[W. Oates]

Great job getting the car running after all these years. Your story is inspirational, I have had my 70 since 1996, and it has not run since the late 80's. I envy you.

[400 4spd.]

Originally Posted by W. Oates

Great job getting the car running after all these years. Your story is inspirational, I have had my 70 since 1996, and it has not run since the late 80's. I envy you.

Any chance your first name is Warren?

[gloryrestoparts]

Bill, that is awesome!!! congrats!!!!

Chris

[keith k]

Originally Posted by UPC-WU2

The car is a basic garden-variety Judge. Ram Air III/M40. Carousel Red/black interior, black vinyl roof.

Nothing garden variety about a Judge with a vinyl top! I love seeing Judges with v tops

Cool car and neat story. Kudos for your perseverance.

[UPC-WU2]

Seems like I have been block-sanding all winter. And spraying lots of primer/surfacer. But I'm making progress and getting a lot of spray gun time. After agonizing for years over whether to restore the car with the vinyl roof, I ultimately decided to put it back on. My upholstery guy said that he preferred to install it before the final color/clear. I'll have more masking to do now, but it looks great to me. I think I will be glad I went this direction when the car is finished. Not many CR Judges have a Cordova top.

[robz]

Originally Posted by UPC-WU2

Seems like I have been block-sanding all winter. And spraying lots of primer/surfacer. But I'm making progress and getting a lot of spray gun time. After agonizing for years over whether to restore the car with the vinyl roof, I ultimately decided to put it back on. My upholstery guy said that he preferred to install it before the final color/clear. I'll have more masking to do now, but it looks great to me. I think I will be glad I went this direction when the car is finished. Not many CR Judges have a Cordova top.


Attachment 131541Attachment 131542Attachment 131543

Here's one I know of that also went that route (RAIV, BTW)...I personally prefer w/o cordova, but that's just my choice..

[PonchoV8]

About 2 weeks ago, I pulled my car out to turn around in the garage so I can swap the engine. The weekend before, I moved the world to get the car clear. Then I realized that it didn't have a dist installed--so I can't start it and turn it under it's own power. I finally got one in and figured the timing out, but the battery was on it's last legs by then. My wife in the car was cranking it over. And the car started--BUT SHE WOULDN'T LET GO OF THE KEY!!!! So the starter was just running engaged while I was pumping the carb to keep it running (no oil pressure in the 350). So I let go to tell her to let off and it died before I could get back to the carb to work it---never to start again. Good help is impossible to find here. We had just gone through this exact exercise about 3 weeks before with the whole starter and letting off deal. Except she would turn the key off instead of just letting go. It took a while to understand why the car wasn't staying started. And I had to recharge the battery by that time.
It isn't her fault, she comes from the most physically inept family I have ever known in my life. If any one of them hands you something, and you try to take it, they won't let go of it. So it either gets jerked back out of your hand by them, or it falls to the ground because you're thinking they must want it back for some reason--while it falls to the ground. Maddening, but completely repeatable.

So this is the person I put in my car again and pulled up the incline of my driveway. I don't need to tell you that she doesn't know how to steer a car that is being pulled. Somehow physics change if the car isn't running. Anyway. I patiently got the car turned around in the street and told her that once the car gets over the bump at the street, put the brakes on so it doesn't roll down and hit the house or hit the Trans Am. (btw, the neighbor across the street did this and knocked a pickup thru the garage wall 15 yrs ago). So I pushed her over the curb and held my breath. She did it perfectly! What a bonus. I don't have to fix the house or the TA. I would not have tried this in a power brake car.
Now I can swap the engine to something that runs so I can drive it again. Whew. Thank goodness.

[bajajudge]

i personally think the v-top looks great, i think it will make the car stand out, great continuing story btw, my judge also sat from 1988 and is under a 2 yr. resto currently, it looks like you are going to make it all the way.

[bruno17]

Another vote for the vinyl top! You're hitting the home stretch now..........giddy up!

The top should definitely set it apart from the rest of the CR's at the Nationals.

Keep up the good work. I'm sure you'll encounter some roadblocks along the way but the reward at the end will be worth it!

[bulletpruf]

I'm not a huge fan of the vinyl top, but if that's what it came with, I vote for putting it back on.

Keep the updates coming.

Scott

[trishieldchief]

I am with Scott
I do not like Vinyle top especially on a Judge but if it is original to the car than absolutely put it back on.
Good job keeping car correct and original.

[UPC-WU2]

That's what has been so hard. I'm not a huge fan of the vinyl roof on the flowing lines of the '68-72 GTOs either. And I'm sure that if I ever decided to sell, it would make it a little tougher. But the purist in me won. It needs to go back to original. And like others have said, maybe my CR Judge will stand out a little at the Nats in the row of CR Judges.

[Pontiac_Defender]

Congrats UPC!!! You've come along way!!!

[dr-doug]

I've got a normal, if you can call it that, GTO. Atole Blue with blue interior and a Black Vinyl top. Looks great! I have a Cardinal Red Judge with a red interior and the original black vinyl top will be going back on, I wouldn't hessitate for a minute.
The only cars in my collection I ever deviate from how they were built are my VW's, who gives a rats a$$ if I put true fire flames and a 240HP engine in a '56 bug....DW

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Dr-Doug , I don't want you anywhere near my VW !! !! !!

I bought a 89 VW Jetta Diesel 4door 5spd Air P.strg with 330,000+ miles on the clock (clock works too) and ..... in Very Good condition (car and clock). Runs off of anything except water or gas 45-50 mpg. Hands off
-------------------------------

UPC you've had this Judge forever already. And probably will keep it for another forever. If you want the top on it - then we do too. We love ya man :beer for the house:

.....but i woulna done it though lol

Keep up the great work.
What kind and color of paint did you put on the roof ?

[PonchoV8]

Vinyl is fine with me. It will look a little more elegant I suppose. Like it has a top hat on.

I also have a VW bug, but I walked away from it along time ago. It's a 70 convertible taking up space and waiting for more panel replacement.

[69 RA GTO]

Good Choice with the Vinyl Top UPC. I absolutely Love 69 GTO's with Vinyl Tops, especially Judges.

[dr-doug]

Whats wrong with this BVZ?

Sorry for the thread infiltration, can't help but show it off to some fellow car guys....DW

[Pontiac_Defender]

nice flame job!!! wow!!!

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by dr-doug

Whats wrong with this BVZ?

okay thats exactly what I was talking about - this Jetta aint going in your shop ! lol

I'm going to color change it from white, to 3 stage blue met - or 2 stage Black.

And thats it. Keeping the 1.6/97cid DeezL bone stock with its 52hp.

Your Bug is damn KiLLRRRR Kick Ass. Doesn't look like you guys need any help painting up there. Nice to know I could visit sometime without being expected to spray something.

Dayum thats a wicked VW.