Nitrostevec

I have an 02 Z28 with bubbles in the hardtop and sail panel. I have an idea for a fix. I want to sand both panels down and then wrap them in vinyl. Any one try this? Without paint on them what would bubble?

TechCam97

iTrader: (5)

It's been done before and the bubbles show back up in the vinyl. It's not the paint that is the issue, it's the glue on the underside of the improperly prepped panel.

KingColt

iTrader: (2)

How do you fix this? My t/a has this issue

TechCam97

iTrader: (5)

Remove the panel and replace it with either a new one, or with a used one from a 93 - early 98 car. That is the only way to 100% properly fix this issue.

KingColt

iTrader: (2)

Sorry jumped the gun on asking that question. Not even 1 min after posting i saw the stickie above. Any idea on price of a used sail panel? But man that carbon fiber looks so sweet!!!

michaelhawk

I bought the new sail panel (t-top car) from 6LE and had it painted % installed by my local body shop.


The shop was leary about using a 3rd party body panel like this, but: The fit was perfect!


The car looks great and no one would know any different, even if I told them - which I don't.

TechCam97

iTrader: (5)

You can usually find them for sale for anywhere between $100 - $250 depending on condition. If you pull them yourself at a junk yard then you can spend as little as $30 (what I paid for the few that I pulled to replace mine and some of my friend's cars). It is fairly labor intensive though and requires patience to pull without damaging it, so if you attempt it on your own then take your time and be careful.

Docrocket1967

iTrader: (1)

I had mine sanded down completely and resprayed and it did just fine. Someone had told me it's actually a wrap on some cars from the factory. It's just the gases inside the sail pannel from some adhesive they used apparently.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

If you expose it to enough sunlight/heat, the bubbles will come back just like before. Countless people have tried the sanding and re-spray method, it's just a temporary fix unless you generally keep the car out of any intense sunlight. The problem is still there, it will absolutely reappear under the right conditions. The sticky at the top of this section contains plenty of reports from folks who've discovered this fact. The problem is underneath the panel, sanding/respray won't cure that.

That's completely false. All of these panels were painted from the factory on every 4th gen.

Docrocket1967

iTrader: (1)

Good to know. Is the gases releasing in it what cause this?

MY_2K_Z

iTrader: (1)

While repainting isn't a permanent fix it does last a while. I did mine on my old car and it took 6 years for anything to come back and even then it was minor. As a painter it's no big deal to have to respray my roof every 5-6yrs.

KingColt

iTrader: (2)

Hmm i may try and pull one my self if its that mich cheaper!

Docrocket1967

iTrader: (1)

Im coming up on a year with my sail being repainted and it still looks great. Hope it stays that way but if not I can live with it, it's just one of those things.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Sometimes the repaints only last a few months, other times a few years. It all depends on how bad the roof was prior to the repaint, and how much sun/heat it's exposed to after the repaint. It's always worse on the cars with dark colored roofs, such as most V8 LS1 Camaros, but it can still happen with the lighter colors as well.

For those folks who drive the car daily, leave it parked out in the sun often, and/or live in intensely hot climates, I wouldn't expect a simple repaint to last for long. The sticky at the top of this section contains dozens of examples of failed repaints (some after just a matter of weeks.)

Docrocket1967

iTrader: (1)

I can def agree with this. My SOM T/A and RED T/A don't have any of these issues but my Camaro's Ive had, some with black sail pannel (earlier LS1) and my newer ones (00-02) dark color had the issues more than my lighter colored ones. My 02 SOM Z28 doesn't have this issue at all.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Just an FYI. All V8 Camaros from 1998-2002 had black roofs from the factory except for B4C (special service/police package) and '02 35th LE SS cars. If you have a 2002 Z28 in SOM with a roof that is also SOM, then it didn't come that way from the factory.

The only change that GM made in this regard during the LS1 years was to stop painting the side view mirrors black on V8 cars after the 1999 model year. 2000+ have body colored mirrors, but the roofs were still black other than those exceptions mentioned above.

chrysler kid

iTrader: (14)

1998 and some 1999 cars were exempt from bubbling as I'm sure you're aware by your signature

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

The process change appears to have begun in 05/98 and was in full effect by 07/98. Most of the 1998 model year is free from the problem, but cars built in the last three months of '98 production (May/June/July) are subject to the condition, with May cars being hit or miss. Model years '99-'02 are all subject to it.

Docrocket1967

iTrader: (1)

It is painted black but shows no issues thank god. Of course it has been a garage queen with hardly any miles from the previous owner.

SlasherVRGR

iTrader: (1)

Can confirm, I have a 98 z28. Roof behind t-tops looks like pure garbage.