solution of no more than 1/2 cup (4oz.) bleach and 1/4 cup (2oz.) RAGGTOPP™ Cleaner per gallon of water, soak for approximately 20 minutes and scrub lightly as indicated above. (Excessive soaking with the bleach solution can deteriorate seam threads.) Rinse thoroughly to prevent streaking on painted and chrome surfaces. Several cleanings may be necessary.
Once dry, cleaning must be followed by re-water repelling with RAGGTOPP™ Protectant. (This product does not contain CFC's and therefore, is not harmful to the environment.) Failure to apply will result in rapid resoiling of the unprotected fabric.
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Originally Posted by howierd42
Does anyone know how to tell if the tops for our cars are canvas or vinyl? Mine is a 1999 WS6 with a black top. It looks like canvas up close but I have been told by reputable sources that it is vinyl but also by reputable sources that it is cloth. Is there any way to know for sure? I know GM used both in this period. Someone might say to ask the dealer, but they are more clueless than I am in such cases.
ALL GM tops are stayfast canvas.
if it looks like a cloth at all, its canvas.
if it looks like "leather" or like a plastic... its vinyl.. vinyl tops are inferior in everyway except price...
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,563
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
Originally Posted by 30th TA 0219
**** GM, they don't know **** either, CHECK HERE!!! This topic has been beaten to death. The "search" feature is your friend! 
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,012
Likes: 1
From: Beaumont, TX
Originally Posted by howierd42
Actually I did. The search did not really help much. I have been using this site a lot longer than my join date. I know how to use it.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/convertible-vehicles/206156-post-your-convertible-facts-trivia-here.html
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
From: Middleburg, FL
I found 6 topics alone on the care/cleaning and material just with 'convertible top' as the search in this forum alone. There's a good bit in the Appearance Detailing too.
The very topic of what to use for care was a hot topic here a few months back...just pickin...
The very topic of what to use for care was a hot topic here a few months back...just pickin...
