So this is my first attempt at painting anything large, so bear with me.

The prep was easy, had some help for the interior of the Top, while I sanded the exterior after giving it a good scrub. Then washed the entire exterior with mineral spirits.



On the driver's side of the top there was some plastic trim left over the kept the rain from falling into the windows. It was attached with some type of tar-like gum and was really hard to get off. Ended up sanding up the remaining stuff that I couldn't remove with a razor knife.



After primering and taping off everything I started my first coat. I thinned the paint to a milk-like consistency, thicker than water, but def not cream. Obviously I did this whole deal wrong and ended up sanding most of it off for the second coat which I'll post pics up of tomorrow after it dries.



I learned a couple of tricks along the way:
1.) As you can see from the last pic, lighter coats are way better. Go lighter than you'd even expect, just do a lot of rolling to even things out.
2.) Roll in the longest and straightest ways you can, and use breaks in the body to change directions to whichever way is most practical. That doesn't make much sense but you'll figure it out the same way I did after starting it yourself.
3.) Have the top stand on something, there's no easy way to hang it without the rope or straps interfering with the paint
4.) Use superglue to reattach your weatherstrips because I know they've come off like mine did.

 

You could've had that done twice over by now if you woulda used some krylon rattle can... Roll on paint is best left to houses..

 

I was thinking the same thing. Walmart has spray paint for 96 cents a can around here, and it holds up pretty well. (We did my buddy's beater with it and I waited to see how it aged before starting on my rig today).

 

Not to mention you COULD just spray on the rattle can pretty thick with like 20 cans (96 Cents a can) and wetsand and buff it and it would be comparable to Maaco, heck your prep job would prolly even be better.. Instead of roll on, sand, roll, sand, roll, sand etc.. I rattle canned my truck with Krylon Flat Black, but I'd like to see how this roll on job works out. I like these threads. Make sure and PREP PREP PREP PREP!!!! I used to work in a body shop, and piss poor prep work drives me bonkers.

 

I used Duplicolor spray-can bedliner and did several coats. Turned out looking pretty daggon good for pretty cheap. Hopefully it will be a few years before I find out how good or bad it is.

 

Did the third coat today... and well, I knew I forgot something, thanks for reminding me to WET sand, I've been doing it dry (ooops). Anyways, here are the pictures of the third coat being applied.





You can start to see the Marine Paint gloss coming out.

 

I have done this on a fender! I painted it gloss black! Using rustoleum with a roller! It tured out way better than i thought! But like the other guy said prep work prep work! And always sand ever two coats! Look good man! Are you going to paint the whole 4runner or just the top?

 

The top is going to be navy blue, and I'm painting the rest of the truck Khaki with two navy blue stripes going up the hood and the roof to the topper.

 

nice man! Whats the brand of paint your using?

 

94Toy, I'm using a Rustoleum Marine Navy Blue Gloss paint.

4th coat after wetsand.





The biggest trouble I've had thus far is equal and smooth coverage into and around the rear window washer and fluid spot.



If there's anywhere on the truck that's going to look REAL spotty it's right there. I wish I had taken the time to dissassemle the whole assembly but I really didn't have the patience or know even where to begin. I thought that I could do it just fine with just taping those off, man was I wrong.

 

Don't knock this method till you've tried it. I've painted both my vehicles with it and wouldn't paint them any other way. The paint is extremely durable an cheap. Yes its more tedious than spraying the paint but not much harder. Alot less taping off. I've painted my 96 Honda Accord and my 79 toyota. The big plus for me is theres practically no smell, cheap, durable, and you can put a coat on when ever you want. Regular car paint you have a window in which you need to apply coats. It takes about 8 coats for full coverage, but they are very thin coats. The car was not wet sanded but the truck is.

 

Paint looks good, but whats with the ricer rear end on the Honda?

 

What about it? I did all the work myself. I installed a universal wide body kit, molded in a rear spoiler, and molded in a street fighter rear bumper to the body kit. Its not for everyone, but I like it.

 

Ok so looks pretty good so like five more coats and alot more wet sanding and youll be good to go.

 

it looks like a mini mustang... whats done to the engine? nothing?

 

I've heard it looks like a weird mustang a few times. Motor is stock 2.2 Vtec.
It's got 270,00 miles on the original motor. Runs great, doesn't smoke or leak any fluids. When the motor finally goes I may upgrade to more horsepower.

 

You just need to make the front match and you will be rockin!