May 10, 2016, 02:15 PM
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Bubbling Sail Panel Issue for Dummies
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 732
Likes: 0
From: OHIO
I agree on all counts.
There is no "expiration date" for this issue, especially because not every example has been exposed to the same amount of heat/UV over its lifespan. I still encounter people who have recently purchased very low mileage examples that haven't previously seen much sun and the bubbling begins for the first time as soon as they start to park it outside at high noon. This happened recently to a friend who purchased a sub-30k mile '02 SS.
So it may be true that a bubbling example could eventually be "dried out" (or, perhaps, that examples which have so far been spared exposure and have never bubbled would eventually be safe...though that's debatable), but you would only know this if it was bubbling every day and then suddenly, under the same conditions, it just stopped. That might be easy enough to determine on a daily driver, but who knows how much longer the problem would be stretched out on an example that's only exposed to limited UV/heat?
There is no "expiration date" for this issue, especially because not every example has been exposed to the same amount of heat/UV over its lifespan. I still encounter people who have recently purchased very low mileage examples that haven't previously seen much sun and the bubbling begins for the first time as soon as they start to park it outside at high noon. This happened recently to a friend who purchased a sub-30k mile '02 SS.
So it may be true that a bubbling example could eventually be "dried out" (or, perhaps, that examples which have so far been spared exposure and have never bubbled would eventually be safe...though that's debatable), but you would only know this if it was bubbling every day and then suddenly, under the same conditions, it just stopped. That might be easy enough to determine on a daily driver, but who knows how much longer the problem would be stretched out on an example that's only exposed to limited UV/heat?
TECH Resident
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 960
Likes: 1
From: Vacaville CA
I live in Cali and keep my car in the garage so it doesn't get JACKED lol not because of the sun. When I do drive my black 01 Zee and its a sunny day I do get new bubbles. Like said above unless you live in Shy-town or in a cold area then your going to still get the bubbles...the end! End of story....move on 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,608
Likes: 2,514
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Mine made it 12 years or so in Iowa before I had to replace it. It's usually in my garage except when being driven. Out more in the summer months as it frequently gets driven to work and shows but it still had issues at about 30,000 miles.
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Finally got ahold of a panel and took it to the shop. The guy said he'd put a urethane primer on the bottom and when I asked what the difference between urethane and epoxy was he just said it's more flexible.
Would a urethane primer be that big of a difference compared to epoxy?
Would a urethane primer be that big of a difference compared to epoxy?
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,608
Likes: 2,514
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Finally got ahold of a panel and took it to the shop. The guy said he'd put a urethane primer on the bottom and when I asked what the difference between urethane and epoxy was he just said it's more flexible.
Would a urethane primer be that big of a difference compared to epoxy?
Would a urethane primer be that big of a difference compared to epoxy?
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Teching In
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
2001 SS Camaro full hard top Is there still the group buy on these full roof panels?
I just bought my camaro and noticed the bubbling on just the roof panel in front on the windshield. The sail panel looks fine, but they are 1 piece.
I just bought my camaro and noticed the bubbling on just the roof panel in front on the windshield. The sail panel looks fine, but they are 1 piece.
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This is the lamest thing ever. What a fng nightmare. I don't have any bubbles yet but if I take my car outside and let it sit in the sun on a really hot day I can see bubbles beginning to form underneath the paint. She only goes out a few times a year so hopefully no issues for a while. I've got better s to spend money on!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,608
Likes: 2,514
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,608
Likes: 2,514
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 369
Likes: 4
Years of Bubbling I have been doing some hands on research and I dont believe the theory about 1998-2002 cars and the glue. I found a dozen cars from those years baking in the junk yard and the sail panels look great. If I had to guess its a bad batch of glue or panels.
ive never seen or heard of any 93-97 having this problem, and it's a fact that Chevy changed the glue they used beginning with the 98 year, the first year of the catfish/LS1.
all I know is that I got 4 friends with 98-02 f-bodies including Firebirds and they all have the bubbling including my own car so that's 5 total.