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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: hippiejesse on August 22, 2009, 09:20:44 AM

Title: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: hippiejesse on August 22, 2009, 09:20:44 AM
Hey All,

I have my hardtop off, and have a dark grey softop on, and much prefer the darker color of the soft top as opposed to the tan hardtop.

Do you have any suggestions on what paint to use? What kind of prep should I do? I was thinking of using aresol duplicolor bed liner for it, what do you guys think?

My hardtop is on primarily in the winter, so I don't really know that heat is a problem, but for those of you with black hardtops and no a/c like me, is it super hot? I have a garage so there is no real hurry for this...

Thanks alot!
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: Banshee600 on August 22, 2009, 03:52:34 PM
I just got a hard top a few months ago it to was tan at one time some one had shot it with gray primer so I went to napa and got some black acylic paint my buddy told me that the lacquir (can not spell for s**t ) would not sticl to the fiberglass
Good luck
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: jfrabat on August 22, 2009, 08:45:05 PM
I remember reading about someone here painting theirs with a rattle can type paint.  Came out nicely (dont know how long it lasted, though).  Do a search, you should find it...
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: Banshee600 on August 22, 2009, 09:13:16 PM
thats what I did rattle can of semi gloss black 4 cans
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: Banshee600 on August 22, 2009, 09:21:11 PM
a pic
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: rubberducky on September 29, 2009, 09:36:29 PM
I bought a 97 top amd painted it with bedliner to avoid scratches. Worked great painted over 5 years ago. paint is only flaking when I did not prep it well.
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: Jesse-James on September 30, 2009, 06:37:26 AM
I used Rustoleum hammered for plastic. Held up very good.

Before.....

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i33/jlafaive/DSC01767.jpg)

After.....

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i33/jlafaive/DSC02863.jpg)

2 years later.....

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i33/jlafaive/DSC03031.jpg)
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: hippiejesse on September 30, 2009, 04:16:31 PM
I finally painted it. I painted it with Krylon Camoflauge OD green, it was a type of krylon fusion. The texture on the very top is all jacked up, but other than that it looks great. I'll try to get a pic.
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: mrcabinet on October 01, 2009, 03:30:28 PM
Yes, the black hardtop will get hot in the summer. Back in July, when it was 114 here, I used my IR temp. gauge on the underside of the top. It read 152 degrees! No wonder my bald head was sweating so much! My 80 year old mom is in the process of sewing a headliner for it as we speak.
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: Jeffy on October 01, 2009, 04:27:17 PM
Yes, the black hardtop will get hot in the summer. Back in July, when it was 114 here, I used my IR temp. gauge on the underside of the top. It read 152 degrees! No wonder my bald head was sweating so much! My 80 year old mom is in the process of sewing a headliner for it as we speak.
I don't doubt it.  I had a black top and it was HOT.  The radiant heat even heated up my cage!  I'll stick with a tan top.  You can stop the heat some by applying self-adhesive heat shielding to the top then gluing carpet to it.
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: sharpxmen on October 01, 2009, 08:11:12 PM
You can stop the heat some by applying self-adhesive heat shielding to the top then gluing carpet to it.

that also saves you the trouble of painting it, just make sure you pick a nice furry carpet so will also keep you warm in the winter  :roflol:


(sorry, couldn't help it :lol: i did get it that you meant on the inside, but it remided me of that Pinks episode with the woolly mammoth if you guys seen it)

on the other hand speaking of heat, my charcoal softtop heats like crazy as well  :pot:
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: Jeffy on October 01, 2009, 08:51:34 PM
That's normally the problem of having a black top...
It feels like your inside the oven toaster when the sun is sharp...
I used to live in the tropics so it was more so.  The glue used for weatherstripping didn't hold up long either.  5% tint helped a little but made night driving dangerous.
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: rubberducky on October 14, 2009, 11:31:03 PM
Down here in texas is not that hot (104) but the top keeps the A/C in better that the heat so it works.
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: jfrabat on October 20, 2009, 08:47:16 AM
Yeah, mine also gets hot, but once it cools off, it also makes the AC cool better, so I'm sticking with it.  The only issue is that the glue that holds the liner in place is giving up on me, and the liner gets ends up on my head sometimes...
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: neale_rs on October 20, 2009, 09:05:47 AM
Your hard top has a liner?  Wow, mine is bare.
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: st.chevrolet on October 20, 2009, 10:20:01 AM
For Jeep hard or soft top liners go here: www.californiatops.com
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: jfrabat on October 20, 2009, 11:52:20 AM
For Jeep hard or soft top liners go here: www.californiatops.com

I also like their multitop...  But it's REALLY pricey!
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: oldjeep on October 20, 2009, 12:21:42 PM
For Jeep hard or soft top liners go here: www.californiatops.com

LOL - I suggest you do some searching on the web before dealing with those guys.  The 2 most common stories that will come up are 2 guys local to me.
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: Jeffy on October 21, 2009, 12:24:19 PM
Your hard top has a liner?  Wow, mine is bare.
He's got an aftermarket top.

LOL - I suggest you do some searching on the web before dealing with those guys.  The 2 most common stories that will come up are 2 guys local to me.
Are they recent accounts?  Most of the stories are from when he was just starting out.  Some of those stories were because he got screwed by the buyer as well which is why he stopped taking CC's for a while.  I've talked to Tim (the owner) first hand and have no issues with him.  If you're afraid of the stories then I suggest buying from a reseller.
Title: Re: Painting the Hardtop
Post by: oldjeep on October 21, 2009, 01:12:13 PM
He's got an aftermarket top.
Are they recent accounts?  Most of the stories are from when he was just starting out.  Some of those stories were because he got screwed by the buyer as well which is why he stopped taking CC's for a while.  I've talked to Tim (the owner) first hand and have no issues with him.  If you're afraid of the stories then I suggest buying from a reseller.

The most recent one was about 2 years ago.  Tim and his multiple personalities pop up once in a while when their name is mentioned.  Maybe we'll get a show.