[alfa] Re: hardtop painting

[Tony Martie <tony@xxxxxxxx>]

Hey Dean,
If you decide to go the route of leaving it all together, I would 
strongly suggest that you do the prep work yourself.
Any low paid prep guy in a body shop will probably not have any idea 
how rare and precious all of the seals and hardware (not to mention the 
perforated trim strip) on that top are, and will most likely clip them 
all with the DA sander that he will be flinging back and forth across 
the area to be painted.

There was a time long ago (just out of high school) that I did that 
type of work, and I was one of the rare ones that cared.

I would just hand sand it, do all of the masking yourself and take it 
someplace for a quick spray job.  It'll be safer and cheaper, and if 
there turns out to be overspray on the headliner you will only have 
yourself to blame.

Tony Martie
'78 Spider
Dallas, TX

I've got a Pininfarina hardtop for my '87 Spider, and I need to have it
repainted.  Unfortunately, it's got to go from white to black, and I 
know
the "proper" way would be to remove all the glass and seals.  But, I
haven't found a shop yet in the Tampa area that I trust with this job, 
and
since the top is absolutely as-new, I'd hate to risk damage just for the
sake of a color change.

So, two questions:  Anyone know a good paint shop in the Tampa area?  
And,
has anyone had a good result from painting a top without disassembly of 
the
glass and seals?

Regards,

Dean
'74 & '87 Spider Veloce's
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