'98 Extended Cab Clearcoat Failing/Flaking off Roof & Hood

The clearcoat has gotten progressively worse over the years. The original owner didn't really take care of the body and now that I have it, the clear coat is getting even worse. Is there anyone to stop the clearcoat from flaking?

It's REALLY bad on the roof, and it's just starting on the hood. Is redoing the clearcoat something I can do without stripping the basecoat? I had a bodyshop quote me $500 for the roof. What can I do to stop it? It comes off as a powder if I do do much as to run my finger across it.

Hood:


Roof:

 

Pay the $500 to the body shop will fix it.

There is no stopping it at this point

 

Oh geez...

What about the hood? It's just starting and not so bad.

 

You could vinyl wrap the roof in black. You could line-x or use some other Bedliner on the roof. Or you could have it repainted.

You might be able to fine a replacement hood at a junkyard maybe. But you'd have to repaint that also.

 

The thing I don't like about the 1st gens is the roof is continuous to the cab. The 2nd gens are nice because it's isolated from the cab and you won't notice it as much if you repaint only the roof. It'll be super noticeable if I only wrap the roof.

 

That's true. Didn't think about that.

 

http://www.linex.com/ultra

Get the hood and cab top Line-X Body Armor. Then all you will ever have to do is wash it.

http://www.linex.com/find-a-location

You have 3 shops close by, go get a estimate. Let me know how much they quote you because I'm wanting to get mine done.

 

I don't know if it's just me or not, but I think bedliner sprayed on anything besides the bed is really really damn ugly. I see the reason people do it, but I just find it gaudy and out of place on the vehicle itself.

 

This "Ultra" is a thinner, smoother finish. Guess you read that on the link I posted though. I would rather have Body Armor Ultra sprayed on my truck than have one that the clear coat or whatever that is that looks like it is eating your finish up. But that is what makes America great... everybody is different.

 

Oh my bad I didn't see the pics on there too well haha. I'm used to that crumbly playground surface-like type of bedliner.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=line+x+ultra&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Yeah the stuff looks pretty awesome really. Catching allot of peoples eye. There is a place about 55 miles from me that are just getting the equipment to spray this new "Ultra" I'm seriously thinking instead of buying another new truck in 2 years to just spend between $3,000 to $5,000 and get the entire truck done. Be nice not to walk across the Walmart parking lot on days that it is frigid and the wind is howling across the parking lot. Hell I can park as close to the front door and not have to worry about my truck getting door dings. This stuff has got me dreaming of the day for sure. But like you said it is not for everyone.

 

Doesn't look too bad on second thought. I might consider it. I'm so used to glossy paint that I've never really thought about a matte finish like that.

That crumbly, rough finish is what I'm not too crazy about. I'd rather have that stuff in my bed rather than the lineX because of how much more coarse and rigid it is

 

Here is a Dakota sprayed in the regular Line-X. I think it looks pretty neat. If I get mine done I'm going with a glossy battleship gray. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

http://www.mopargarage.net/Bruce98Dakota.html

 

That's pretty nice actually. How much cheaper is it than a traditional factory paint job?

EDIT: Oh god I just looked it up. Average cost is $3,000-$5,000. Same cost as your decent factory (not MAACO) paint job. I guess that's why it looks so good, normal bedliner finishes for the whole body cost under a grand.

That's almost as much as my damn Tacoma is worth.

 

Yeah but the difference is Body Armor you don't wax like paint. You can even run it through the soapy brush car wash and you don't dare do that with paint. You can park next to someone and not wonder or care for that matter if when they get in there car/truck they fling there door open into your truck. From what I have read this Ultra Body Armor is harder than paint. You can park under trees and bird bombs will not stain/etch the coating. Let em sh!t!

I would get a estimate for just the hood and roof. never know till you contact them. It may not be to bad just getting those 2 done. You are close to 3 places out there where you live that does does the Line-X. Check them out. The stuff comes in different colors....

I just sent an email over to a place in St. Louis that does the Ultra Line-X for a quote on doing my hood and top of the cab. Curious to see myself how much to do those 2 sections of my truck.

 

Got a reply back from Line-X.



Everett,
The Ultra coating is our new, thin film, protective coating. We typically spray our Line-X Platinum coating on exteriors because it is less expensive and quicker. Applying a Platinum coating to the hood and roof of your Tacoma would range in price from $550 to $675 and would take about 3-4 hours to complete. The same application in Ultra would take 2 days (due to the use of a primer) and would cost an additional $150 to $200. The Ultra has a satin like finish and the Platinum has a gloss finish. We don't have a true matte finish. Please call at your earliest convenience to discuss the application.

Thank You
Randy Blecha
Line-X of Southwest Illinois
618-222-1800
Providing Solutions for All Your Protective Coating Needs.