Paint & Body Work Custom Painting | Panel Repairs & Replacement
Old 05-10-2016, 02:15 PM
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Bubbling Sail Panel Issue for Dummies

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Old 05-03-2016, 02:56 PM
  #1961  
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Originally Posted by RPM WS6
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?
I bought my 99 SS BRAND NEW, APRIL 5, 1999 and it's got about 32,000 miles now...WITH A BUBBLING sail panel. You can actually see the adhesive run down the panel, like a freshly squeezed zit, lol. I have to get this fixed
Old 05-09-2016, 04:56 PM
  #1962  
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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
Old 05-11-2016, 01:54 AM
  #1963  
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Originally Posted by ZeeSNuttS
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
Mine got plenty of bubbles even in Chicago weather.
Old 05-11-2016, 11:49 AM
  #1964  
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Originally Posted by RPM WS6
Mine got plenty of bubbles even in Chicago weather.
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.
Old 09-02-2016, 04:17 PM
  #1965  
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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?
Old 09-03-2016, 02:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Strobes
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?
I'm not a body expert to that degree, but I would certainly verify this with additional opinions before proceeding. The GM TSB calls for epoxy, so that's what I would want unless the body guy is experienced with this exact type of condition and guarantees it will work.
Old 10-30-2016, 10:17 PM
  #1967  
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Hopefully there will be some upcoming holiday deals on carbon fiber roof panels... hint hint
Old 11-03-2016, 01:08 AM
  #1968  
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SEMA SALE GOING ON NOW !!!

Enter code SEMA10 now through Sunday night to get 10% off YOUR ENTIRE ORDER (any brand, any parts, even items ALREADY on sale, first time we've ever done this)...

Ask and you shall receive
Old 11-25-2016, 06:41 PM
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Default 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.
Old 11-25-2016, 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Darkness1982
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.
Through Monday at Midnight we're having our Black Friday sales...

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LOTS of products are already greatly reduced and ANY that are not (meaning no slashed black price replaced by a red price) just enter code BLK20 at check out and get 20% off

Cheapest the roofs have been in a LONG time...
Old 05-02-2017, 09:15 PM
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Default Sail panel primer

Any of you guys discovered a new primer that will stop the infamous sail panel bubbles. I was thinking about using gelcoat.
Old 05-03-2017, 09:48 AM
  #1972  
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Anything on top will not stop it because it is bubbling up from underneath. You HAVE to pull the panel and replace it. It will bubble up through the gelcoat.
Old 05-03-2017, 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by johnfin
Any of you guys discovered a new primer that will stop the infamous sail panel bubbles. I was thinking about using gelcoat.
Nope, there is only one way to fix this issue permanently. Replacement.
Old 05-03-2017, 11:27 AM
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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!
Old 05-03-2017, 01:20 PM
  #1975  
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Originally Posted by TechCam97
Nope, there is only one way to fix this issue permanently. Replacement.
You would think this would be common knowledge by now, but I guess folks are still hoping for a miracle cure.
Old 05-03-2017, 07:41 PM
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Is it possible to cut one off a car in the yard with a windshield wire cutter. Found a nice one and its been sitting in the sun every day.
Old 05-03-2017, 07:45 PM
  #1977  
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Originally Posted by johnfin
Is it possible to cut one off a car in the yard with a windshield wire cutter. Found a nice one and its been sitting in the sun every day.
Yes. Several great write-up links in the first post of this thread.
Old 05-03-2017, 08:51 PM
  #1978  
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Originally Posted by johnfin
Is it possible to cut one off a car in the yard with a windshield wire cutter. Found a nice one and its been sitting in the sun every day.
Yep, that's what I used to snag one for mine. Worked great.
Old 05-30-2017, 07:42 PM
  #1979  
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Default 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.
Old 05-30-2017, 07:57 PM
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Originally Posted by johnfin
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.
you might be right.
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.


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