Wrapping T-Tops
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Wrapping T-Tops
I'm reconditioning a set of polycarbonate T-Tops and I'm looking at vinyl warps, I've already gone the route of sanding and polishing the Acrylic/Plexiglas and still have a ton of scratches, maybe not a ton but enough that it's gonna bug the **** out of me and to be honest not wanting to continue the process of sanding and polishing, all that work to get them perfect and expecting them to get scratched up just from being used. With that said I'm looking into possibly vinyl wrapping them with a translucent wrap. 3M offers the Scotchcal translucent film, confirmed with 3M that this product will work on polycarbonate but only comes in a maximum width of 24" and concerned about seeing a seem. 3m does offer Scotchprint vinyl which there was a member BADNBLK that vinyl wrapped his T-Tops but that wrap is not translucent and I like the idea of the T-Top allowing light to shine through. A member of a FB page mentioned FlexiShield Paint Protection Films would this be a viable option? I do have an email out to www.flexishieldusa.com that I'm waiting on a reply.
3M™ Scotchcal 3630 - Black Translucent Film | Graphic Film (rvinyl.com)
3M™ Scotchcal 3630 - Black Translucent Film | Graphic Film (rvinyl.com)
Last edited by 91banditt2; 11-17-2022 at 12:04 PM.
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Car: 1991 Z28
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
I'm reconditioning a set of polycarbonate T-Tops and I'm looking at vinyl warps, I've already gone the route of sanding and polishing the polycarbonate and still have a ton of scratches, maybe not a ton but enough that it's gonna bug the **** out of me and to be honest not wanting to continue the process of sanding and polishing, all that work to get them perfect and expecting them to get scratched up just from being used. With that said I'm looking into possibly vinyl wrapping them with a translucent wrap. 3M offers the Scotchcal translucent film, confirmed with 3M that this product will work on polycarbonate but only comes in a maximum width of 24" and concerned about seeing a seem. 3m does offer Scotchprint vinyl which there was a member BADNBLK that vinyl wrapped his T-Tops but that wrap is not translucent and I like the idea of the T-Top allowing light to shine through. A member of a FB page mentioned FlexiShield Paint Protection Films would this be a viable option? I do have an email out to www.flexishieldusa.com that I'm waiting on a reply.
3M™ Scotchcal 3630 - Black Translucent Film | Graphic Film (rvinyl.com)
3M™ Scotchcal 3630 - Black Translucent Film | Graphic Film (rvinyl.com)
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91banditt2 (11-16-2022)
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
I have a 92 Pontiac Firebird with the plastic T-tops and I too am interested in doing something to improve their appearance. Mine aren't warped or cracked and have very few minor scratches and don't leak a drop in powerful thunder storms, high power car washes or washing at home with a power washer. But when you look up through them they have what looks like a million little sparkles in them. These sparkles aren't on them it's in them. I thought about some sort of wrap. I don't care if I can see through them afterwards. My enjoyment comes from them being out and having the open roof.
If anyone has any good ideas or has redone their plastic T-tops I'm interested in hearing about it.
Note to the OP. Our factory GM plastic T-top are made by Lexmar and are cheap acrylic plastic with some sort of scratch resistant coating and not polycarbonate Lexan.
If anyone has any good ideas or has redone their plastic T-tops I'm interested in hearing about it.
Note to the OP. Our factory GM plastic T-top are made by Lexmar and are cheap acrylic plastic with some sort of scratch resistant coating and not polycarbonate Lexan.
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91banditt2 (11-16-2022)
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91banditt2 (11-17-2022)
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
https://www.flexishieldusa.com/produ...exishield-hdl/
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
You may find the same issue as with the translucent and it may not come wide enough to do in one piece, since it is headlight specific. I am not familiar with this also.
Why not window tint film if you want light to come through? Does tint not work on plastic?
Why not window tint film if you want light to come through? Does tint not work on plastic?
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
I don't need them tinted darker, I would be ok with a clear film just to protect but I think it would look better with a darker smoked look.
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
It looks like they do! learn something new every day. Exterior Window Tinting Films — windowtint.com
Also this might work. 60"x120" 5FTx10FT 3D Clear Transparent Carbon Fiber Texture Car Vinyl Wrap Decal | eBay
If none of this works for you Paint Protection film will do what you want, it will just be clear but it will protect them from scratches and such.
Also this might work. 60"x120" 5FTx10FT 3D Clear Transparent Carbon Fiber Texture Car Vinyl Wrap Decal | eBay
If none of this works for you Paint Protection film will do what you want, it will just be clear but it will protect them from scratches and such.
