Viynl Paint And Body Work W/rivet

[SWINGSAX68]

Has any one ever used that viynl spray paint to paint over, like sun visors or door skins for a different color? Does that paint work at all is it worth doing that to my visors to sav a few bucks for the mean time?

How good, if done right, does Rivet and aluminum patch work do for floor baords? I know I can do it.....just need to see if it works well.
Thanks!!!!!!!

[Randy70C-10]

Rivet and "done right" just don't go together when your talking about sheet metal. The only right way is to weld steel patches in. If it's just a beater, sure it will work.

[bouncytruck]

I used vinal spray in a '68 charger I had. It worked great. I did have a few problems where there was some dirt or grease on the surface. Just make sure you clean everything really well with denatured alcohol or some other greaseless cleaner. You may have to touch it up in the high use areas once in a while. I also painted the headliner and door panels in a '70 challenger. The door panels were hard plastic and it didn't stick very well to that surface.

[nosto]

I agree with Randy about the 'done right' part. I have had mixed success with riveting temporary patches.

In 1984 I replaced both steel floor pans of my '73 Triumph TR6 using steel rivets and lots of seam sealer. (Yeah, I know, they were supposed to be welded/brazed). 12 years later, they are both still in place, but the steel they were riveted to (rockers and tunnel) has been eaten away by rust. If I had of treated that area properly with a rust converter, it might have lasted longer.

I did almost the same with my beater F**d PU; patched a 4" x 6" hole in the drivers side floor with a piece of aluminum and aluminum rivets. This patch was done about 5 years ago, and now it's about ready to fall off.

OK to do for a beater, and if you don't expect permenant fix. Better to do it right with patch panels and weld if you can.

Good luck,

[Longhorn Man]

As for the vinyl stuff, you can do most of it, but don't do the arm rests. I'll post a pic later.

[HuggerCST]

As for painting the vinyl stuff, I've had good luck useing SEM flexible coating. It comes in spray cans, at about 9-10$ a can. I clean everything with laquer thinner first.

[Nichboy]

I painted a vinyl dirt bike seat and it held up very well, but like the other posts have said clean it good.

[O'l Buck]

like everyone else said, rivets and done right should not be used in the same sentence....but i do know a guy who riveted highway signs into his floorboards, works well, but make sure you cover it up because it will never match right.........Best way is to weld in new steel.

As far as the paint goes, just make sure you clean everthing real well with paint thinner and possibly wax remover, but i'm not sure what wax remover will do to vinyl.........If there is any armor all or any grease/dirt or ther foreighn material on the vinyl, you will wind up with lots of fish eyes and wish you had simply left it alone.

[Low69CST]

For painting plastic pieces, you can get a plastic/vinal paint just about anywhere. Just remember its not supposed to have a gloss finish, also use thin even coats, use just enough to bring the piece to the color you want. If it has think paint on it, it will crack and will be very obvious.

[stllookn]

Well...I hate to be the statistical outlier here but they rivet airplanes together and they seem to work just fine. Having said that I would not pay "full boat" for a truck that had patch panels rivetted in place of welding. There are some very interesting epoxy glues on the market that I have read are incredibly strong and used in place of welding patch panels. Email ebfabman about info on this topic. If it is your truck and you are doing a temporary fix until you do the frame-off restoration...go for it!

I used vinyl spray on my old van seats and they lasted for years before showing any wear.

[SWINGSAX68]

my rocker panels are all alum and rivets......didn't know that it wasn't very good, looks good, and true the remaining sheet metal under the rockers is rotting away....but I think it has room all around to weld a few large patch strips under it to support the alum patches with out harming them. suggestions?

What is the best type of welding? electric or gas torch? I've seen both done and torch seems to work easier and faster. Electric seems to take a little while and seems hard to work when you wear that damn mask.

I won't be doing the welding, I was just wondering. My brother inlaw can cut stuff good with a gas torch and he's pretty good with the electric. I've got this basket ball court thats lasted for years and he built it for me!!!!...just that damn mask hinders you, I think!!!! Another factor is that he does it for free when he has time.
GO U.S.A, IN FIFA WORLD CUP!!!