TNMIKE

iTrader: (1)

I was just wondering how you guys with the bubbling issue are dealing with it. I thought I had a source from another TECH member but that bombed out. 6LE....well most of you know the problem there.

Me...I'm just disgusted I'm too old to scrounge junkyards and even if one is found it's obviously very difficult to remove it.

So how have you guys dealt with it?

jaxcam02

iTrader: (1)

I just let mine bubble away. Met a guy last week that painted over his. Guess what happened?
Bubbling coming back less than 6 months later. There is no option but to replace it if you don't want bubbles.

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

I have a new 6LE panel that I've had for a few years waiting to go on whenever I have the money to do it and the several other body stuff it needs at the same time.

TNMIKE

iTrader: (1)

I don't drive mine much and it stays in the garage. Wife and I took her out to go eat, about 30 mile round trip and sitting in the sun while we ate. Pulled her in the garage and was amazed that I could actually see
even more bubbles that popped up and oil streams. What a bummer!!

TechCam97

iTrader: (5)

Find one from a 93 - mid 98 in the junkyard and snag it. I've done it over a dozen times by now and it's not really that hard. Just use a wiresaw to cut through the adhesive and it comes off fairly easily. Just takes patience and time more than anything.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

You could always have one custom made by a good fiberglass fabricator. Of course, that will be very expensive compared to getting a used panel, but 6LE is the only other known source of reproduction panels at this time (if you don't want to hunt for a used one).

Personally, I wouldn't be able to ignore the issue. My '02 car had a horrible case of this, just like yours it would actually ooze from the bubbles and leave trails down the back window after driving at higher speeds. Not livable at all. Replacement was the only option. I would not be willing to own another '99+ car without replacing the roof (if it hasn't been already).

bammax

Could always be worse. I have bubbles on the hatch too. No chance of me getting that fixed. Just too much work lol

Groesbeck

I have been looking for a fix on my 2001 Z 28 for six years. I have talked to the best paint and body shops in Houston and the answer from each was the same. The only permanent fix is to replace the panel. Only one company in the States that manufacturers these panels and I do not feel comfortable with doing business with them. I have decided that the only hope to get a replacement panel is from a junk yard in the greater Houston area. This process has been very frustrating.

TNMIKE

iTrader: (1)

Yep, I certainly feel y'alls pain. I have been contacting salvage yards that have parts on ebay, showing several salvage T-top Firebirds and Camaros and their reply has been that this part is not available.

My guess is, even though I explain exactly where the Sail Panel is, they don't want to fool with it. Oh well, the search goes on.

hawkfiend

My bubbles are only noticeable if you know what you are looking for (and at). I also have a persistent "oil stream" (never heard it referred to by that term before this thread) on the driver side. It seems to pop up every time the car is left outside for a day in hot weather. I've decided to just leave the panel as is, and write it off to "part of the charm of owning an old 4th Gen F-body). I considered getting the panel wrapped, but I understand that is just a very short term fix, as the bubbles just reappear. The car is garaged most of the time, so that seems to have kept my bubbles relatively obscure.

Grifter

iTrader: (12)

I would look into getting a roof from a donor car. I had several junkyards within an hour or so from me that was willing to cut it out. The one I went with faxed me over a sheet and had me circle exactly what I wanted cut out. The job itself is not that difficult just time consuming and can be a little stressful when you're cutting up your own car. The biggest advantage of getting a donor roof is that you can practice on it before your car goes under the knife.

TNMIKE

iTrader: (1)

UPDATE: Thanks to Tech Member Johnny59 I now have a replacement Sail Panel. He was able to locate and remove one for me and prepped it for final painting.
he was great to deal with.

So now fun begins. Thanks John.

camarodude87

iTrader: (8)

He is awesome. I may get a hold of him as well. Let me know who you take your car to. I am in Clarksville and have the same issue on my 22k mile car.

35th SS #4923

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

I wonder if you can remove the existing one you have, clean ALL of the old adhesive off of it, pressure wash and degrease the be-jesus out of it, and wrap it in say a satin black. Then use a more friendly adhesive that won't bleed through.

Seems the easiest way.

TechCam97

iTrader: (5)

It still won't work. The adhesive has permeated the old panel, so it will always have the issue. Even if you cleaned the old material off of the bottom surface of the panel, it's still saturated with the chemicals that cause the bubbling.

35th SS #4923

TechCam97

iTrader: (5)

Yea, it's a pain. And what's up!

wannafbody

iTrader: (2)

I have bubbles on my hatch as well. They don't ooze or anything, just odd looking. Ironically, my sail panel doesn't have bubbles. Just a faint line where I can see where the glue was laid down but it hasn't broken through the paint.

01CamaroSSTx

iTrader: (3)

The 01 has some bubbles on the sail panel and it stays in the garage but the 99 with the V6 baking in the sun has zero bubbles on the panel. Go figure!