faded topper

[biggbronco]

Iam trying to fix up a 1988 ford bronco its in pretty good shape but the fiberglass topper is faded badly just wanting to know if anyone has tried to paint one and if so whats the best way

 

[Seabronc]

yup!, did mine last year. Clean it and if you would like it smooth rather than rough, sand it. Then you can either paint it using shaker cans, (a little more difficult than a spray gun due to the coverage you get from the nozzle) OR get the color you want mixed at a local auto paint supply plus top coat and spray it with a gun. Doing it with shaker cans usually requires a lot more wet sanding to get the finish looking good. If you have never painted before, do a Google on the subject of auto painting and you will get a lot of good writeups and videos on the process.

Good luck,

 

[Bebop Man]

Iam trying to fix up a 1988 ford bronco its in pretty good shape but the fiberglass topper is faded badly just wanting to know if anyone has tried to paint one and if so whats the best way

Painted mine last summer, went from white to tan. Took about 4 cans, but I'm sure happy with the color

 

[miesk5]

yo,

And here is a longer version (I have time and ... lol)

Painting info;

Painted mine. With the hints and suggestions of a friend who owned a bodyshop:

1) DO NOT use chemical stripper (I was stripping the entire truck) it's made of SMC (sheet molded compound) and the texture is sprayed on.

2) Dont use a DA. You'll sand the splatter pattern off it.

3) Scuff it with red scuff pads (3M).

4) Seal with epoxy primer (I used PPG DP-40)

5) Paint, but mix with "the desired amount" (25-30%) of flattening agent (PPG DX685 - this stuff is weird/smells bad but works....unshaken/unstirred it looks like a sticky golf ball soaking in what I perceive elephant *** would look like )

I painted mine just like he said, and 4 years later it looks great. Too much flattening agent and the top will become chalky after a few yews and too little makes it look funny (too glossy). My truck is the newer '98 Expedition white (paint code YZ maybe).

I used PPG, DAU product line on this one. If you do this is how I mixed:

Color (DAU).......... 16oz

Hardener(DU2)...... 16oz

Flattener(DX685)....10oz (up to 12)

Reducer ...............1.5- 2 oz

The PPG DX685 Chart on the cut sheet is helpful on other PPG lines

Form P-162 (9/96)

Source: by j. r. Nice (J. R. N)