Painted Hardtop
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New User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Long Beach
Painted Hardtop
hey everyone i am looking into getting my 1988 Fullsize Bronco a new paint job. now i was wondering if it is going to be possible to paint the hard top. Since it used to be a nice clean white and now it has turned into a more of a yellowish white. Also if anyone has gotten a two tone paint job recently i was wondering ball park how much it is going to cost me. Thanks Yall
New User
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Ontario
I had my '88 painted 2 years ago - no prob. Some minor chips around the glass seal but not noticeable unless you're looking real close. Other than that, I'm happy with the way it turned out. Just remember to get her oil sprayed after cause them damb Fords love rust ! 
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2004
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Greystreak,
I read your FAQ's about painting the top, particularly the section about sanding it smooth, as this is something I'd been thinking about doing. To your knowledge, has anyone tried adding another layer of fiberglass and sanding that down, in order to get the look, without sacrificing the strength of the top? Also, has anyone ever tried refitting the side windows so they fit flush with the exterior of the top? Just a few things I'd been wondering about.
Thanks
I read your FAQ's about painting the top, particularly the section about sanding it smooth, as this is something I'd been thinking about doing. To your knowledge, has anyone tried adding another layer of fiberglass and sanding that down, in order to get the look, without sacrificing the strength of the top? Also, has anyone ever tried refitting the side windows so they fit flush with the exterior of the top? Just a few things I'd been wondering about.
Thanks
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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The bronco's fiberglass top is texturized by using some type of an acrylic urethane that is sprayed over the smooth surface which wrinkles as it cures (the same stuff used top texturize your dash). It is recommended to sand the surface with 400-600 grit until smoothe and then spray light coats of sanding sealer as you work towards a smooth finish. If you attack to quickly, paint will potentially eat the suface and wrinkle or lift it even worse. There is a bronco on this web site that was made to look like the rare lightning bronco and he may be the guy to ask. The top on his truck looks flawless.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,809
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From: Loveland, CO.
I've seen tops done where they have some sort of a smooth gel coat or something on them, and then the top can be as shiny as the rest of the truck.
I heard at least one person on this board say that they did not like it like that, I have long forgotten who said it. So some people don't seem to like it. Personally I would love to have it done to my 90. There is a bluish-green sorta Bronco that I see all the time on my way to work, they guy parks it in front of his business with a sign on the top's window. And I think that his top looks awesome. It is totally smooth and shiny, like the rest of his truck. I have no idea how they do it though, and how much it would cost. I just guessed at the term "gel coat" but that is what it looks like to me.
I heard at least one person on this board say that they did not like it like that, I have long forgotten who said it. So some people don't seem to like it. Personally I would love to have it done to my 90. There is a bluish-green sorta Bronco that I see all the time on my way to work, they guy parks it in front of his business with a sign on the top's window. And I think that his top looks awesome. It is totally smooth and shiny, like the rest of his truck. I have no idea how they do it though, and how much it would cost. I just guessed at the term "gel coat" but that is what it looks like to me.
New User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7
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From: Ontario
To be honest, I don't like the smoothed down look. I left mine original when I had it painted. It kinda breaks things up a little bit. I also had the color slightly altered from the body color to give the top a more satin look. The body is Salsa-Red with a lot of metallic.