problem with truck shell's paint....

M

msmcdon

New member
Hello everyone....



While detailing the Ranger last week, I noticed that the roof of the color-matched fiberglass shell has two small "bubbles" in the paint! They're about a quarter of an inch in diameter and they don't move like there is air under the surface like a true bubble, but I don't know how else to explain it. :eek:



I'm not entirely sure how fiberglass shells are painted, so I don't know if it is a true clearcoat or just a plastic coating, but it seems like it's a plastic coating that is seperating from the paint. I'm petrified that they will grow bigger and begin peeling. I'm thinking that I might take a pin and "pop" them, then fill the pinhole with a drop of clearcoat paint.



Do any of you have any suggestions? BTW... this is my daily driver and it has sat outside 24/7 since it's birth in 1994. I've managed to keep the paint in very good condition, but I'm worried about this shell problem. Sorry... no pics of the problem. I am digital camera-less.



Any ideas?
 
OK, so the bubbles are hard and not pliable, correct? If you took a pin they'd break/crack, not pop, right?



It probably is paint separation from the fiberglass. Many truck shells are painted to match the factory paint on the truck. So if it's paint bubbling, that usually means a poor surface prep job that did not allow the paint to fully bond to the fiberglass.



First thing I'd do is dig out my paperwork from the shell purchase and see what kind of warranty came with it. Then I'd contact the shell mfr and find out what their process is for submitting a warranty claim. I am assuming the shell came painted from the factory.



If none of that works for you then I like your idea of fixing this problem ASAP. It'll only get worse if left alone.
 
Just make sure that it is painted, and not a colour machined gel-coat. I had one that was coloured match gel-coat. Won't do that again, as it fades way fast. Anyway, if it's just gel-coat and there is a bubble, then you are getting a fiberglass failure and that should be fully covered under your warranty. You should get a new shell.
 
I don't think it's a gel-coat because I've had it for 6 years and it hasn't faded a bit. I will contact the manufacturer, but a warranty is way out of the picture since I bought it 6 years ago. Even then, that model shell had been discontinued. I lucked out.... I drove to the shell retailer and inquired about a shell. He had this one.... fit my year truck, was the same Calypso green color and was at a drastic discount.



I have a feeling that whatever happens, I'm going to be the one making the repairs. Thanks for your input, though! :)



Attached is a very dark photo of my truck, taken 2 years ago.
 
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