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JKowners.com : Jeep Wrangler JK Forum > JK Tech > Write Up Dept. (The Library)
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11-17-2010, 03:38 PM
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Taxx
Granite Guru
Let me start by saying Ive done my share of body work, but I am neither a professional nor an exp quite the novice. I did my research and also talked with a friend that runs a body shop to make su sense before starting my work. In the end the nature of the damage to my hard top may prevent t lasting a life of being taken on and off, but its about as good as it can get and I expect it to last ma is messy to work with and proper personal protection equipment should be used.
Join Date: Apr 2010 Member # 8763 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 35 Posts: 290 Feedback: 1 reviews
I recently picked up a used hardtop for pretty cheap to run on my 07. The reason it was cheap is b dropped. All the glass was fine but it had significant cracks at the corners of the rear window which structurally important area. It also had some minor damage along the lower lip, purely aesthetic. T show the damage, though only one side is shown there are equal cracks on both sides of the rear; enough you can pull the sides out far enough to stick your finger in the crack.
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The first thing to note and the reason I decide to post this is that most people think this is fibergla repaired with traditional matting and resin. This is NOT true. The top is made of SMC. Fiberglass re it may hold up for smaller repairs but over time fiberglass and SMC will expand and contract at diff repair will not last, not to mention you wont get proper adhesion of the fiberglass to the SMC. I am exceptions to this.
The first thing I had to do was figure out how to reinforce the corners so the repair would last. We worse to make it better. What I chose to do was to sand down the damaged area feathering (dishin it is thinnest at the damaged area and back to stock thickness elsewhere. This allows me to build u material at the crack, but feather (dish) it out as much as possible for the best adhesion and stren this I also made the crack into a hole so I could put a corner reinforcement inside. I cut corner rein sheet metal and used a 3M panel bonding adhesive ( 3M 8115) for metal to plastic bonding for the Because I could not get clamps on it I drilled and riveted it to hold the piece in place while the adh rivet heads will be sanded down later.
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The next step is to repair the hole. The material I used for repairing this is 3M Automix Rigid Parts the adhesive this requires a special gun that can push both sides up at the same time. I borrowed body shop, but you can also use a dowel or a screw driver to push them up in a pinch. Its much ea get to the backside of the area to be repaired but since I could not I was forced to build it up from point I cut a piece of fiberglass matting bigger than the damaged area and coated it with the Rigid and back and layed it over the hole and pressed it down with a spreader.
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After this it is pretty easy. Just sand and fill and sand and fill until you build it back up. You can mi in with the epoxy for strength too. I didnt do this on this repair but I did this on the lower corner a little at a time. This stuff sands similar to any body filler.
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Because I was going to be coating this top with a textured liner I was less worried about perfecting tiny imperfections as I finished. In the end I finished with what you see above and these:
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11-17-2010, 03:38 PM
Taxx
Granite Guru
The next step is to prep and paint. Ideally you want to use an epoxy primer over the SMC repair b of choice. My choice of finish was Raptor Liner, but anything goes at this point. So I prepped the ar think they might say sand to 180, but I used 120). You dont want to remove the black coating or p want to take the gloss away from it so the liner has something to adhere to (this is only the painte
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Join Date: Apr 2010 Member # 8763 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 35 Posts: 290 Feedback: 1 reviews
primer doesn't need much work). I have used other liners in the past (Herculiner, Duplicolor, Durab Rhino) and this one beat my expectations more than any other. Granted its nowhere near the dura its a fraction of the price and lighter. For the price (about $100) it FAR exceeds Herculiner and Du about the same price. The end finish is MUCH nicer and more durable. It comes with everything yo the gun. Well it doesnt come with a compressor. It sprays nicely and its easy to master, very little compared to paint, though Id still make sure you make yourself a little plastic booth or do it outsid it sit a couple days to cure up and ended up with a nice finished product, along with doing my bum other things.
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Here you can see the texture I ended up with. You can affect the texture by changing gun distance by using a reducer. I shot at about 45 PSI, 10 inches and reduced by 10%.
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11-17-2010, 03:51 PM
#3
SONIC
JKO Addict!
Nice writeup! It looks great! __________________ Yes, but there's just something about him. Something around the eyes, I don't know, reminds me of... me. No. I'm sure of it, I hate him. -Doc Holiday Why are you highlighting my sig? You Bastard!
Join Date: Feb 2008 Member # 877 Location: Columbia SC Posts: 3,694 Feedback: 1 reviews
11-17-2010, 04:53 PM
#4
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StubEXrube
Super Moderator
Quote:
Join Date: Jun 2008 Member # 1473 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 11,305 Garage Feedback: 1 reviews
Fantastic job. __________________ Poly Performance - Dynatrac - Currie - Goodyear - Poison Spyder Warn - PSC - AEV - Reid Racing - Off-Road Evolution - Flowmaster - Delta - Riddler - Micky Thompson - Daystar - Skid Row - Uniden Rebel Offroad - Firestik - Warrior Products - Viair - HiLift - ARB Kicker - Infinity
11-18-2010, 07:10 AM
#5
07unlimitedx
JKO Addict!
