Z s all done mechanicaly and body work,just needs a respray and new top, but which one first, I would hate to respray only to scratch it fitting the top, also hate to damage the top respraying. Doing it all myself, any advice please
Respray first or new top first
- Thread starter Derick Mills
- Start date
I would suspect easier to mask the top, or spray with the top down. Top then spray if it was me.
Easier to protect a new top, than protect new soft paint.
so do top first
so do top first
Personally I would fit a new top first mate and then paint it. Good to hear you're on the home straight too.
Tony.
Tony.
My approach is to do a little bit of both at the same time.
- Remove old top
- Respray car
- Fit new top
If you paint while the top is on, there will be a masking mark all the way around the back of the soft top where the soft rubber seal is located. With the top removed, you can mask under the metal lip and not have a visible masking mark.
- Remove old top
- Respray car
- Fit new top
If you paint while the top is on, there will be a masking mark all the way around the back of the soft top where the soft rubber seal is located. With the top removed, you can mask under the metal lip and not have a visible masking mark.
You can remove the rubber seal that goes around the back which will give plenty of access to tape under that lip and then over the soft top. You can see the access below with the seal removed, this is what I did when I had mine painted.
In the picture you can make out a mark on the roof where the top of the seal normally sits, with the seal removed the roof can be taped and masked below where the seal would sit probably masked over the lip that the seal pushes onto.
Unfortunately I have no photos of the rear when it's been masked, only a side view and you can't really make it out.
Remove the seals in the tops of the door also, instead of masking over them. The more you can remove, the less you need to mask and if you can remove panels it's easier to paint over the lips.
So I would fit a new roof first and then paint. If you mask correctly you will have no problems. If you paint the accidently mark the paint fitting a new roof you may end up painting the panel again which could cause even more issues with colour match etc.
My car needed a full respray, any panels that could be removed were and sprayed separately. The doors, bonnet (because it's bulky & heavy) & hood (which wasn't old & in good condition) were left in situe, any rubber trim was removed & the remaining car was carefully masked up to stop them being caught by overspray & avoid any masking lines (see my progress thread for pictures). Fresh paint needs time to harden so I would say fit the hood & then respray. Best of luck with everything, it's absolutely worth it & very rewarding 
Umm thanks all your replies, I wish I asked the question before now,as I have had all the panels off for repair or renew all cleaned primed and under sealed,it took hours if not days to get all the gaps on the panels right and all new clips, so I don't relish taking them all off again, looks like a seal removal and a very carefully masking up job. Thanks again
No probs Tony I'm taking my time with it mate