jeep wrangler hard top question

[dad07]

Hey fellas got a jeep wrangler in the shop with a fiberglass textured hard top.This one should be black but is heavily oxidized. It appears this is flat paint.

Question 1:Need a suggestion what to use on this to get some nourishment back into the paint.

Question 2: What would be a good product to protect this style of top.


Thanks in advance!

 

[dad07]

:bump2:

 

[Flash Gordon]

Hey fellas got a jeep wrangler in the shop with a fiberglass textured hard top.This one should be black but is heavily oxidized. It appears this is flat paint.

I had an 87 Wrangler. Should've never gotten rid of that one

Question 1:Need a suggestion what to use on this to get some nourishment back into the paint.

Mine was pristine and I've never been asked to polish one out, but I am familiar with the texture you speak of


Question 2: What would be a good product to protect this style of top.

I would hit it with a liquid cleaner wax, or perhaps 205 using a mid grade foam pad or by hand


Thanks in advance!

No problemo. I would do a test area on the very top of the top. This way incase something goes awry, it won't be noticable. That is unless your customer is 7ft tall

 

[Flash Gordon]

You might also try that heatgun trick

 

[LaTuFu]

What year is the wrangler, and which hard top coating does it have? Some have a textured flat coat, and some have a semi-gloss or gloss textured coat.

 

[LaTuFu]

Here are a couple of test spots on my '02 TJ's top. You can see the oxidation around them. Top area is megs quik spray wax. It cleaned the area okay, but I think it could be better. The bottom is 303. Both areas sat for an hour before the pic.

I <3 my Jeep

 

[dad07]

No problemo. I would do a test area on the very top of the top. This way incase something goes awry, it won't be noticable. That is unless your customer is 7ft tall

Thanks Flash....he is about 6'8" and carries a gun! so this needs to be right! LOL

What year is the wrangler, and which hard top coating does it have? Some have a textured flat coat, and some have a semi-gloss or gloss textured coat.

flat paint.....textured!

 

[LuxuryMobile]

Tell him to lose the hard top, Jeeps should be driven without doors and without tops.

 

[dad07]

Tell him to lose the hard top, Jeeps should be driven without doors and without tops.

Agreed!........but during the winter months the hard top is on there and he wants it looking good why I don't know cause he uses this for hunting.

 

[dad07]

still need some help! Nobody has Never detailed one?

 

[ROMEO]

How far are you willing to go with it? The only way to really make it look good for a while is to paint it, the good thing is that since it is flat black, they are very easy to paint...

Have you try some PB trim restorer?

 

[LaTuFu]

still need some help! Nobody has Never detailed one?

After letting mine sit overnight...I would not suggest the spray wax. After it fully cured you could not tell that it was even applied. The 303 looked great, but I wouldn't recommend it as a long term solution.

I was able to work it just fine, the wax did not discolor or chalk the finish. I would think AIO or something similar would be the perfect solution.

 

[dad07]

How far are you willing to go with it? The only way to really make it look good for a while is to paint it, the good thing is that since it is flat black, they are very easy to paint...

Have you try some PB trim restorer?

I tried some Mothers back to black on a small spot looks good.......I going to try some UTTG in a little bit as soon as I finish waxing this dually I have in the shop.

Thanks romeo!

 

[Flash Gordon]

I tried some Mothers back to black on a small spot looks good.......I going to try some UTTG in a little bit as soon as I finish waxing this dually I have in the shop.

Thanks romeo!

I've already instructed you as to how to handle this. Why don't you trust me :dunno:

Applying a dressing is a waste of time :help:

 

[dad07]

I've already instructed you as to how to handle this. Why don't you trust me :dunno:

Applying a dressing is a waste of time :help:

I do Flash was trying to get out easy but am going to try you sugestions except the heat gun.....I'll paint it before I do that!rops:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

What year is the wrangler, and which hard top coating does it have? Some have a textured flat coat, and some have a semi-gloss or gloss textured coat.

You're right. Thanks for bringing this out.


I've worked on paint like this, it doesn't lend itself to polishing.

You don't want to use anything that dries, like a wax as it will tend to just dry white and make the top look horrible.

That leaves you with using things that don't dry and that means some type of dressing. In the past I've had good luck with the same thing I've used for flat black paint or vinyl graphics and that's one of the Meguiar's trim dressings, usually Trim Detailer in the lotion but also the aerosol version.

I have not tried the new Ultimate Protectant on flat black paint or flat surfaces of any type, but if it's more water resistant than Trim Detailer and doesn't dry white then it will last longer.

Here's the deal, as far as I know there are no products that are specifically formulated for this type of paint, there is a Swisswax product out for flat or matte finishes but I haven't used it so I can't comment on whether it would work or not, if it dries my guess is it won't give you the effect you're looking for.

From post #4 from this thread,

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...can-muscle-classics-presented-autolavish.html

The flat black trim was dressed with Meg’s Spray Trim Detailer and a soft brush, then buffed even. Mike Phillips from Meguiar’s (now at Autogeek) recommended me to use this product on flat back a few years ago and it never fails. It evens out even more as it dries further.

Applied to the bumper trim as well:

The above is a recent testimony for a product that can be used to make flat black paint look good besides my own word.

Also read through this thread,

How to take care of the flat black paint on a 1969 Mach 1


And in one of these I think I explain the the process very detailed...

Check out my reply in this thread,

How To Maintain Vinyl Graphics/Stickers/Stripes/Decals



And my article here,

How to create a dark sheen on flat black plastic

Photos Courtesy of MOL

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Might look at this thread too...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/33932-grey-matte-finish-care.html


Again, I have not used the Swisswax products for matte finishes, I noted their wax for these surfaces contains Carnauba Wax and Carnauba Wax when it dries tends to dry white or opaque.

The true test for any product is on black paint, in this case a flat black paint job, not vinyl wraps or graphics but actual matte, black paint.

If you can find a "Wax" that won't turn flat black "paint" opaque, that is less black, then that would be a first and I would recommend getting some and using it.

If a wax or product, (whatever it is), won't turn matte black paint opaque or whitish, then you can know for sure it's not going to turn any matte color paint or vinyl opaque or whitish.

Also, keep in mind the time factor. A product might add darkness or richness of color at first, but after a week or so, especially in warm, sunny weather, as the carrying agents for the product completely evaporate out or outgas, then you'll see the true end-results.

What started out looking great might not look as good in a few weeks. This is why it's important to only test in a small area first and then watch that area over a week or two and make sure the results you're seeing are in fact the results you hoped for and wanted.

If you apply a product to the entire surface of whatever component or car you're working on and in a week or so it turns ugly, it's kind of hard to go back an undo the damage.

 

[sohail99]

Maybe we can use WOWA sealants on them, like Opti-seal, UPGP?

 

[Flash Gordon]

I still think you should polish it....lol

 

[Custom Detail]

Being Jeeper for over 40 years and we own 2 CJ7s with hard tops ( one is from a Wrangler) tops always off during the summer so before putting them back on in the fall I re color them with SEM semi gloss vinyl and plastic paint! They always look like new. don't over think this one, smarter not harder.