Jeep Wrangler 1997, Manual

Page: 850 / 1152

SERVICE PROCEDURES
HARD TOP REPAIR
The hard top fiberglass material can be repaired.
The required repair materials include:
•
Fiberglass mat or cloth.
•
Fiberglass resin and hardener.
•
structural adhesive (3M brand or an equivalent
product).
•
Glazing putty.
•
Plastic spreader.
HARD TOP HOLE REPAIR
(1) Use a grinder to remove the paint and outline
the damaged area. Use a grade 24 grit disc for paint
removal.
(2) Grind the outlined surface area again with a
50 grit disc to prevent coarse scratches from appear-
ing in the final finish.
(3) If cracks extend from the hole, it will be neces-
sary to stop-drill the crack(s) with a 3-mm (1/8-in)
diameter drill bit.
(4) Position a fiberglass mat or cloth on the repair
surface area. Cut the mat to allow a 2.5-cm (1-in)
overlap of the repair surface area.
(5) Clean the repair surface area.
(6) Place the fiberglass cloth on aluminum foil.
(7) Pour the fiberglass resin into a clean container.
(8) Mix the appropriate amount of hardener and
resin. Follow the manufacturers instructions.
(9) Apply the hardener/resin mixture to both sides
of the fiberglass cloth.
(10) Place the fiberglass cloth over the repair sur-
face area. Next, place the aluminum foil over the
cloth. Use a plastic spreader to smooth-out the cloth
and resin. Use firm pressure to remove air bubbles
and to smooth-out the cloth.
(11) Allow the resin to cure.
(12) Smooth-out the surface area to the contour of
the hard top with a 50-grit disc.
(13) Apply plastic filler to complete the repair. Fin-
ish smoothing the surface area with 80-grit paper.
(14) Repeat the previous step on the inside surface
area of the hard top.
(15) Featheredge the repaired surface area.
(16) Prime the repaired surface area with PPG
Epoxy Primer, or an equivalent product.
(17) Apply surface primer to the surface area.
(18) Prime the surface area for the color coat.
(19) Apply color coat to the repaired surface area.
FRACTURE REPAIR
(1) Use a grinder to remove the paint (from both,
the inner and outer surface areas of the hard top)
and to outline the damaged area.
(2) Stop-drill the crack(s) with a 3-mm (1/8-in)
diameter drill bit.
(3) Bevel the edges of the crack(s) on both sides
with a rotary file.
NOTE: The edges should be beveled on the inside
and outside of the top to ensure sufficient surface
area for good bonding.
(4) Complete the repairs with fiberglass cloth and
resin as described above in the hard top hole repair
procedure.
23 - 4 BODY
TJ