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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ CF wrapped Targa Top
Posted by: Frost May 5 2010, 12:09 AM
So i was tired of having a worn out looking targa top one day and decided to do something about it. I went to my buddy's shop and we decided to wrap it in a fake carbon fiber dry weave 3M wrap, which looks very real in person. I'm sure you guys have seen this stuff before on other cars. So here's how it went! (Sorry the pictures aren't quality)
Sanded down.
Primer on the edges.
Laying it down.
The underside.
Finish product.
On the car in my garage.
Sails are next.
I messed up here and the with some wrinkles, no ones perfect! But wait, why stop at the top?
Light switch.
Friends laptop.
Just thought you guys might like it.
Posted by: budman5201 May 5 2010, 01:10 AM
Hey man i want to do that to my top. Where did you get it? I looked it up and everyone wants an arm and a leg for the material.
How much was yours?
Posted by: Andyrew May 5 2010, 01:39 AM
Stuff looks pretty good! Got a part number?
Posted by: zymurgist May 5 2010, 06:22 AM
Cool targa panel!
Posted by: Vacca Rabite May 5 2010, 06:30 AM
That looks great!
There was a How To video I saw a year or so ago (:eep: maybe more...) about how to make a convincing CF body panel using paint, and I considered it for my top. But decided against in the end. Good option for a CSOB fakie though. Found the video (there are lots there now! 
)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qDV5gR90zY
Your wrap looks better. Looks like it would pass the touch test. Two thumbs up from me.
Posted by: flipb May 5 2010, 06:33 AM
Looks cool!
I wonder if it would be cheesy on the dash panel... my original basketweave is loose in a lot of places.
Posted by: turboman808 May 5 2010, 06:47 AM
tacky
Posted by: charliew May 5 2010, 07:24 AM
I could be wrong but unless it is glued down all across the top, this summer when it gets hot it will look like one of the 70's convertibles that have the top bulging up when it is going down the road. Course if it is in the trunk it won't.
Edit: I like some guys I have commented about on other topics spoke before I read up on the stuff. It is glued everywhere so maybe it won't suck up at speed. It looks pretty good as a alternative to the factory texture but like a cheap paint job at some point someone will need to redo it. It might be harder than paint to redo.
Posted by: veltror May 5 2010, 07:36 AM
Looks cool!
I wonder if it would be cheesy on the dash panel... my original basketweave is loose in a lot of places.
I just bought a piece of carbon fibre sheet to make the dash panel!! Now i think doing a gelled carbon fibre top might be a good idea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rTWaV1imzs
Attached image(s)
Posted by: dakotaewing May 5 2010, 08:09 AM
Here is an entire thread on this stuff I found...
http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86195
Posted by: charliew May 5 2010, 08:33 AM
Ok something that may be obvious to some but not all is that over time the real cf parts will yellow and dull just like boat surfaces. They will need to be rebuffed to stay shiney but the yellow tint is forever. Also my son bought a seibon hood several years ago and it came in damaged from the vender, the corners were broken. We could tell that the box was not damaged but the hood was. He finally got his money back but the thing I want to say is the stuff is impossible to repair cosmeticaly if a damaged area is into the weave, like on a corner. I guess it can just be painted at that point after it is repaired. Also most of the "show quality stuff" I have seen has imperfections and waves in it. I think if you want a real smooth finish on like a hood you will end up with several clear coats and a lot of leveling to get it there.
If it's me it will be the real stuff even if it's just layered on, but that also will be added weight.
Posted by: dakotaewing May 5 2010, 09:08 AM
They clearly state that the general lifespan of the exterior product is 4 years, and used as a interior product it is about 12 years. Each of these timeframes are avg., and is determinate upon how and where the car is stored. I have several tops for my car, and this would be a nice variation - Note that there are other colors besides black - It appears that after that timeframe the material can be pulled off, and new material applied.
TE
Posted by: MoveQik May 5 2010, 09:28 AM
tacky
Seriously? Fairly uncalled for considering the time, effort and money put into something that the owner clearly likes.
I think its cool.
