by 73Sedan » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:39 pm
OK, this MAY sound stupid, BUT:
I've been working with a product for a few years now that we use to seal holes in the rooftops of steel shipping containers. It is a process where we brush on the product, lay a cloth sheet down, and brush over more product. Basically it turns to rubber and uses the cloth as a strengthening agent to fill voids.
It is HYDRO STOP. A commercial roof coating that you won't find at the Depot or Lowes, but any commercial roofing distributor will know of it. (Also known as "panel-seal")
The product itself nearly turns to rubber (very odd, as it is WATER based!!)
My theory is to shoot the HYDRO STOP (THIN LAYER) over over the plastic panels, then can be sprayed with ANY desired color from that point.
The HYDRO STOP is pretty thick and we are only able to spray using air-less equipment (paint cups are too fine of a mist to efficiently lay the product down) ALSO, it doesn't react well to being thinned before spraying.
OK, so what I know is: we use this stuff on container tops....it's hard enough to walk on....it stays elastic for years (I just removed some from a unit we had out on rent for the last 4 years), and once dried, it never changes shape (unless removed and bent like paper).
Back to my point: I know I can spray this crap thin enough to surround the ENTIRE part (saving the mounting tabs and screw holes), paint to my desire, and know that it'll withstand any amount of heat built up in the car.
$0.02 - maybe worth it??