Clear coat peeling on hood/roof; I need opinions

[JasetheDamager]

Those of you who have glanced at my semi-build thread know I've spent over 5,000$ and a lot of time and effort on my truck since I bought it 5 months ago, including all necessary maintenance. My last remaining issue is the clear coat peeling on the hood and roof of my rig. I've been to several paint/body shops for estimates and the prices at any decent, non-Maaco shops are between 1,000 -1,500$, and they'll only do a decent job if I pull all the trim myself, which I've already done once to paint all the trim with SEM black.

I'm curious about alternative options because I want something different...oh and I'm banjo-playing West Virginny poor right now.

I plasti-dipped my emblems and the coating seems durable enough. I'm thinking about going that route. I like it cuz plasti-dip isn't permanent and I can change my mind. I know some serious off-roaders black out their hoods to reduce glare for aux lights and sun glare. I also think the black will look good with my truck, which is Evergreen Pearl like COB's.

I'm open to suggestions and criticism of my idea, certainly. Just don't be childish. I'm looking for real suggestions and opinions. I know there are other threads out there regarding plasti-dip, so please post links if you have them.

Lastly, I have plenty of pics of my rig on my build, but none really show the clear coat peeling. I can take pics and post them, since I know people on here love pics, but really, for what I'm seeking, I don't see the need.

Thanks in advance to this awesome community!

 

[Brilliant]

Sounds like you're keeping the truck for a while so paint it at a decent shop. Thinking plastic dip would not look so hot.

 

[T4R2014]

In my honest opinion, leave it alone until you can get the money to get it painted at a respectable shop. When it comes to bodywork you really get what you pay for. Btw, COB's 4Runner is Imperial Jade Mica.

:keyboard:

 

[Matt's 97 runner]

I have the same debate now... I have been on the hunt for a clean hood, but that seems hard to find. I have been thinking about an fj paint theme with the white roof? It may look awful though? I can't decide!

 

[JasetheDamager]

In my honest opinion, leave it alone until you can get the money to get it painted at a respectable shop. When it comes to bodywork you really get what you pay for. Btw, COB's 4Runner is Imperial Jade Mica.

:keyboard:

Thanks for the correction. I always get the 2 colors mixed up. Forgive me COB.

I have the same debate now... I have been on the hunt for a clean hood, but that seems hard to find. I have been thinking about an fj paint theme with the white roof? It may look awful though? I can't decide!

A white roof might look cool depending on your current color and paint scheme. The most important factor is what you think looks good, not anybody else.

It pains me to spend over a grand on paint when it doesn't improve my
performance or make my truck safer. I pretty much figured saving my money would be the standard reply. I was just curious if anyone on this forum had a slightly different look for their rig. I've seen black hoods on several trucks and I'm on the fence about it.

 

[T4R2014]

I don't think the white roof would work on a 3rd gen. Toyota purposely styled the FJC to look like the roof was "seperate". The 3rd Gen is all 1 piece and the paint lines won't look very pretty. But hey, it's your truck.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Jase, post some pics of your truck. I'm the pickiest person in the world when it comes to paint & body work. I can't tell you how many vehicles I didn't buy because one or the other wasn't up to my standards. I wouldn't spend much money on it until you can afford to do it right. And it's not hurting anything in the meantime.

But, if it's just the clear (which is common) you might be able to sand it, reclear it and then wet sand and buff the new clear to get you by for a while.

Also, ask around. You'd be amazed at how many guys have backyard style paint booth set ups that do decent work. I have a guy here that has what looks like a big shed in his back yard that he has a make shift paint booth in. Picky as I am, the guy is one of the best painters I've ever seen. And cheap as can be.

 

[JasetheDamager]

Jase, post some pics of your truck. I'm the pickiest person in the world when it comes to paint & body work. I can't tell you how many vehicles I didn't buy because one or the other wasn't up to my standards. I wouldn't spend much money on it until you can afford to do it right. And it's not hurting anything in the meantime.