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91banditt2 (11-17-2022)
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
*EDIT*
Thank you for the correction Airwolfe, the link below is just for a conformation of reference.
"They are Acrylic, not Lexan. Lexan is Polycarbonate, Acrylic is Plexiglas. Leximar was the company in MI that made them."
plastic/lexan t-tops? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards
Last edited by 91banditt2; 11-17-2022 at 11:48 AM.
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
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Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Re: Wrapping T-Tops
It looks like they do! learn something new every day. Exterior Window Tinting Films — windowtint.com
Also this might work. 60"x120" 5FTx10FT 3D Clear Transparent Carbon Fiber Texture Car Vinyl Wrap Decal | eBay
If none of this works for you Paint Protection film will do what you want, it will just be clear but it will protect them from scratches and such.
Also this might work. 60"x120" 5FTx10FT 3D Clear Transparent Carbon Fiber Texture Car Vinyl Wrap Decal | eBay
If none of this works for you Paint Protection film will do what you want, it will just be clear but it will protect them from scratches and such.
From that ebay ad
" This vinyl is designed for vehicle exterior wrap use ONLY. This vinyl won't stick good on polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, PET/PBT blends, concrete, wood, glass, plastic, textured, aluminum, metal."
What will it stick to
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vinny R (11-17-2022)
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
Revisiting this, maybe someone has any idea of a product to use.
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
FlexiShield Cosmetic PPF.
Paint Protection Film | FlexiShieldUSA
My favorite wrap channel on youtube, CK Wraps, has a video installing FlexiShield Carbon Fiber PPF on a new NSX roof top.
STEK Fashion PPF. A lot of videos for STEK too.
Hydrophobic Self Healing Paint Protection Film | STEK USA (stek-usa.com)
These are probably the two best of such products available. PPFs that give cars a "concours" appearance. Cool stuff.
Paint Protection Film | FlexiShieldUSA
My favorite wrap channel on youtube, CK Wraps, has a video installing FlexiShield Carbon Fiber PPF on a new NSX roof top.
STEK Fashion PPF. A lot of videos for STEK too.
Hydrophobic Self Healing Paint Protection Film | STEK USA (stek-usa.com)
These are probably the two best of such products available. PPFs that give cars a "concours" appearance. Cool stuff.
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91banditt2 (03-09-2023)
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
Email sent to www.invisiblemask.com
"Is the INVISIBLEMASK - 3M PAINT PROTECTION film good to use on Acrylic/Plexiglas? I have a set of Acrylic/Plexiglas automotive T-Tops that I want to wrap with a clear or a smoked translucent vinyl type of film. each T-Top is approx. 30"x30", can you make a recommendation?"
Thier reply,
"The Armorwarp Ultra film should stick fine. The only drawback is how it will look when looking through it.
It is about 98% clear but that 2% may bother you."
Our cleanest/clearest film is the Armorwrap Ultra and we do sell it by the foot. You’d install it with soap/water and squeegee and then have to trim around the edge.
here’s the link
I've got emails out to both STEK and FlexiShield basically asking the same question.
"Is the INVISIBLEMASK - 3M PAINT PROTECTION film good to use on Acrylic/Plexiglas? I have a set of Acrylic/Plexiglas automotive T-Tops that I want to wrap with a clear or a smoked translucent vinyl type of film. each T-Top is approx. 30"x30", can you make a recommendation?"
Thier reply,
"The Armorwarp Ultra film should stick fine. The only drawback is how it will look when looking through it.
It is about 98% clear but that 2% may bother you."
Our cleanest/clearest film is the Armorwrap Ultra and we do sell it by the foot. You’d install it with soap/water and squeegee and then have to trim around the edge.
here’s the link
I've got emails out to both STEK and FlexiShield basically asking the same question.
Last edited by 91banditt2; 03-10-2023 at 12:19 PM.
#15
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
You had scratches on the roof. You could wax/polish out. But you know they're coming back? Are you driving this thing through corn fields?
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
If you go back and read the first post you'll see that I've have already spent a lot of time sanding and polishing them, I'm exploring other possible options other than sanding and polishing. Maybe there's a product on the market that could give the Thirdgen community with the plexiglass t tops a different option than sanding and polishing
Maybe I am
Maybe I am
#17
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Re: Wrapping T-Tops
I've just never had that issue with any of my Camaros much less twice with one car. BONKERS!
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