Paint under vinyl top?

[jimbosride]

Did not find much on the board search on this.

This summer I plan on getting my RR under carriage , trunk, engine bay painted. It's a vinyl top car.

Use body paint under the top?. or something better POR ?

Thanks

 

[Jerry Hall]

In my opinion, I would paint it. Quality of the roof paint will not be critical. POR 15 is good for a lot of applications, but paint doesn't adhere to it well unless you use their coating. I don't know how well the adhesive for a vinyl top will adhere to it. Painting your top will be much better than just primer and sealer. My opinion ofcourse.

 

[j-c-c-62]

I always thought Imron (a popular high price aircraft finish?) was one of the most robust finishes, at least back when VOC 's were not a consideration, and a good candidate for under a vinyl roof.

 

[493 Mike]

Epoxy.
Mike

 

[eldubb440]

epoxy primer is sufficient in my opinion.......keep your extra paint for mishaps

 

[Hemirunner]

We used inexpensive Rustoleum on this one, mixed with a little hardener and reducer.

 

[j-c-c-62]

It's been my opinion two-part solvent-based epoxy has superior adhesion properties and two-part solvent-based urethanes have superior durability properties.
I guess that is not a widely accepted premise.

 

[gdrill]

Two part epoxy under mine. I won't live long enough to see it fail or the car rust again. It lives a different life than in the past......as do they all!

 

[YY1]

Anything is better than what the factory did, which is nothing.

DON"T use just primer alone, though as it's designed to absorb moisture (paint), which is the last thing you want in an already vulnerable to rust, and retain moisture location.

 

[Hemirunner]

Mine has two part epoxy underneath the rust oleum. It’ll outlast me. I wasn’t going to waste the effort and cost on base/clear body color paint when the cheap stuff will do.

 

[RJ Squirrel]

SPI epoxy under mine, glue the roof on before it fully cures for great adhesion

 

[eldubb440]

SPI epoxy under mine, glue the roof on before it fully cures for great adhesion

or give it a quick scratch with a red pad

 

[j-c-c-62]

or give it a quick scratch with a red pad

I was never under the impression adhesive was the main issue with vinyl roofs, more the damage trapped water would do to the steel painted roof.

 

[RJ Squirrel]

Two part epoxy under mine. I won't live long enough to see it fail or the car rust again. It lives a different life than in the past......as do they all!

Yup same here, mine will never sit outside in the rain as long as I am alive, so not a concern for me.

 

[r4sedan]

I had my paint guy shoot it and clear it. Then before the vinyl top I lightly scuffed it. Hope you have better luck than me finding a trim guy. Seems all the good one's are retired or dead.

 

[Runcharger]

Looks familiar. Mine was unpleasant as well. Three tries by an experienced guy to get this one done. I like to use finish paint underneath over epoxy to make sure the metal is sealed as well as it can be, then scuff it before glue. Anything you do will be better than what the factory did.