rover67
Rising Sun Member
I'll probably just go to the end of the concrete driveway where it turns to gravel, get out and walk from there! 
I'll drive it, but take care of it for sure.
I'll drive it, but take care of it for sure.
1982 FJ40 Restoration
- Thread starter rover67
- Start date
rover67
Rising Sun Member
The patch turned out better than I could have every expected! Time to redo the gutters do a little finish work prime and paint!
rover67
Rising Sun Member
Allison cleaned up the seat belts with some oxy clean and they look new again! It also took the yellow off the plastic stuff which was neat.
Rezarf
Hard Core 4+
Man I was hoping for a cameo appearance yesterday at the 40s only run. We ALL talked about your rig man, can't wait to see it soon.
Rezarf
Hard Core 4+
Excellent work by the way. What'd you do with your old wheels? Where they oem?
rover67
Rising Sun Member
I was really gunning to have it done by now (40's only) but some things just don't work out... :/
The knobs for the dash are still out and now i'm knee deep in the top that I decided to patch. I also just got the roll bar back Friday and put the rear seats and all the belts and stuff in this weekend.
It runs and drives well actually, just not ready for a trip out of the neighborhood without the top on.
The wheels that are on it in all these pictures up until now are some FJ60 wheels I had blasted and powdercoated to match the cygnus white that was on the back of an earlier bezel I got. It was creamier than the white I thought was on these later trucks so thats why I got the OEM wheels... just to verify.... and it is true that white is a bit whiter. Thats what i'm matching the top and bezel to now.
Anyways I'll pull off the wheels that are on it and set them aside, I've been using them as emissions tires/wheels for the 60 anyways.
The knobs for the dash are still out and now i'm knee deep in the top that I decided to patch. I also just got the roll bar back Friday and put the rear seats and all the belts and stuff in this weekend.
It runs and drives well actually, just not ready for a trip out of the neighborhood without the top on.
The wheels that are on it in all these pictures up until now are some FJ60 wheels I had blasted and powdercoated to match the cygnus white that was on the back of an earlier bezel I got. It was creamier than the white I thought was on these later trucks so thats why I got the OEM wheels... just to verify.... and it is true that white is a bit whiter. Thats what i'm matching the top and bezel to now.
Anyways I'll pull off the wheels that are on it and set them aside, I've been using them as emissions tires/wheels for the 60 anyways.
rover67
Rising Sun Member
Holy crap the devils in the details. I spent what felt like two weeks finishing this top up but it looks good!!! Can't tell where the sunroof was at all!!
Nice work on the roof.
MDH33
Hard Core 4+
Wow, top looks new. Bet you can't wait to bolt it all together.
kurtnkegger
Rising Sun Member
Marco, did you just paint the roof, or did you need to prep it in any special way for waterproofing? I've read it should be gel-coated...Paint is OK...You need to prep fiberglass in a special way...and on and on.
Your whole build is an example of doing things right, so I'd like your process.
Your whole build is an example of doing things right, so I'd like your process.
rover67
Rising Sun Member
I deliberated and read for hours on the subject.... Gel Coat, marine paint, automotive paint..
I had a good epoxy layer down everywhere (no raw fiberglass) that I was able to sand down to. I picked out all the old seam sealer from the gutters and sprayed a 2k primer/surfacer on the bare metal. I replaced the seam seal all around and primed the whole top with the 2k Primer/Surfacer which is supposedly good on top of epoxy (and seam seal of course). More sanding and then Color and a high quality PPG Deltron DC3000 Clear coat.
I was leaning toward gel coat, but it drys out and chalks and needs to be buffed or re-sanded and/or applied. It takes maintenance to stay looking nice. I don't need the durability of the gel (it's not getting walked on or have stuff thrown on it) So I began to research the various boat coatings that were more like a paint. There are lots of paint like products out there that apparently work really well and have good UV resistance, but I couldn't find one that I could get the right color mixed in (not many allow mixing colorant at all actually).
Soooo...... Base coat clear coat it was. I went with a nice clear to hopefully mitigate and UV issues and get a good lasting finish. The primer is supposed to be good for use over epoxy and seemed to go down well and stick very well.
Anti-climactic I know..
I had a good epoxy layer down everywhere (no raw fiberglass) that I was able to sand down to. I picked out all the old seam sealer from the gutters and sprayed a 2k primer/surfacer on the bare metal. I replaced the seam seal all around and primed the whole top with the 2k Primer/Surfacer which is supposedly good on top of epoxy (and seam seal of course). More sanding and then Color and a high quality PPG Deltron DC3000 Clear coat.
I was leaning toward gel coat, but it drys out and chalks and needs to be buffed or re-sanded and/or applied. It takes maintenance to stay looking nice. I don't need the durability of the gel (it's not getting walked on or have stuff thrown on it) So I began to research the various boat coatings that were more like a paint. There are lots of paint like products out there that apparently work really well and have good UV resistance, but I couldn't find one that I could get the right color mixed in (not many allow mixing colorant at all actually).
Soooo...... Base coat clear coat it was. I went with a nice clear to hopefully mitigate and UV issues and get a good lasting finish. The primer is supposed to be good for use over epoxy and seemed to go down well and stick very well.
Anti-climactic I know..
rover67
Rising Sun Member
MDH33
Hard Core 4+
I can't. Headliner comes next though...
Ahh. Headliners are overrated. Just wad it up and toss it in back. That's where most 40 headliners end up anyway.
Sounds more or less like how I ended up when I redid mine, but a better execution I'm sure. My clear is starting to peel.
The original tops were just gelcoat right, with no paint?
AdamKFarmer
Hard Core 4+
From my understanding, yes.
rover67
Rising Sun Member
Yeah the original tops were gel coat, which is a tintable material/process. The gel coat on both my tops is/was cracking in a lot of places, I don't think either method is without its disadvantages.
rover67
Rising Sun Member
When you sprayed the clear did you wait too long after having put down the color? Each paint has its recommendations but typically you don't want to wait too long since it's a chemical bond between layers.
nuclearlemon
Hard Core 4+
i'm in the early stages of edumacating myself on gel coat since my rtt has an issue spot and the cracking issues, plus the chalking. would you recommend paint in that kind of application? nothing is on top of it and i obviously don't walk on it, but it might twist a bit when it's cranked up and down?
fjc man
Rising Sun Member
Rivet,rivet,rivet,............sorry, couldn't resist.
I think I followed the directions pretty closely. Not quite sure I guess why it's not working.