Painting a 2005 grey hardtop black

Bammo68

Bammo68

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 27, 2021
Messages
162
Location
Western Australia
Hi Guys,

Picked up a grey hardtop from a ~2004 Aussie spec Rubicon yesterday for a reasonable price. Going to clean it up and fit it to my 1999 Sport. There are some pretty deep wear marks across the top from the light bar and the overall grey colour doesn't suit my red & black '99.

1) The wear marks are deep enough to really notice - any suggestions as to best material to fill them with? Normal bodyfiller?

2) In terms of paint, I'm leaning towards a rattle can job (with decent prep) and have the option of a flat black or a satin black. Thoughts on this?

hardtop.jpg
 
Bammo68 said:
1) The wear marks are deep enough to really notice - any suggestions as to best material to fill them with? Normal bodyfiller?
Click to expand...
I'm by no means a bodyman but I'd try an SMC repair kit.

Bammo68 said:
2) In terms of paint, I'm leaning towards a rattle can job (with decent prep) and have the option of a flat black or a satin black. Thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
2K spray can satin then a 2K spray can clear
 
  • Like
Reactions: tworley
Bammo68 said:
Hi Guys,

Picked up a grey hardtop from a ~2004 Aussie spec Rubicon yesterday for a reasonable price. Going to clean it up and fit it to my 1999 Sport. There are some pretty deep wear marks across the top from the light bar and the overall grey colour doesn't suit my red & black '99.

1) The wear marks are deep enough to really notice - any suggestions as to best material to fill them with? Normal bodyfiller?

2) In terms of paint, I'm leaning towards a rattle can job (with decent prep) and have the option of a flat black or a satin black. Thoughts on this?

View attachment 323777
Click to expand...
There were no TJ Rubicon's exported to Australia, but the grey top is pretty unique, might have come off a Columbia? they have grey painted flares or a Renegade
The hardtop can flex a bit when windows are open so not sure body filler would usually be any good but given that damage is up near the header I think you will be fine with body filler as that's quite a strong point and wont flex. I would go the satin black flat black always gets used to cover up sun damaged paintwork.
Given you have a 99 there are no vents in the tailgate the earlier hard tops had the vents in the rear pillars, without vents the back window can flip open when you shut your door so you will need to make sure you push it back if its going to rain. Nice find, how much was it? I took my hard top off and going soft top this winter.

Try and put a bit of flood Penetrol on a test patch to see what colour looks like, may save you painting it?
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlueC
There is a factory black color option here in America. Otherwise I’d use Satin Black.
 
Fishtaco said:
There were no TJ Rubicon's exported to Australia, but the grey top is pretty unique, might have come off a Columbia? they have grey painted flares or a Renegade
The hardtop can flex a bit when windows are open so not sure body filler would usually be any good but given that damage is up near the header I think you will be fine with body filler as that's quite a strong point and wont flex. I would go the satin black flat black always gets used to cover up sun damaged paintwork.
Given you have a 99 there are no vents in the tailgate the earlier hard tops had the vents in the rear pillars, without vents the back window can flip open when you shut your door so you will need to make sure you push it back if its going to rain. Nice find, how much was it? I took my hard top off and going soft top this winter.

Try and put a bit of flood Penetrol on a test patch to see what colour looks like, may save you painting it?
Click to expand...

Yeah it might not have been a Rubicon but it wasn't a normal sport either. He said it was a special edition and I just assumed the Rubicon. So how does the back window flip open if its held in place by the tailgate - what am I missing there? I got it for $1500 off FB Marketplace. Chap put the ad up, I was there about 30 mins later and he had already had half a dozen offers by the time I arrived. Not a bargain basement price but fair I reckon given their scarcity.

I really dont want it grey so paint will be the path forward I think - there are a few white chips showing through and not just on that patch of wear.
 
JMT said:
There is a factory black color option here in America. Otherwise I’d use Satin Black.
Click to expand...

Black it is for sure, either flat or satin. The list of options is huge though and its a bit daunting knowing which way to go. At the entry level is the Rustoleum 2x type paints at $A10 each. Then there are a range of "trim black" speciality paints at about $A18 each or the 2K two pack in a can options at $A50 each. The raptor coat options are interesting too but I dont really want to change the texture.

I'm leaning towards trying the Rustoleum 2x in a satin to start with and if that doesn't work then going down the two-pack path later on. Only because I've been using that product on other things with a fair bit of success and it seems have a little in-built "give" in it compared to the enamel paints. I've watched a dozen different videos and read a dozen different forum posts and everyone seems to be claiming success with their favourite brand - bit hard to know which way to go!
 
Unless you are garaged the black roof fades really fast to a grey colour especially on the top flat bit. I spent way too much time on my hard top keeping it looking black. Dont use flat black our west aussie sun will make it go powdery looking.
Try a bit of flood penetrol rubbed on it, its good for bringing back all the faded exterior plastic so not wasted and its pretty cheap from Bunnings, given its a paint prep of sorts anyway wont hurt to try.

With the rear window if you have no vents the back window can pop open just a bit from air pressure when you shut your door with windows closed, it just pops open enough to let rain that runs down the window in between the seal on the window and the smaller seals each side.
Earlier hard tops had side vents later hard tops had the vent in the tailgate.

Thats just a sport by the looks of it, the special model in 05 was the Golden Eagle for export, Many 05 and 06 did not come with the hood decals and 4.0 sport decals, TJ did though come with a huge list of extras if ordered from the factory. you can see the list of extras that came with a TJ from Factory by doing a vin look up, for instance mine is a 65th that came with standard options like painted wider Sahara flares but it also came with cruise control optioned hard top soft top combo with the sunrider feature and a compass/temperature rear view mirror, none of which makes any difference other than the hard top is a bonus to have because a 99 TJ without any options is worth the same as an 06 65th with all the options

Don't drill any type of roof rack to the hard top, you can get a no drill system from Serco USA that is good enough unless you go serious overlanding! they are easy on off without damaging the hard top,pic below with Surco and penetrol on the hard top

launcher 3.jpg
 
The photo of the hardtop on the original jeep makes it look like its faded black. It isn't, its grey and I hate the look of it on my red and black jeep. Its also scratched deeply in a couple of places and needs to be repaired so a restoration type treatment simply isn't an option for me.

Heading out to a specialist paint supplier today to get their advice - they offer DIY 2K spray cans and reckon that's the best long term solution.
 
Bammo68 said:
The photo of the hardtop on the original jeep makes it look like its faded black. It isn't, its grey and I hate the look of it on my red and black jeep. Its also scratched deeply in a couple of places and needs to be repaired so a restoration type treatment simply isn't an option for me.

Heading out to a specialist paint supplier today to get their advice - they offer DIY 2K spray cans and reckon that's the best long term solution.
Click to expand...
I think the secret will be in the prep work, I have seen a few that have peeled and they look terrible.
My top has battle scars and a few chips at the header from going under low trees too fast, adds to the character lol
I have to agree though black is the best colour for red TJ.
I only have all black because that's all I could get! I wanted white red or yellow, black was the least colour I wanted but when I got mine people were buying them sight unseen, I missed out on so many I had to get what I could!

I am sure we will see your handiwork when finished. :)
 
Dropped into the paint specialists in Wangara this afternoon and had a chat with them. They recommended the 2K in a Satin. Bit of prep to do to fill in the gouge marks but otherwise they were confident that the 2K product would hold up for at least 5 years. Not the cheapest option at $99 but also not a big investment if I change my mind down the track... The 2K adheres really well so they only recommend scuffing up the existing surface and not sanding it down.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JMT
Top Bottom
Back