AdmiralYoda

I've read through about a million threads regarding painting the 4Runner top. Most of them involve sanding and about 8 coats for a smooth finish....

The factory top has a textured finish right? I like that...it makes imperfections seem less noticeable. Can't I just prep with grease/wax remover and just roll on a couple coats of a tough enamel like Rustoleum with a quality foam roller and call it done?

I'm kinda restoring an 87 and its stripped bare. The body is going out for paint in two weeks. Since I'm on a budget I plan to paint the top myself to save a few bucks. Its not a show truck, and the tops never looked all that amazing even when the factory painted it.

Since I want to retain the textured finish....how will the top look if I don't sand? Thanks!

Stevesk88

Ehhhhh just leave it off!!!! haha

Sorry man i'd help but i drive a p/u. No one else here can help!!?

Bump to the top for ya man. This place is stale lately, dont let it scare ya off.

RBX

I have to paint mine also. No matter what you end up doing you will need to sand the top to get good paint adhesion, no way around it. If you don't sand you could run the risk of paint bubbling off or flaking later.

you could get the texture back after sanding buy applying some colored bed liner or rocker-guard paint.

Also, you don't need to sand the top smooth, just rough the surface so the paint cand adhere. You should still have some texture.

good luck

AdmiralYoda

I'll show my paint newbieness here...but I thought you generally only needed to sand glossy or smooth surfaces to provide some tooth for the new paint?

Wouldn't a already textured, faded (no gloss) surface already have enough tooth for the new paint to bite?

Yes I know body shops sand everything they work on a million times...but I would think painting a textured top is different than painting a hood or fender. No?

RBX

You should always sand the area to be painted, no matter the surface. there is a reason why body-shops sand everything.
If you are painting a vehicle, it is common practice to sand in-between coats so that you get a smooth surface when you are finished. You CAN avoid sanding if the paint has not fully set/cured, and get decent results. Spraying over tacky paint allows the paint coats to bond while they cure(some kind of chemical bonding). But once cured, paint is suppose to be durable and stain resistant. Notice your factory paint doesn't run or come off when you over fill the gas tank? that is because the paint has been cured/backed/dried, and uses a special catalyst to maintain the pint coating integrity.

Don't over think it, just lightly sand it, clean it with degreaser, again wipe clean with denatured alchohol(some degreasers leave a residue behind) and paint.

Also, your top is fibergalss, it doesn't ding, it cracks and breaks, so the texture isn't really hiding anything...like on sheet metal.

you could pint the top with some rocker guard paint. Notice the texture:


this stuff: Or other companies make it also

AdmiralYoda

I like that rocker guard paint! Is that something that can go on with a roller? Or is it meant for a gun only?

corich

I've done fiberglass boat paint before using a technique called "rolling & tipping" - you roll the paint on, and then chase the roller with brush, brushing always the same direction, to remove bubbles and leave behind a nice glossy finish. You can get some pretty amazing results like this.

Here's a video explaining the technique:

RBX

No idea, but usually you apply that stuf then paint over it.
There are lots of paints, mainly primers that you can apply with a roller. But they are designed to be sanded after application.
I know you want texture, I'd be worried about roller lines. I'd run a test on some flat stuff.

I was typing the same time you posted the above video. You make a good point that I forgot about. This is a fiberglass top that is 20+ years old, the gel coat is toast.

iselloil

Check out jamestown distributors.They sell the interlux yacht paint.I did my shell with it.They will help you with the right product and application.You can roll it, then follow with a brush or spray.

iselloil

check out the link.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...rshell-213103/

stanprophet

It really depends on the condition of the top. I used Duplicolor Spray on bed liner with mine with minimal prep. The fiberglass was starting to show on the top, I still need a second coat on the top, but for 20 bucks in materials it worked really well.

Here was before




During Refinishing





As you can see it still needs another coat on the top. But the top was pretty hammered.





Overall I am happy with it, it is cheap, effective and made a world of a difference to the look of the truck.

Eventually I plan on another recoat, then I am going to spray it with an HVLP gun and a quart of satin or gloss black single stage paint. I am just waiting on getting a soft top then I can work on the top a little more.

JohnnyCanuck

Very nice!