Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Wrapping acrylic top

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-21-2018, 09:32 AM
  #1  
Ramets
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Ramets's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2017
Location: Conway South Carolina
Posts: 1,133
Received 391 Likes on 249 Posts
Default 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.
Old 01-21-2018, 09:44 AM
  #2  
Jeff T.
Race Director
 
Jeff T.'s Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2007
Location: Arlington Hts, IL
Posts: 15,895
Received 1,090 Likes on 797 Posts
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24


Default

Simple search and I found this.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...with-pics.html
Old 01-21-2018, 09:46 AM
  #3  
Fcar 98
Melting Slicks
 
Fcar 98's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2000
Location: Pittsburgh PA
Posts: 3,004
Received 892 Likes on 466 Posts

Default

It has been done with a carbon fiber wrap. Do a search, you may be able to find it. It looked good in my opinion.
Old 01-21-2018, 10:12 AM
  #4  
Ramets
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Ramets's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2017
Location: Conway South Carolina
Posts: 1,133
Received 391 Likes on 249 Posts
Default Targa wrap

Hey Jeff thanks. that's exactly what I'm looking for. That should look great on my yellow C5.
Old 01-21-2018, 10:33 AM
  #5  
brownrd
Instructor
 
brownrd's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 110
Received 17 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

Any idea what it looks like from the inside?
Old 01-21-2018, 10:45 AM
  #6  
Jeff T.
Race Director
 
Jeff T.'s Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2007
Location: Arlington Hts, IL
Posts: 15,895
Received 1,090 Likes on 797 Posts
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24


Default

Originally Posted by Ramets
Hey Jeff thanks. that's exactly what I'm looking for. That should look great on my yellow C5.
With these cars getting older, almost every topic you can think of has been posted/discussed/debated numerous times. Using the search will help you discover more than you thought, and possibly things you didn't want to know!!

Good Luck with your wrap!!
Old 01-21-2018, 11:07 AM
  #7  
DarthVetter5
Instructor
 
DarthVetter5's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2017
Location: South River NJ
Posts: 203
Received 19 Likes on 17 Posts
Default

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; 01-21-2018 at 11:25 AM.
The following users liked this post:
SG Lou (01-22-2018)
Old 01-21-2018, 11:09 AM
  #8  
imgn tht
Melting Slicks
 
imgn tht's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2012
Location: LaGrange Park, IL IL
Posts: 2,308
Received 158 Likes on 131 Posts
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
Default

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.
The following users liked this post:
SG Lou (01-22-2018)
Old 01-21-2018, 11:12 AM
  #9  
Jeff T.
Race Director
 
Jeff T.'s Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2007
Location: Arlington Hts, IL
Posts: 15,895
Received 1,090 Likes on 797 Posts
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24


Default

Originally Posted by imgn tht
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.
Old 01-21-2018, 11:37 AM
  #10  
0Quik Z06
Former Vendor
 
Quik Z06's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2003
Location: Devil's Island CA
Posts: 8,479
Received 411 Likes on 280 Posts

Default

My top wasn’t glass but I wrapped it myself and it actually wasn’t that bad. I used knifeless tape and that made it s breeze.



The following users liked this post:
tdf01cycling (01-22-2018)
Old 01-21-2018, 08:46 PM
  #11  
ErikwithAK01
Drifting
 
ErikwithAK01's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2014
Location: Marysville Washington
Posts: 1,821
Received 739 Likes on 334 Posts
Default

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.
Old 01-21-2018, 09:22 PM
  #12  
chasboy
Le Mans Master
 
chasboy's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2011
Location: Morristown New Jersey
Posts: 7,263
Received 914 Likes on 721 Posts
Oldtimer

Default

Originally Posted by DarthVetter5
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.
Thats correct.
The following 2 users liked this post by chasboy:
DarthVetter5 (01-21-2018), SG Lou (01-22-2018)
Old 01-22-2018, 08:26 AM
  #13  
Ramets
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Ramets's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2017
Location: Conway South Carolina
Posts: 1,133
Received 391 Likes on 249 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by ErikwithAK01
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.
Oh great, and here I thought I had a way of not having to find a solid targa top. I'm in South Carolina, and I have to find something before the summer, or else it'll be like sitting in a microwave.

Last edited by Ramets; 01-22-2018 at 08:27 AM.
Old 01-22-2018, 08:49 AM
  #14  
ErikwithAK01
Drifting
 
ErikwithAK01's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2014
Location: Marysville Washington
Posts: 1,821
Received 739 Likes on 334 Posts
Default

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

Last edited by ErikwithAK01; 01-22-2018 at 08:52 AM.
Old 01-22-2018, 09:16 AM
  #15  
luffy
Instructor
 
luffy's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2017
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 22 Likes on 20 Posts
Default

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/
Old 01-22-2018, 09:28 AM
  #16  
Ramets
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Ramets's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2017
Location: Conway South Carolina
Posts: 1,133
Received 391 Likes on 249 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by luffy
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/
I've seen those, but also read where they don't hold up to the summer sun. A guy in Fl. said the plastic melted. It would probably do the same thing here in SC.
Old 01-22-2018, 11:39 AM
  #17  
redzg
Melting Slicks
 
redzg's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2017
Location: Orlando Florida
Posts: 2,891
Received 664 Likes on 532 Posts
Default

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.

Last edited by redzg; 01-22-2018 at 11:40 AM.

Get notified of new replies

To Wrapping acrylic top

Old 01-22-2018, 12:00 PM
  #18  
Ramets
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Ramets's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2017
Location: Conway South Carolina
Posts: 1,133
Received 391 Likes on 249 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by redzg
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.
Interesting idea. Sounds like that would solve the sun problem. The foam mounting tape holds up to the heat?
Old 01-22-2018, 12:34 PM
  #19  
chasboy
Le Mans Master
 
chasboy's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2011
Location: Morristown New Jersey
Posts: 7,263
Received 914 Likes on 721 Posts
Oldtimer

Default

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
Old 01-22-2018, 11:14 PM
  #20  
hatewhatownsyou
Pro
 
hatewhatownsyou's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2009
Location: ohio
Posts: 566
Received 34 Likes on 26 Posts

Default

I have mine wrapped, only been on for a summer and has not bubbled. Some of the higher end wraps are supposed to be able to remove the bubbles by themselves so maybe this helps.


Quick Reply: Wrapping acrylic top



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:08 AM.