Painted top C5
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You can paint a glass top, wrap it in vinyl, or try and refinish it if it is showing signs of wear. Here are some files that may give you some ideas. Of course, you can always buy a fiberglass top and paint it to match the car if you already have a glass top.
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Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Washington
Top
My top is perfect, I just don’t like it. I think a matched top looks so much better. One of the members has a C5 with a Torch Red top and I really like the look. I’ll ask a body shop if they can paint it.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 348
Likes: 6
From: Las vegas Nevada
Vinly Wrap.
Started to use a Vinyl wrap on my Targa top and halo but stopped because I did not like the scratches on the Vinyl, I had purchased a gloss black 3m material. Does anyone know if the vinyl adhesive will damage the paint on the Halo?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
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But the clear top is not glass. It's a lexan type of material. So if it gets hit or dropped, it won't break into hundreds of small pieces like a glass car window would do.
In painting a tinted top, whatever color goes on first (either body color or primer) will be seen from the inside and will have a color tint to that paint because of the tinted top material. And a paint shop will most likely sand the top to make sure that paint adheres. You may see the scratches from the sanding when looking at the underside of the lexan top.
I think it would be easier to just find a solid top and have it painted to match the car. Then you can swap between the solid top and the tinted top when it suits you.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,823
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From: Marysville Washington
Only 2 tops were built for the C5. One is made from sheet molding compound, which is the stock base model piece, and the optional top was made from Lexan.
The lexan piece is notably lighter, and gives ya more room for a helmet, but cooks ya alive in the summer. It is also susceptible to crazing (what looks like thousands of superficial spider web cracks due to UV exposure).
I have refinished my top twice. Once after using it to design a negative for a mold to make one out of carbon fiber, and another time a few years later because I decided it would be easier to paint it with clear, than to polish it more often as bare material.
I also used black 3m vinyl wrap for the halo. It literally took me 45 minutes in my driveway one day when I was bored. Windows are 35% sides, 25% hatch.
The lexan piece is notably lighter, and gives ya more room for a helmet, but cooks ya alive in the summer. It is also susceptible to crazing (what looks like thousands of superficial spider web cracks due to UV exposure).
I have refinished my top twice. Once after using it to design a negative for a mold to make one out of carbon fiber, and another time a few years later because I decided it would be easier to paint it with clear, than to polish it more often as bare material.
I also used black 3m vinyl wrap for the halo. It literally took me 45 minutes in my driveway one day when I was bored. Windows are 35% sides, 25% hatch.
Last edited by ErikwithAK01; Nov 2, 2017 at 05:15 AM.
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
thanks guys
Erik, what color is your top now, and does it match the halo?
I have the padded headliner from Mamotors, took it out twice to ‘experience’ the tinted top and yup, got roasted. I would expect it to be cold in the winter. I just remove the top now when I want max air and view.
Erik, what color is your top now, and does it match the halo?
I have the padded headliner from Mamotors, took it out twice to ‘experience’ the tinted top and yup, got roasted. I would expect it to be cold in the winter. I just remove the top now when I want max air and view.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,305
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From: Gilbert, Arizona Currently Own: 1998 Coupe YouTube: My Corvette Life
No, vinyl will not damage the paint. Maybe if it was ever repainted, when removing the vinyl I'd be a little more cautious so it didn't pull off any paint that didn't make good adhesion.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Fords, NJ
http://www.vettenuts.net/index.php?l=product_list&c=3
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 757
From: Marysville Washington
Mine is literally just polished out, and clear coated. With the window tint, the top looks bpack too. You cant tell it is dark blue, until you are looking out of it from inside tue car.