But, if it's just the clear (which is common) you might be able to sand it, reclear it and then wet sand and buff the new clear to get you by for a while.

Also, ask around. You'd be amazed at how many guys have backyard style paint booth set ups that do decent work. I have a guy here that has what looks like a big shed in his back yard that he has a make shift paint booth in. Picky as I am, the guy is one of the best painters I've ever seen. And cheap as can be.

That's exactly what I'm in the process of doing right now. I'm asking anybody I know in SoCal if they know a guy who knows a guy... I was thinking COB might know a crazy underground guy who works miracles.

I believe the clear coat is the biggest issue. I'm working late tonight, too late to snap pics, then I'm driving to NorCal for a wedding tomorrow morning. I'll snap some close-up pics in Sacramento tomorrow and post them up on this thread. In hindsight, I should've just posted pics right from the beginning.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback guys.

 

[Brentif]

There is always the option of vinyl wrapping the hood and roof. Here at work we would charge about $300 for the hood and about $400 for the roof. This pricing is for matte black. Now this being said there is about 1/4 of that being materials and the rest being labor. Looking at 5ish hours to do it all. If you want to talk side work with just materials and someone doing it at your house it could be about half of that. PM me with any questions.

 

[SCRunner12]

Pick up a certifit primered hood instead of plasti-dip. They are pretty cheap and will be a better hood to paint down the line and you won't have to deal with the inconsistency of the plasti-dip.

 

[JasetheDamager]

There is always the option of vinyl wrapping the hood and roof. Here at work we would charge about $300 for the hood and about $400 for the roof. This pricing is for matte black. Now this being said there is about 1/4 of that being materials and the rest being labor. Looking at 5ish hours to do it all. If you want to talk side work with just materials and someone doing it at your house it could be about half of that. PM me with any questions.

Hey Brentif, thanks for the heads up. I remember talking to you about tinting my windows, then money changed cuz of family drama. The vinyl actually sounds promising. I've been checking it out on other rigs lately and I like that it's reversible down the line. I'll get back to you soon.

Pick up a certifit primered hood instead of plasti-dip. They are pretty cheap and will be a better hood to paint down the line and you won't have to deal with the inconsistency of the plasti-dip.

Hey SCRunner12, I looked into the Certifit hoods already. My problem is that I'm trying to do something about the roof as well.

Basically it boils down to I'm scared of a Maaco paint job for obvious reasons. There's just too many horror stories of incompetent work, even if I remove all the trim myself. I plan on keeping my truck years down the road, but at this point I don't have the money to do an excellent paint job. I just feel bad whenever I look at my rig cuz my engine, undercarriage, etc. are in great shape and the peeling clear makes it look like I don't care. I'm not looking for showroom perfection, just a rig that better reflects my pride in it.

 

[farmerjon]

Sounds like you're keeping the truck for a while so paint it at a decent shop. Thinking plastic dip would not look so hot.

In my honest opinion, leave it alone until you can get the money to get it painted at a respectable shop. When it comes to bodywork you really get what you pay for. Btw, COB's 4Runner is Imperial Jade Mica.

:keyboard:

This. I agree with this. If you're planning on keeping the truck for a long time, then I would wait until you can afford it, and then do a good job, a really good job. The exterior paint is the most visible part of the body and it impacts a LOT about how people see your truck and how YOU see your truck. If you want to plasti-dip it, then do it, but only if that's something that you really want and you think you can live with it.

Personally, I don't think plasti-dip is durable enough to be worth the time and effort - but like you said, it's easy enough to peel, so perhaps you should try it.

Good luck mate!

 

[4Running Daily]

Honestly, the best way is the most expensive way : http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/109391-paint-colors.html#post993994

But, if you're idea is money savings, what I would have done instead is
get a Certifit hood and then Vinyl rap the roof black.

 

[fish0281]

to play devils advocate, I recently had a new hood painted at maaco and it looks great. I think it depends on the particular shop.

