fixing up a hard top?

[88WRANGRED]

Wrangler Redesign

i got a hard top for my jeep a few months back, kinda of an all in one deal, the guy i bought it from sells used cars and does body work/lifting and loweriung vehicles, long story short my dad bought a '96 dodge ram from him i had him install my lift, and i bought a hard top from him all for $5200.00, good deal if you ask me. anyways the hard top had a window that was out of it but i put it in last weekend, this weekend i want to clean it up and paint it. i don't know i there is any special paint/primer that needs to be applied to it so any info would really help. i'm gonna paint it flat black. it may need a few patches so what is the best stuff to use.
sorry for the long post just asking questions.

thanx,
ray

 

[wm69]

I painted my hard top with vinyl dye from sherwin williams. It took about 1 1/2 cans @ $8.00 each and it matched the color of the interior well (tan), and has held up for several years without fading/ peeling etc. If you're going black I would think you could probably do it with regular spray paint, but not sure as no experiance doing it that way. Get some Bondo (or glazing putty for small spots) to smooth up any chips etc. Your top is fiberglass so might as well patch it with fiberglass...

 

[MudderChuck]

Flat black is pretty much a primer, matt black or a simi-gloss may be a better choice. Flat black stains, wax, mud, what not is hard to remove. Something with a semi-gloss or half matt finish, would probably work better. Rim paint is often pretty durable and comes in matt colors. I´ve had pretty good luck, painting things with a good quality window frame paint and a small foam roller, with a selection of small brushes for the tight spots. Takes some practice with the roller, but works just fine. I´ve often used automotive paints, with a small foam roller, works well on rocker panels and such. Places where you don´t need a glass smooth finish.
I´ve got a set of proffesional grade spray guns, but hate the clean-up afterwords. Throw the roller away, wipe off the roller handle and clean the brushes and your done.
Just do some practice runs on something throw away, learn how much thinning works best. Matt colors are easy to roll on, more forgiving than gloss.

 

[MudderChuck]

Wrangler specs

There are a few tricks to working Bondo, the intial mix, how much hardener to add at the beggining, changes with the temperature. There is a window with a medium mix, about 15 minutes long, after the Bondo stops being sticky and before it gets really hard. Working in small batches, using gloss cardboard as a mixing pallet, usually works best. You can cut off the extra, with a wood chisel or knife. A coarse file or a cheese grater type file. It´s easier to get rid of the excess before it gets really hard, then add extra thin coats as needed. If the hole is very big, most any kind of fiber or cloth (except sythetics, which often melt) can be Bondoed in the hole to stregthen it a bit and help keep the Bondo from saging much. Fiber glass matting, roll bandage, coarse weave cloth, even dog hair will work well. A little Bondo, a little matting and a little Bondo, makes a strong repair for larger patches or holes all the way through. If you have a full hole, duct tape on the back side and remove before the Bondo sets up really hard. Cleaning with a strong thinner or Aceton before Bondo or paint, really helps adhesion. Scotch brite pads, work well for preparing surfaces to be painted. Coarse sand paper, to prep for Bondo.
Removing the Bondo,from your puddy knives (at least two) and other tools, before it gets very hard, really helps cleanup. You usually only forget once and your puddy knife is usless.

 

[88WRANGRED]

there is not really big holes, it has been patched b4, i just want to go over to make sure i get no leaks. thanks for the input on how to clean up my hard top if you've got any more suggestions, keep them coming.


ray

 

[88WRANGRED]

Lookin' at a CJ5 <- help

what type of paint do you guys recomend? latex? enamel? i'm going to go get the paint after work on friday so i can get an early start saturdaymorning, but let me know of apecific types that i should use or stay away from. thank again

ray