Join Date: Dec 2008 Member # 2682 Location: Calgary Alberta Age: 42 Posts: 2,111 Garage Feedback: 1 reviews
11-18-2010, 07:30 AM
#6
Taxx
Granite Guru
Thanks. I'm very happy with how it turned out and figured I'd share the process.
Join Date: Apr 2010 Member # 8763 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 35 Posts: 290 Feedback: 1 reviews
11-18-2010, 11:39 AM
#7
Hound1
Granite Guru
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Join Date: Nov 2010 Member # 12319 Location: Northwest CT Posts: 152 Feedback: 0 reviews
11-18-2010, 12:34 PM
#8
MR LIKA
Fisting Anyone?
Join Date: Feb 2009 Member # 3353 Location: Dana Point, Ca Age: 48 Posts: 1,815 Feedback: 0 reviews
11-18-2010, 01:19 PM
#9
Hittnthebz
JKO Addict!
Very nice job! One hell of a salvage job (even though you can't tell it was damaged from the end result)!
Join Date: Jun 2009 Member # 4908 Location: Roanoke, VA Age: 26 Posts: 2,846 Feedback: 0 reviews
11-18-2010, 04:13 PM
#10
RubiRed Unlimited
Rock God
Keep us informed of how it holds up! __________________ RubiRed Unlimited ARB bumpers Superwinch 9.0i 3.5" AEV premium lift 35" KM2s, OR-Fab tire carrier Viair on board air
Join Date: Jan 2010 Member # 7823 Location: Plainsboro, NJ Posts: 521 Feedback: 1 reviews
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11-18-2010, 10:25 PM
#11
RubiCajun
JKO Addict!
Excellent repair. I prefer your surface texture to the factory's. __________________ 08 Rubi Unlimited named Freebird "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" Thomas Jefferson
Join Date: Dec 2008 Member # 2650 Location: Louisiana Posts: 3,958 Garage Feedback: 0 reviews
11-19-2010, 06:12 AM
#12
Jaybee1669
Rock God
Quote:
Originally Posted by RubiCajun Excellent repair. I prefer your surface texture to the factory's.
Join Date: Apr 2010 Member # 8728 Location: Houston, TX Age: 39 Posts: 1,438 Garage Feedback: 1 reviews
agreed, it looks really sharp without just looking like you sprayed over a standard hardtop. __________________ I think this thing is finally coming together. Still Needed: drive shafts, frame mount rails...then done son! For a while...
11-19-2010, 07:12 AM
#13
Taxx
Granite Guru
Quote:
Originally Posted by RubiCajun Excellent repair. I prefer your surface texture to the factory's.
Join Date: Apr 2010 Member # 8763 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 35 Posts: 290 Feedback: 1 reviews
Thanks. I think you could get away with doing two tops with one Raptor Liner Kit. Maybe one 4 door and one two door. Most certainly you could do three 4 door tops with two kits and split some cost. But even if you only use half the material you can save the other half for later since it's in 4 separate containers. I love my Line-x interior, but if I had it to do over again I'd Raptor line the interior and save $$$. It probably wouldn't hold up as well in the bed of a truck with heavy use as Line-x does, but it would hold up to foot traffic really well. I've had the bumper on the trail since I sprayed it and it's holding up quite well. I just put the top on this week so I haven't had it on the trail yet.
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11-25-2010, 02:53 PM
#14
spleify
Wheeler
Nice work man!! __________________ NRA Member! /l , [____], l----L -OlllllllO()_) ()_)------)_) 2007 Rubicon Survival Paracord Wraps
Join Date: Jul 2010 Member # 10518 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 94 Feedback: 0 reviews
01-08-2011, 02:02 AM
#15
Sunburst Sahara
Rock God Join Date: Jan 2010 Member # 7798 Location: Louisa, KY Age: 25 Posts: 766 Feedback: 0 reviews
thanks for the info, I need to repair a little piece on the bottom back left of my top about an inch tall by 6 inches wide __________________ No more Jeep
01-09-2011, 05:27 PM
#16
BryGuy
Granite Guru Quote:
Join Date: Nov 2008 Member # 2321 Location: C.B.S, Newfoundland Age: 38 Posts: 476 Feedback: 2 reviews
Originally Posted by Taxx The first thing to note and the reason I decide to post this is that most people think this is fiberglass and can be repaired with traditional matting and resin. This is NOT true. The top is made of SMC. Fiberglass resin may work and it may hold up for smaller repairs but over time fiberglass and SMC will expand and contract at different rates and the repair will not last, not to mention you wont get proper adhesion of the fiberglass to the SMC. First off... GREAT WRITE-UP I'm glad I found it before I started my repair tomorrow I just want to clarify one thing. It's only the fiberglass resin that you need to substitute for 3M panel bonding adhesive ( 3M 8115). You still use the same fiberglass with the 3M 8115 right? __________________ 2008 JK X 2dr. Std. Blk Punisher Build
01-09-2011, 05:30 PM
#17
e-jeep
Pretending to give a shit
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Adrenaline Offroad ~ Best Jeep shop in the Washington DC area!! Sine libertate, nihil habeamus.