I also recently rattle canned my bumper. I will never do that again - it was a pain and doesn't look great.

 

[JasetheDamager]

Honestly, the best way is the most expensive way : http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/109391-paint-colors.html#post993994

But, if you're idea is money savings, what I would have done instead is
get a Certifit hood and then Vinyl rap the roof black.

A good paint job is the way to go and I want to do this down the line when I can afford to do it right, but I'm so sick of looking at the peeling clear, that I'm willing to try out some alternatives in the meantime. Cuz of family drama, I won't be able to do a proper recoat for at least another year.

to play devils advocate, I recently had a new hood painted at maaco and it looks great. I think it depends on the particular shop.

I also recently rattle canned my bumper. I will never do that again - it was a pain and doesn't look great.

Hey Fish0281, I've also heard this about Maaco in the past. I think you're completely right about the individual shop. Some guys are better than others, just like the shop. I have a mechanic buddy who flips cars and he thinks Maaco does an adequate job as long as your expectations aren't too high. Again I would be willing to remove all trim, so that might cut down on overspray and other problems associated with shoddy workmanship. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

 

[Brentif]

I am going to be doing my roof and hood here in the next month or so. The tough part is determining where the roof line will be. On our model there is no real break in body panels. My plan is to remove the roof rack eails, then run the black vinyl up to the top of the water trough (seams like the best place to stop it and the line continues to the windshield) then put the roof rack rails back on. Through our wrap distributor I can get this really handy cutting tape that cuts straight lines without the danger of cutting directly on the paint, and it allows you to mock up where everything will line up. It is a teflon tape that has a wire in it. Put the tape down first, lay vinyl on top, then pull the wire so it cuts the film. Although I am perfectly comfortable cutting directly on the paint (I used to install clear bras for a living) this is just waaaaaaaay easier to get straight lines.

 

[Stick Figure]

First I feel your pain, my fenders, flares and mirrors are starting to show the beginning of the clear coat problems. So far I can still throw a fresh coat of wax on mine and be okay with how it looks. I went the plasti dip route on my g/f's Scion tC mirrors because they were doing the same thing. It looks 1000% better, but its a cheap car and its not unexpected to see flat black mirrors on it.

For your situation I would say wait and do it right. Not worth the $'s and hassle to for a "get you by" type of repair on something that technically doesn't effect the way the vehicle drives. I have had luck in the past with PJ Bonifacio's shop in City of Industry. He deals with a LOT of Toyota projects so I have dropped off parts and told him "no hurry when you shoot another car this color, do my piece at the same time". I've gotten by pretty damn cheap on a few parts this way, maybe you can come up with some sort of similar situation.

 

[Maritimer]

I have the same thing starting on my front fender/front quarter panel. Right where it meets the hood. Definitely have no money for a repaint. Appears the panel may have been repainted previously, as it is a bit different in looks than the rest of the truck.

 

[JasetheDamager]

Thanks guys for the honest replies. I think I'll go with PBRescuer's suggestion and see if I can find a reputable underground type DIYer. Now that I've written this thread, I've taken a good luck at the extensive clear coat peel on my roof and hood and decided there's no way vinyl rap or any other non-painting solution will work for my needs.

I just need to suck it up and save money for a decent paint job. Anything else at this point would be pure foolishness and a waste of money down the line.

On a separate note, I was up in NorCal near Lodi for my buddy's wedding this weekend and he has a beautiful Vette that he had repainted at MAACO. For under a grand, they did an excellent job with no runs or streaking. I'm not sure about the durability, as his Vette isn't a DD and is garage-kept, but he had it painted 5 years ago and still loves the results.

I've read so many horror stories, but I know you can still get talented body guys at these shops. I guess what I'm saying is, is it possible to get a decent paint job, just not likely? It can't hurt to get a quote.

 

[Millerad1651]

Man all this clear coat talk makes me grateful I own two 4Runners with single stage paint.