Wrapping acrylic top
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 581
From: Conway South Carolina
Wrapping acrylic top
Has anyone wrapped their glass targa top instead of painting? If so, could you post a pic. I'm thinking of doing a carbon fiber look wrap on my yellow C5.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,733
Likes: 1,210
From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,733
Likes: 1,210
From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
Good Luck with your wrap!!
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 203
Likes: 19
From: South River NJ
I was interested in doing the same thing but was told by a reputable installer that gas bubbles may form due to heat/sunlight as the acrylic releases them in the heat. I dunno how true that is.
Last edited by DarthVetter5; Jan 21, 2018 at 11:25 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 159
From: LaGrange Park, IL IL
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
I would caution wrapping the acrylic top as there have also been numerous posts of folks dealing with the wrap bubbling and failing. The acrylic apparently let's off gases that lead to failure with both paint and vinyl.
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,733
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From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 757
From: Marysville Washington
The top is NOT acrylic, it is Lexan. Lexan outgases when it gets hot. It's how it combats expansion due to heat. If you do not wrap it in a perforated material, it WILL bubble up. Why not just refinish it? It refinishes just like all other body work. I have personally done 2 myself.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 581
From: Conway South Carolina
The top is NOT acrylic, it is Lexan. Lexan outgases when it gets hot. It's how it combats expansion due to heat. If you do not wrap it in a perforated material, it WILL bubble up. Why not just refinish it? It refinishes just like all other body work. I have personally done 2 myself.
Last edited by Ramets; Jan 22, 2018 at 08:27 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,823
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From: Marysville Washington
Dude, seriously, thissssss...if your targa top is toast.
If you are just looking to beat the heat, they make plenty of cheap solutions to battle the heat from a clear top as well
Even just dropping a fiberglass top's headliner in place woul alleviate the heat issue quite nicely.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...targa-top.html
Thats my DIY top refinishing thread
If you are just looking to beat the heat, they make plenty of cheap solutions to battle the heat from a clear top as well
Even just dropping a fiberglass top's headliner in place woul alleviate the heat issue quite nicely.https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...targa-top.html
Thats my DIY top refinishing thread
Last edited by ErikwithAK01; Jan 22, 2018 at 08:52 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 184
Likes: 22
It sounds like the end goal is to block the sun and keep the cabin cool, this might be an easier and non permanent solution for you.
https://www.rpidesigns.com/shop/item.aspx/c5-corvette-roof-liner-headliner-sunshade-blackout-panel/
https://www.rpidesigns.com/shop/item.aspx/c5-corvette-roof-liner-headliner-sunshade-blackout-panel/
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 581
From: Conway South Carolina
It sounds like the end goal is to block the sun and keep the cabin cool, this might be an easier and non permanent solution for you.
https://www.rpidesigns.com/shop/item...lackout-panel/
https://www.rpidesigns.com/shop/item...lackout-panel/
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
I took my targa and inverted it on an empty trash can (plastic can). I scribed multiple sheets of paper to the inside perimeter of the trim, taping the sheets together to form a fitted pattern. Transferred the pattern to a WalMart sunshield -- one with a reflective outer surface and white inner surface. Cut the sunshade to the pattern, and mounted it to the plastic with some foam mounting tape. The white inner surface looks fine, the reflective surface doesn't show through the plastic, and my life in central florida is much much better for $10...
I may do it again, modifying the pattern to leave just a touch of material to tuck under the trim along the edge.
I may do it again, modifying the pattern to leave just a touch of material to tuck under the trim along the edge.
Last edited by redzg; Jan 22, 2018 at 11:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 581
From: Conway South Carolina
I took my targa and inverted it on an empty trash can (plastic can). I scribed multiple sheets of paper to the inside perimeter of the trim, taping the sheets together to form a fitted pattern. Transferred the pattern to a WalMart sunshield -- one with a reflective outer surface and white inner surface. Cut the sunshade to the pattern, and mounted it to the plastic with some foam mounting tape. The white inner surface looks fine, the reflective surface doesn't show through the plastic, and my life in central florida is much much better for $10...
I may do it again, modifying the pattern to leave just a touch of material to tuck under the trim along the edge.
I may do it again, modifying the pattern to leave just a touch of material to tuck under the trim along the edge.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 969
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Mine came with this one and I’ve only removed it once. It does not react to heat in any way. Keeps the cabin warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Nothing flimsy about it either.
http://www.mamotorworks.com/Corvette...panel-606362-1
http://www.mamotorworks.com/Corvette...panel-606362-1
