Painting hardtop

GP14 · Postby **GP14** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 2:50 am

Hey all,

I am about to paint my hardtop as its severely faded and looks horrible. What i need to know is those who have done theirs, did you take the trim off the rear window or just mask it up? if you took it off how do you go about it?

cheers

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 7:57 am

Leave it on, as it is not something that you can take on and off.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 10:39 am

the question is a bit open ended. Looks like you want to DIY. Nearly every library has books on diy painting and it is worth reading about the right approach- it is not nearly as easy as it looks. A hard top is a pretty big surface and gives plenty of scope to end up with blemishes dust runs dry finish etc etc. Plenty of painting can be done by careful masking and you need to be very particular if you want it to pass the close up test. I would suggest try and find an auto paint supplier and ask them for recommendations on products. On a hard top you are likely to be using an acrylic paint which can be reworked to get it right.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 3:32 pm

If they come off, they're being replaced. Mine were all pretty dead anyway so when I had the roof painted, I replaced the lot.

GP14 · Postby **GP14** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 10:09 pm

I don't need painting tips. I only need to know if people took the trim off.

Thanks jeo, Lightyear. I will leave it on then.

RobH · Postby **RobH** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 12:16 pm

Hi GP14

I am in the middle of painting my hard top as well.

I took all the rubber (weather) seals off, they are only held on by a couple of screws at each end and then peel away from the roof, you will see how they are attached and come of easily. As for the black strip that goes around the bottom edge of the roof, this one is a bit trickier as it is double sided tape that holds it in place and feels a bit more fragile when removing. I sliced the tape and will either re glue it back on or if I can find one replace it with a new one. Removing this bottom edge will allow for a better finish in the end. I had a few scrapes, bumps and dents around my bottom edge so was keen to get as much of the trim away from the roof as possible.

Does anyone know where you can get a replacemnt for this bottom edge trim?

RobH

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:56 pm

I ordered mine direct from Mazda.

GP14 · Postby **GP14** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:57 pm

thanks RobH. I am definitely taking the bottom trim off. seems easy enough. The window trim on the other hand I may leave and mask up. Is that what your doing as well?

RobH · Postby **RobH** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 3:43 pm

The window rubbers came off easily. You just need to remove the retaining screws at each end. You will find that the rubber is probably stuck to the roof where the screws are but this peels off easily and then the rest of it just comes of the runner (metal strip that holds the rubber in place) that it is on.

RobH · Postby **RobH** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 3:44 pm

Jeo wrote:I ordered mine direct from Mazda.

Thanks Jeo, I will contact them and see what I can get.

RobH · Postby **RobH** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:16 pm

I just spoke to Al (fredbearoz)at Max Kirwan Mazda here in Melbourne and the rear trim is a special order part from Japan that will cost $125. I reccommend being careful with it when you remove it as you will probably want to try to use it again instead of replacing it.