Raptor Lining Hard Top Advice - Updated - The Build Continues..

[Tedster100]

The windows were tinted with some purple color, soooooo... that has to be made gone, then I think I'm going to get them installed, tape them up and spray it. Hope to do it all this weekend but you know how that goes sometimes. I'm wishing the rack parts would fit in my blast cabinet, it would make life a lot easier getting it cleaned up and painted too.

 

[Fireball05]

Does that rack have a curve in it that matches the hardtop? I've been paying attention to the mall and grocery store parking lot recently looking for a rack that would be small enough to fit the hard top and also have a slight curve to it.

Lots of the smaller SUVs have perfectly flat roofs which I'm not sure how well will work on the bronco hardtop. It looks like the older model Ford escapes have a roof rack that may work pretty well But I haven't taken a tape measure to one yet.

Also, you should get a bigger blast cabinet! Just think how easy it would've been if the whole hardtop would fit in there.

 

[Justafordguy]

I sprayed my full top with some bed liner last year and it turned out good. I think you will like it. It made it a little quieter and it's tough. I drive through trees a lot and it doesn't scratch off like paint. It does leave a mark from the limbs but you can scrub it off if you want (I don't even wash mine much);D

 

[Tedster100]

I picked the Astro rack because it looked like it had the right curves, it's all aluminum and the way it's made you can cut to any length. It's about 6" off the drip rail and I cut it down to about 45" long overall due to the sunroof. It's also got gaskets under the feet. I've got a whopping hour and a half in cutting down, mocking up and installing the rivet nuts! I think it's going to be great.

 

[Tedster100]

Justafordguy that's exactly what I'm going for! Nice!

 

[Tedster100]

It's done! Spent a couple hours getting everything taped up, threw some old bolts & screws in the holes and sprayed it. Took exactly the 4 qts included in the kit to shoot it. I'm very happy with how it turned out!

 

[Fireball05]

That came out great, very nice work!

 

[Tedster100]

Installed the roof rack, back gate and all the seals. Picked up a Surco aluminium rack on Craigslist for $50 so I cleaned it up and gave it a quick coat of paint. Made some brackets to mount the two racks together solid and I think it turned out pretty good. Hoping to put it on the Bronco tomorrow.

 

[dube]

looks great, nice job. did my halfcab couple weeks ago and love it.

 

[Fireball05]

That looks really awesome! Nice bit of work there.

Are there any issues with installing the liftgate without the large support brackets that go b/w the hardtop and the body? Those brackets have the nuts for the liftgate struts, so I'm guessing the liftgate just hangs in place for now?

 

[Bucky66]

that looks awesome.

 

[Heus33]

Looks great! I've always wanted to line mine white to keep the heat down.

 

[Tedster100]

Thanks for the comments! I've put Herculiner on things before but I really like the Raptor Liner a lot better.

As for the brackets I don't have them, I made up a couple backing plates and put rivet nuts in them so I could mount the liftgate struts. Still need to make some brackets or find a set.

 

[BroncoLuke]

Thanks for the comments! I've put Herculiner on things before but I really like the Raptor Liner a lot better.

As for the brackets I don't have them, I made up a couple backing plates and put rivet nuts in them so I could mount the liftgate struts. Still need to make some brackets or find a set.

Any helpful hints about Raptor Liner? I'm fixing rusty panels and then am going to Raptor Liner my entire inside...except for the dash. Brother in law has a whole bunch left over from his Jeep he doesn't want.

 

[Dbarnes72]

Looks awesome. What did you do for color in the Raptor kit. Was it tintable or pre-colored? That's just the level of gloss that I've been thinking about for mine.

 

[Tedster100]

Any helpful hints about Raptor Liner? I'm fixing rusty panels and then am going to Raptor Liner my entire inside...except for the dash. Brother in law has a whole bunch left over from his Jeep he doesn't want.

From what I have seen and read you would do the prep just like you would for paint. You want to have a good surface for it to adhere to so a good epoxy primer would seem to be the best. I had some overspray get on the fixture that I used to lift the top and without proper prep it would appear to delaminate fairly easily. The finished product is pretty thin with one coat, perfect for a top but I would do two coats for any bedliner application.

 

[Tedster100]

Looks awesome. What did you do for color in the Raptor kit. Was it tintable or pre-colored? That's just the level of gloss that I've been thinking about for mine.

This was just the standard Raptor Liner straight out of the bottle. They have a tintable base I believe but since it's a two part mix and requires a catalyst mixing a color into it one quart at a time may be hard to maintain consistent color. I would have the color added to the bottles right at the paint store prior to purchase.

I like the gloss too, it's almost a satin. Not real shiny but not flat, still looks great and washes up real nice too. A year later and I'm totally happy with it. The finish texture is just a little more coarse than my wife's JK hard top.

 

[Dbarnes72]

I like the gloss too, it's almost a satin. Not real shiny but not flat, still looks great and washes up real nice too. A year later and I'm totally happy with it. The finish texture is just a little more coarse than my wife's JK hard top.

Thanks, that's perfect. I'm after the almost satin and wasn't looking forward to hassling with a de-glossing agent etc. I've got bright white tinted Raptor liner on the inside, underneath and front clip and I think that Satiny black Raptor liner on the top would really set it off.