Cleanning t top bar????
I noticed this a tiny bit too on my bar. It looks like a piece of black metal that is not painted, and looks like what stainless steel headers look like after years of use (have a rainbow-ish tint to it)
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 1
From: Holland Twp/Milford, New Jersey
Off the top of my head, i think it may just be a piece of black plastic between the tops. I may be wrong, though. In any case, try a deoxider (typical stage 1 Meguiars/Mothers) to clean up the surface contaminants, then a polish to richen the color back. If that doesn't work, then you may have to use a mild abrasive product to start anew.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: somewhere that doesn't get snow
its VERY easy to remove.. i took mine off a few years ago and replaced it (the back piece broke off and i lost it) and the one i replaced it with is now starting to look faded too, i thought about taking it off and painting it..
if you remove the t-tops you'll see 4 or 5 screws on each side, all you have to do is remove those screws and then pull the thing off (it might be a little snug since i think it's attached with dbl sided tape) and it will come right off.. i didnt retape mine when i put the newer one on since the top of the roof was still somewhat sticky there, i'm guessing you could probably paint it.
if you remove the t-tops you'll see 4 or 5 screws on each side, all you have to do is remove those screws and then pull the thing off (it might be a little snug since i think it's attached with dbl sided tape) and it will come right off.. i didnt retape mine when i put the newer one on since the top of the roof was still somewhat sticky there, i'm guessing you could probably paint it.
If it's textured plastic, try using peanut butter on it.
If it's hard, smooth plastic (like the taillights), try wetsanding with 2000, then/or hit it with some good plastic polish.
If it's painted, then try a good deoxidizer like was previously mentioned, or if you can't get that, use some rubbing compound, then hit it with polishing compound (you can get both at WalMart), then some wax.
If it's painted and just AWFUL, you can sand and paint it black... It'd be best to prep it right, then clearcoat it so you can wax.
I don't have t-tops, but I do know how to shine up a car half-way decent.
If it's hard, smooth plastic (like the taillights), try wetsanding with 2000, then/or hit it with some good plastic polish.
If it's painted, then try a good deoxidizer like was previously mentioned, or if you can't get that, use some rubbing compound, then hit it with polishing compound (you can get both at WalMart), then some wax.
If it's painted and just AWFUL, you can sand and paint it black... It'd be best to prep it right, then clearcoat it so you can wax.
I don't have t-tops, but I do know how to shine up a car half-way decent.
Last edited by ZexGX; Sep 24, 2008 at 10:07 AM.
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It's painted metal. Based on the weight and sound of it, it's not aluminum. I'd suggest sanding, wet sanding, and polishing first. If that doesn't get the luster back, sand the black off, prime it, paint it, clear it, buff it, polish it, re-install it.
TECH Resident
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 840
Likes: 0
From: SE OHIO
Dude, forget all the bs.... scuff it with steel wool and tape & rattle can. You dont even have to remove it. I did mine ( it was brown ) used black high temp paint I had and clear. Made a HUGE difference! Could never guess it was rattle canned!
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Royal, NJ
yeah mine was bad, car only had 33xxx miles on it at the time. I just did a medium scratch/oxi remover, light scatch removal and swirl, then just polished the whole car with M3 system and finished up next day with Mothers Carnauba wax. Looks like the rest of the car.
Not into spray can painting my cars.
Not into spray can painting my cars.
yeah mine was bad, car only had 33xxx miles on it at the time. I just did a medium scratch/oxi remover, light scatch removal and swirl, then just polished the whole car with M3 system and finished up next day with Mothers Carnauba wax. Looks like the rest of the car.
Not into spray can painting my cars.
Not into spray can painting my cars.
Another piece you can wax is the side moldings that everybody takes off. Mine were looking dirty so I hand-buffed some wax on there and BAM! the dirt came right off.