Join Date: Jan 2010 Member # 7797 Location: Maryland, where a bag at the store now costs 5 cents extra Posts: 4,652 Garage Feedback: 11 reviews
01-09-2011, 07:38 PM
#18
Taxx
Granite Guru
Quote:
Originally Posted by BryGuy First off... GREAT WRITE-UP I'm glad I found it before I started my repair tomorrow I just want to clarify one thing. It's only the fiberglass resin that you need to substitute for 3M panel bonding adhesive ( 3M 8115). You still use the same fiberglass with the 3M 8115 right? Yes you can still use standard fiberglass matting. Just mix it in with the 3m stuff. Somewhere there is an instruction sheet from 3m that shows just that.
Join Date: Apr 2010 Member # 8763 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 35 Posts: 290 Feedback: 1 reviews
01-09-2011, 08:31 PM
#19
mckbrew
Granite Guru
Very nicely done. I had a small crack on mine that I needed to repair before I sold it. Tried all sorts of stuff, but the only way to get it to stay together was with the fiberglass matting. My repair was functional, but nowhere near as nice as yours. __________________ Northwest Jeep Rovers
Join Date: Jul 2010 Member # 10199 Location: Silverdale, WA Posts: 365 Feedback: 2 reviews
01-10-2011, 07:42 AM
#20
BryGuy
Granite Guru
Quote:
Originally Posted by Taxx Yes you can still use standard fiberglass matting. Just mix it in with the 3m stuff. Somewhere there is an instruction sheet from 3m that shows just that.
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Join Date: Nov 2008 Member # 2321 Location: C.B.S, Newfoundland Age: 38 Posts: 476 Feedback: 2 reviews
01-11-2011, 08:38 AM
#21
Rubicon85
Wheeler
Wow! Came out great, thanks for sharing the repair. I have a friend who backed into a pole and punched a hole in his hardtop. I will have to share this with him, good work!
01-11-2011, 08:52 AM
#22
08detyelJP
Pounding Pavement
3/M 5883 is the part number for rigid parts repair that comes in 5oz. tubes so you do not need a gun instead of using the 8115 or the Automix stuff which you do need the gun for. It is a 1:1 mix. Just an FYI for those of you who may not want to buy the gun. Nice job on the repair man! 8275 -- 5883 is the part number to use if you do not want the gun 8115 -- 8300 is another seam sealer by 3M that just uses a standard caulk gun. Just trying to help someone out on the money end of it; sorry.
Last edited by 08detyelJP; 01-11-2011 at 09:26 AM. Reason: spelling and part numbers
Join Date: Oct 2009 Member # 6764 Location: Detroit Age: 38 Posts: 267 Feedback: 0 reviews
01-11-2011, 05:27 PM
#23
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Taxx
Granite Guru
Quote:
Originally Posted by 08detyelJP 3/M 5883 is the part number for rigid parts repair that comes in 5oz. tubes so you do not need a gun instead of using the 8115 or the Automix stuff which you do need the gun for. It is a 1:1 mix. Just an FYI for those of you who may not want to buy the gun. Nice job on the repair man!
Join Date: Apr 2010 Member # 8763 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 35 Posts: 290 Feedback: 1 reviews
8275 -- 5883 is the part number to use if you do not want the gun 8115 -- 8300 is another seam sealer by 3M that just uses a standard caulk gun. Just trying to help someone out on the money end of it; sorry.
That's great. I was lucky that I could borrow a gun from a friend. Nothing to be sorry about. Any info is great. I posted this because I couldn't find a good writeup anywhere and barely found it mentioned that the top is SMC and not fiberglass. About the only writeups I could find out there were for Corvette repair and even those left me asking some questions.
01-12-2011, 09:14 AM
#24
08detyelJP
Pounding Pavement
I just did not want to take away from the excellent job you did is all.
Join Date: Oct 2009 Member # 6764 Location: Detroit Age: 38 Posts: 267 Feedback: 0 reviews
01-12-2011, 10:24 AM
#25
Taxx
Granite Guru
Quote:
Originally Posted by 08detyelJP I just did not want to take away from the excellent job you did is all.
no worries!
Join Date: Apr 2010 Member # 8763 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 35 Posts: 290 Feedback: 1 reviews
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