Hardtop repair preparation questions

[68ls1]

My hardtop is going to need a restoration, the previous owner had made some modifications, see photos. Can anyone think of what it may have been with four hinges on roof, a large square access hole and a supporting brace?











So some questions I am hoping you can help me with
When the factory paint the roof is the texture in the paint or is the texture applied and then painted?
I am hoping we can remove paint and texture by either soda blasting or dry ice blasting. Has anyone utilized either method
Should I leave hardtop on Blazer with paint removal and doing the larger repairs to hold it rigid? Then remove to get the fiddly areas and any smaller repairs. Then paint off the car.
If I understand after paint removal I will end up with a relatively smooth fiberglass surface to which I apply texture and paint.

The good news is one of my friends is a top class fiberglass guy, as long as i can convince him to do the repairs

[low'n slow]

It looks like a brace used to take out the sag in the roof top.

I can see what looks like a vent cut into the top.

The texture is part of the factory finish. Someone on here sanded theirs down (Livrat?) and it loks good, but I remember them saying that getting it to look good was a chore as the tops are wavy.

[68ls1]

Originally Posted by low'n slow

It looks like a brace used to take out the sag in the roof top.

I can see what looks like a vent cut into the top.

The texture is part of the factory finish. Someone on here sanded theirs down (Livrat?) and it loks good, but I remember them saying that getting it to look good was a chore as the tops are wavy.

I think you are correct, I have had a chance to have a longer look and I think the square was an access hole to try and take out the sag.

At first I thought there may have been something attached to hinges that when folded back sat on top of hardtop.

Hatch is now off and is being repaired. When we start bodywork will remove hardtop and look to repair it.

If I soda blast paint removal, will the texture also be removed, so will need to apply texture to whole of outer, or will it remain? So where we do repairs to outer will we have to reinstate texture.

Thanks for your response

[Ptjsk]

I used a "light" sandblasting on my top.

Then, I took it to "Line X" to have the texture sprayed onto the top. I'm very satisfied with the way it turned out.

They were able to mix my original color paint into their mixture as well.

Pat

[68ls1]

Originally Posted by Ptjsk

I used a "light" sandblasting on my top.

Then, I took it to "Line X" to have the texture sprayed onto the top. I'm very satisfied with the way it turned out.

They were able to mix my original color paint into their mixture as well.

Pat

Thanks, so the sand blasting did remove texture with paint. Good to know

[Ptjsk]

Originally Posted by 68ls1

Thanks, so the sand blasting did remove texture with paint. Good to know

It did move a lot of the old texture, but not all of it. The new line X pretty much covered it up and there are no heavy and light areas of texture.

Very happy with the results.

Pat