Posted by: charliew May 5 2010, 09:39 AM
I've seen some camo jobs that have been on a few years and they seem to be holding up pretty good. I think it's a good thing for interior pieces and maybe even cars that set inside away from the sun and heat alot. If a clearcoat will stick permanently that might make the exterior hold up longer.
Posted by: McMark May 5 2010, 09:50 AM
Because the top is fiberglass, you could easily lay down a layer of real CF for the look. 
Posted by: charliew May 5 2010, 10:06 AM
Except for the yellowing part with age that I don't know how to fix.
Posted by: jsayre914 May 5 2010, 10:28 AM
nice job!
Make sure it dosnt rub on the bottom of the deck lid when stored.
Posted by: Travis Neff May 5 2010, 10:30 AM
That turned out pretty good!
Posted by: SirAndy May 5 2010, 10:46 AM
Except for the yellowing part with age that I don't know how to fix.
I have a real CF dash (from Getty) and it's been in my car for 5 years or so with no indication of turning yellow ...
I did have Brandon put on a few layers of clear coat on top of the basic finish, maybe that's why?
Andy
Posted by: charliew May 5 2010, 11:48 AM
That sounds promising but has it been in the sun much?
Posted by: SirAndy May 5 2010, 11:56 AM
That sounds promising but has it been in the sun much?
Considering that i don't have a garage and my car has been parked outside for the last 10 years, i'd say yes, it has seen it's fair share of sunlight ...
Andy
Posted by: Frost May 5 2010, 12:12 PM
Hey man i want to do that to my top. Where did you get it? I looked it up and everyone wants an arm and a leg for the material.
How much was yours?
I got the material from a friend of mines that wholesales, he supplies most of the shops around where hes located at and gave me a decent price.
Posted by: Frost May 5 2010, 12:15 PM
That looks great!
There was a How To video I saw a year or so ago (:eep: maybe more...) about how to make a convincing CF body panel using paint, and I considered it for my top. But decided against in the end. Good option for a CSOB fakie though. Found the video (there are lots there now!
) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qDV5gR90zY
Your wrap looks better. Looks like it would pass the touch test. Two thumbs up from me.
Haha thanks, yeah theres alot of imitation wraps out there made out of different materials. Ive fooled alot of people thinking that it's a real dryweave top.
Posted by: Frost May 5 2010, 12:18 PM
Looks cool!
I wonder if it would be cheesy on the dash panel... my original basketweave is loose in a lot of places.
Haha mines is starting to peel off too and i was going to wrap that next.
Posted by: dakotaewing May 5 2010, 12:40 PM
Frost -
Your top now makes your side panels look like trash...
Are those next??? Something to think about -
Posted by: Frost May 5 2010, 12:55 PM
Frost -
Your top now makes your side panels look like trash...
Are those next??? Something to think about -
Haha yes i know and yes those are next, as soon as pay day comes around im going to wrap those.
Posted by: scotty b May 5 2010, 01:04 PM
So whose going to be the first one to wrap a whole car ???? ![popcorn[1].gif](style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)
Posted by: RJMII May 5 2010, 01:04 PM
A MAC? really?
j/k... the CF looks good in the pictures. I particularly like the shot with the keys, it does look like it's got the weave going.
Posted by: URY914 May 5 2010, 01:13 PM
I would think that UV rays would be the killer. On a garage car it should last long time.
Posted by: Drums66 May 5 2010, 04:02 PM
That sounds promising but has it been in the sun much?
Interesting to see how it holds up over time?
Posted by: markb May 5 2010, 04:23 PM
I think it looks great. I also think it would look better if you did the sail panels & windshield hoop.
Posted by: Phoenix 914-6GT May 5 2010, 05:14 PM
I think it looks great. I also think it would look better if you did the sail panels & windshield hoop.
but not too sure on the windshield hoop
Posted by: carr914 May 5 2010, 05:16 PM
I would think that UV rays would be the killer. On a garage car it should last long time.
I like the looks, but I don't think it would last long here in Florida. Hell half the cars driving around the paint is burning off the cars, the other half are driving Lambos
Posted by: rickthejetman May 5 2010, 06:02 PM
Because the top is fiberglass, you could easily lay down a layer of real CF for the look.
you can buy special resins with U.V. inhibitors in them they stop the yellowing for quite a long time
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