Paint & Body Work Custom Painting | Panel Repairs & Replacement
Old 05-10-2016, 02:15 PM
How-Tos on this Topic
Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:Browse all: Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird Exterior Guides
Print Wikipost

Bubbling Sail Panel Issue for Dummies

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-24-2012, 08:06 PM
  #1761  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (11)
 
SparkyJJO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 7,195
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

No, the glue change was late in 98. All 99s are affected.

My 99 showed pretty much no signs of bubbling until I got it and have to park it out in the sun. Now it has a million tiny little slightly raised spots all along the panel. Not noticeable unless you're up close looking for them, but they are there
Old 06-26-2012, 01:57 PM
  #1762  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (28)
 
ZexGX's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: under a JEGS hat
Posts: 2,793
Received 14 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

Guys, this is your last chance to get BRAND NEW hardtops! There is 5 days left to fill pre-orders. If pre-orders are not reached then 6LE will not make hardtop roofs in fiberglass or carbon fiber! IF YOU HAVE INTEREST, PLEASE PRE-ORDER NOW!!
Link: https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearanc...re-orders.html
Old 06-27-2012, 08:03 PM
  #1763  
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
L84ARACE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Guess I need one.... Damn it!
Old 06-29-2012, 10:40 AM
  #1764  
TECH Resident
 
ZeeSNuttS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Vacaville CA
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by SparkyJJO
No, the glue change was late in 98. All 99s are affected.

My 99 showed pretty much no signs of bubbling until I got it and have to park it out in the sun. Now it has a million tiny little slightly raised spots all along the panel. Not noticeable unless you're up close looking for them, but they are there
My boy has a 99 blk camaro with 225k always parked out side in Norcal, not one bubble on his sail panel.
Old 07-06-2012, 10:44 AM
  #1765  
Launching!
 
TBSOELS1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Enid, Oklahoma
Posts: 217
Received 25 Likes on 18 Posts

Default

I've got them all over my 01 WS6 and it just sits in the garage 24/7, with only 40k miles
Old 07-09-2012, 04:13 PM
  #1766  
TECH Resident
 
ZeeSNuttS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Vacaville CA
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by TBSOELS1
I've got them all over my 01 WS6 and it just sits in the garage 24/7, with only 40k miles
like you said, you have a 01 that is why.
Old 07-10-2012, 11:10 PM
  #1767  
TECH Regular
iTrader: (3)
 
bones_c's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Killeen, TX
Posts: 493
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

If I sand it down to the fiberglass and put a couple of coats of fiberglass resin on it and sand it down and paint will it still leak through? Anyone tried this?
Old 07-10-2012, 11:16 PM
  #1768  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (11)
 
SparkyJJO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 7,195
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

You can't just coat it. The failed glue is eating through the fiberglass, putting more stuff on top won't fix the problem. You have to fix the source of the issue.
Old 07-11-2012, 08:17 AM
  #1769  
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Vexzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Castle Hills, TX
Posts: 198
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by bones_c
If I sand it down to the fiberglass and put a couple of coats of fiberglass resin on it and sand it down and paint will it still leak through? Anyone tried this?
The new surface must "breathe". Use a combination of cheesecloth & oatmeal. It will never bubble again.
Old 07-11-2012, 09:20 AM
  #1770  
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
 
RPM WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,254
Likes: 0
Received 1,687 Likes on 1,208 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Vexzer
It will never bubble again.


Only if you replace the panel with one that has the proper epoxy primer on the underside, to prevent the glue from getting into the panel in the first place.
Old 07-16-2012, 12:55 PM
  #1771  
Teching In
 
lionel_luthor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I've also got a 2001 WS6 with bubbles all over each side. Under 50k miles.

I never had any idea this was a common problem.

I'm well beyond SOL as far as getting GM to fix this..........right?
Old 07-16-2012, 07:33 PM
  #1772  
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
 
RPM WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,254
Likes: 0
Received 1,687 Likes on 1,208 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by lionel_luthor
I'm well beyond SOL as far as getting GM to fix this..........right?
Yep. In fact, you are so far beyond it that GM doesn't even make the panel any more. You'll have to get one used or a reproduction from 6LE if you want to fix it permanently.
Old 07-18-2012, 10:45 AM
  #1773  
Teching In
 
lionel_luthor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by RPM WS6
Yep. In fact, you are so far beyond it that GM doesn't even make the panel any more. You'll have to get one used or a reproduction from 6LE if you want to fix it permanently.
Thanks, I figured

Oh well, I bought it in June of 03, so at least the service notice was issued a few months prior to my purchase. It's really awesome that when I brought her in for a warranty catalytic converter that they mentioned the bubble fix was available It's also super awesome that the dealership that I bought it from did the fix prior to selling a customer the damn thing
Old 07-19-2012, 12:39 PM
  #1774  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (28)
 
ZexGX's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: under a JEGS hat
Posts: 2,793
Received 14 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by ZeeSNuttS
like you said, you have a 01 that is why.
Maybe you didn't read this thread? It happens on pretty much all 99-02s. My '99 (which was technically built in '98) has bubbles.
Old 07-27-2012, 03:44 AM
  #1775  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (7)
 
ahhwataday's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 508
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Just bought a 2000 mystic teal, the sail is the only part not bubbling lol
Old 07-27-2012, 01:43 PM
  #1776  
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
 
RPM WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,254
Likes: 0
Received 1,687 Likes on 1,208 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by ahhwataday
Just bought a 2000 mystic teal, the sail is the only part not bubbling lol
Do you know the complete history of the car? It's always possibile that the panel was replaced at some point prior.
Old 08-08-2012, 02:07 PM
  #1777  
TECH Regular
iTrader: (3)
 
bones_c's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Killeen, TX
Posts: 493
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

1998 Camaro affected? Will a Camaro panel fit a trans am?
Old 08-08-2012, 02:13 PM
  #1778  
TECH Regular
iTrader: (3)
 
bones_c's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Killeen, TX
Posts: 493
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Sorry for asking that ? But I don't have time to read through 88 pages to find an answer someone already knows!
Old 08-08-2012, 04:12 PM
  #1779  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (11)
 
SparkyJJO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 7,195
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

Odds are pretty good that your 98 is unaffected. The sail panels are all the same shape 93-02, Camaro or Firebird.

Regardless of the year I'd wait until the panel showed signs of bubbling before replacing it because of the cost, unless you have a year that is guaranteed affected (99-02) and you're doing an overhaul on the body anyway (respray of the whole thing for example).
Old 08-08-2012, 05:16 PM
  #1780  
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (33)
 
NBM99SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Mid 98's will have the issue. That's when they changed glue. My gf's 98 WS6 is bubbling and its a May 98 build date I think


Quick Reply: Bubbling Sail Panel Issue for Dummies



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:36 PM.