Painting OEM HT to Match my car

[S2kDriver]

Can anyone give me a rough estimate on the cost of painting it could be?

[Vanishing Point]

Depending on the color, (single stage vs. two stage) I would think $400-$500 on the high end.

[Wayne]

Go with black, it looks really cool with any colour. Keeps the top looking like a convertible but it's a hard top. Just my 2 cents...

[starrman]

Guess it would depend on the area but $400 to $600 is a good guess..and black is a more aggressive look.

[Silverstone_Ryan]

I paid closer to $1000, but I wanted it done right and my top was a color change so it was more work. I had quotes down to $600. But to do the job 'right' you need the rear window removed. And the rear window is bonded to the top(part of the structural strength). So a glass guy has to come out, carefully remove the window, and come back after the paint is done to re-bond it in the correct location. This adds some cost. You'll need a new rear seal too because they destroy it on removal. The seal was about $75 retail if I'm not mistaken. The glass guy that my bodyshop used also wanted the top on the car before he would install the rear window, and that was the correct call. I notice the rear aluminum forming to the contour of the cockpit as I put the top on. If he had installed the window off the car I probably wouldn't have got my top back on since it would have been the wrong shape! I think the rear hardtop edge 'springs' a little out of location without the window attached.

So in summary, you're probably looking at $500 tops if it's just a respray but up to $1000 if you are changing the color and want it done 'well'.

[S2kDriver]

Oh ok thank you all. I decided to keep the S for now. So i might as well make it look good! Its the sebring silver right now i think thats the color, and i would rather have it color matching.

[Lil Tippy]

Originally Posted by S2kDriver

Oh ok thank you all. I decided to keep the S for now. So i might as well make it look good! Its the sebring silver right now i think thats the color, and i would rather have it color matching.

I had a MY 04 that was Sebring Silver and I added a black OEM hardtop. Looked very sharp, some people thought it looked the same as with the soft top.

Remember, you will probably not use the hardtop for a great deal of time as you will run with top up / down.

[S2kDriver]

I do not have a soft top though :/ I have a soft top frame and motors and i think like 3 pieces of trim. What else do i need to get that installed? How much would it cost to install a soft top on it? I will buy the glass soft top off of ebay because i like the glass more.

[Lil Tippy]

Originally Posted by S2kDriver

I do not have a soft top though :/ I have a soft top frame and motors and i think like 3 pieces of trim. What else do i need to get that installed? How much would it cost to install a soft top on it? I will buy the glass soft top off of ebay because i like the glass more.

I have no experience with installing a soft top, but there are many on this forum who would have an informed opinion. Hardtop Guy would be a good source. Probably what you are going to spend on the HT paint job. If it was my choice and had the $$, I would install soft top and keep the HT black in color.

If for some strange reason you would decide to sell the HT separately, it would be much easier to sell a black. They will be in demand as CR HT's are stolen.

[s2kx2]

Originally Posted by Lil Tippy

They will be in demand as CR HT's are stolen.

Thats why you have got to lock them down at all four mounting points! Etch the last 6 of your VIN or the entire VIN in the glass at four corners and document with photos.

See below for a good starting point for the front latches. The rears are a little more tricky but once you lock them in place, there is no way of taking the top off the car without destroying it in the process. Trust me on this!

http://www.heeltoeauto.com/fastline-...ap2-honda.html

[S2kDriver]

I was curious if they mad locking latches and they do! I like that! I may have to keep those in mind! come this summer i will clean out my garage and begin to store the S inside so i do not run into any problems at all.

[Silverstone_Ryan]

I use Izzy's brackets on the rear of the hardtop with my interior panels re-installed around them. There are no quick removal tricks as the brackets bolt solidly to the car and none of the bolts are visible because they are hidden behind interior panels. It's not like somebody 'couldn't' steal my top but they'd need tools and a good amount of time to make it happen. To be inconspicuous a thief would really need to steal my car to get my top, and if that happens the hardtop is the least of my worries...