Glasstech Hood Primer

[SpeedThrills]

I have a lift-off hood from Glasstech that I bought new about 6 years ago. (In my avatar.) It has what appears to be a dark gray primer on it. It has a scrape on it that reveals the fiberglass surface (smooth and shiny).

It's time to get the car painted. I know nothing about fiberglass. Should this coating be stripped before painting? The shiny surface below the scrape makes me think that paint won't adhere well.

I'm going to call Glasstech and get their view, but I thought I'd ask on here, too.

Also, how should it be removed, if need be? I would think if it's sanded, it would be easy to "dig in" to the fiberglass, but is a chemical stripper feasible? It would have to be removable without scraping the surface of the hood.

 

[4mulas]

Most glass makers cover their products in gel coat. No need to remove. Sand it, body work it, prep, and paint as normal

 

[SpeedThrills]

Most glass makers cover their products in gel coat. No need to remove. Sand it, body work it, prep, and paint as normal

I just called Glasstech.

The guy I talked to was a little confused by what I’m calling a black primer. He said they only put that on custom products. I told him I ordered it off their website, nothing custom.

But the bottom line is it should be removed. Just so down the road, it can’t allow the paint job to lift or flake.

He said lacquer thinner is a good way to remove it. I’m going to try that.

 

[4mulas]

I just called Glasstech.

The guy I talked to was a little confused by what I’m calling a black primer. He said they only put that on custom products. I told him I ordered it off their website, nothing custom.

But the bottom line is it should be removed. Just so down the road, it can’t allow the paint job to lift or flake.

He said lacquer thinner is a good way to remove it. I’m going to try that.

Not sure about glass tech, but stinger is a thick grey gel coat.

 

[SpeedThrills]

Removing the primer with lacquer thinner worked well.

These pictures show what I found under the primer. (I put the holes in the hood. It's been on my car.) I bought the hood new from Glasstek. I can only guess what happened: Because they only primer "custom" hoods, which mine is not, they screwed up the custom order that my hood was destined to be, didn't sand it completely (center not sanded), primered it, put it back in stock and sold it as new (to me).

Bottom line is: it doesn't affect me, but it would've been nice to get a new hood, considering what it cost me (with shipping).