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Bubbling Sail Panel Issue for Dummies
I had one of the worst cases of bubbled sail panel I've ever seen. I bought the car from a guy who had just come up from florida so maybe the heat had something to do with it. A few years ago it was pretty bad and started flaking so I decided to just sand it down and spray bomb it. I got it to come out decent, but the bubbles came back soon after. I did it again and same thing, but this time the paint didn't even come close to a match. Here's the top, the sides are almost as bad:
so I chopped this off of a car being parted out, I don't recommend trying to remove one while the roof is off of the car. I ended up breaking it in half ( see right side) so I glassed it back together and slapped some bondo on it quick, hit it with 220 grit and called it a day.
since it was off of a 99' I scraped all of the glue off of the bottom with a razor blade, but I know it will bubble eventually so I am not paying to have it painted and I always thought a satin sail panel would look decent (or at least better than non-glossy/non-matching bubbled blue). I tried spray paint but it came out crappy, so I bought some "plasti-dip" and sprayed that on. it covered the sanding marks and imperfections better. looks decent for a $6 paint job.
and I did my ws6 hood too just for fun, good thing about plasti-dip is when I decide to finish the body work and paint the hood I can just rub/peel the plasti-dip off. this is/was a silver hood
so I chopped this off of a car being parted out, I don't recommend trying to remove one while the roof is off of the car. I ended up breaking it in half ( see right side) so I glassed it back together and slapped some bondo on it quick, hit it with 220 grit and called it a day.
since it was off of a 99' I scraped all of the glue off of the bottom with a razor blade, but I know it will bubble eventually so I am not paying to have it painted and I always thought a satin sail panel would look decent (or at least better than non-glossy/non-matching bubbled blue). I tried spray paint but it came out crappy, so I bought some "plasti-dip" and sprayed that on. it covered the sanding marks and imperfections better. looks decent for a $6 paint job.
and I did my ws6 hood too just for fun, good thing about plasti-dip is when I decide to finish the body work and paint the hood I can just rub/peel the plasti-dip off. this is/was a silver hood
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,632
Likes: 2,558
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
- If you have a '98 car built between 5/98-7/98, you will most likely get the bubbles.
- If you have a '99-'02 car (any build months for those model years), you will definitely get the bubbles.
Last edited by RPM WS6; Jul 18, 2011 at 12:34 PM.
As I have posted before it will happen it is just a matter of time and how much time the car spends in the sun. Got a friend with a 2001 that just started to do the bubble thing. His car has been a garage queen its whole life. But the hot Georgia sun finally woke up the bubble demon in his roof.
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Cali
i just noticed my car started getting those bubbles (99ss 135k).there not that noticeable to others unless i point them out. I fear its just gonna get worse. So only the 99-02 fbodys have this problem? cuz im gonna start looking at junkyards
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Southeast MO
Ya, it's the most common problem on these Fbodies 99+ some 98 models built in the last half of 98 had this problem from time to time but yours will continue to get worse, mine has started bubbling and I'm looking for a replacement.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,632
Likes: 2,558
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
The earliest cars effected were built in May of '98, and for the final couple months of '98 production after that it was hit-or-miss, but usually a hit. For '99+, they will ALL do it eventually, unless the car is never exposed to sunlight.
- If you have a '98 car built between 5/98-7/98, you will most likely get the bubbles.
- If you have a '99-'02 car (any build months for those model years), you will definitely get the bubbles.
- If you have a '98 car built between 5/98-7/98, you will most likely get the bubbles.
- If you have a '99-'02 car (any build months for those model years), you will definitely get the bubbles.
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Joined: Aug 2011
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I want my roof fixed Does anyone know an independent shop in the bay area (CA) that can perfom the repair outlined in the TSB? My 2002 Z28 hardtop just started having this issue a few months back. GM customer service told me to go F myself and the BBB turned down my claim. I'm ready to have this fixed out of pocket.
Know of any shops that have done this before?
Know of any shops that have done this before?
They prolly have done it before. They replace roofs and body panels for various reasons. Yes that price is way high. I had three quotes done, albeit about 7 years ago, and they were all from $700-$900.
$2500 is outragiously high!! They either do not want to do it or they are trying to stick it to you big time. As was posted before $800-$900 is what it used to cost and that was the shop buying a new panel from GM. Now days if you are using one out of a junk yard it should not be more than $300 to do the job. If you are buying one of the new after market panels from 6litereater it should still be in the $800-$900 range for a shop. I would steer clear of the shop that wants $2500 for the job. They are robbers to say the least.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,632
Likes: 2,558
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Does anyone know an independent shop in the bay area (CA) that can perfom the repair outlined in the TSB? My 2002 Z28 hardtop just started having this issue a few months back. GM customer service told me to go F myself and the BBB turned down my claim. I'm ready to have this fixed out of pocket.
Know of any shops that have done this before?
Know of any shops that have done this before?
At this point, you cannot get a new hardtop panel anywhere, so I don't know why their price is so high. The only options would be to find an NOS panel somewhere, get a used one and cut/paste, or buy the T-top + Targa panel from 6LE and have them mated together. If the quote includes one of those options, then I can see why it would be costly. The hardtop cars were always MUCH more expensive to repair than the T-tops.
Im in a worse situation. Where I live (Puerto Rico) these cars are scarce (parts cars), and Im not able to have someone send me a use one from the States either becuase they: 1. Dont want to do it, 2. Lack the abilities to get it in mostly one piece, 3. Are not able to give a decent shipping quote by USPS (UPS and the like are prohibitive outside continental US for this part. The damn part is not that big to begin with!! Ive had my wheels (heavier, bulkier) sent to me from Florida without such an elevated shipping cost.
BTW, Im still looking for one....anyone?
BTW, Im still looking for one....anyone?
Im in a worse situation. Where I live (Puerto Rico) these cars are scarce (parts cars), and Im not able to have someone send me a use one from the States either becuase they: 1. Dont want to do it, 2. Lack the abilities to get it in mostly one piece, 3. Are not able to give a decent shipping quote by USPS (UPS and the like are prohibitive outside continental US for this part. The damn part is not that big to begin with!! Ive had my wheels (heavier, bulkier) sent to me from Florida without such an elevated shipping cost.
BTW, Im still looking for one....anyone?
BTW, Im still looking for one....anyone?
You know what, Chaman..... I'll see if the yard near me has any next time I go. I've been meaning to go by and get one for myself if they have them, I just haven't had the time. I talked to them on the phone a while back and they said they only want $50 for one, so if they have a couple in their yard whenever I get around to going I'll let you know. I don't know how I'd package it, but as long as you covered the shipping and spotted me the $50 for the part then I could help you out with getting it off the donor car and packaged up and dropped off with USPS or something. I'll definitely keep you in mind next time I run out there.
Ok Chaman, I'm currently in the middle of chopping the roof off a 94 Trans Am in the yard I mentioned. My buddy and I are taking a break to charge sawzall batteries. There are two more roofs out there and I'll let you know the full price for the roof once we get it off and paid for.
Last edited by TechCam97; Sep 10, 2011 at 03:21 PM.