Acid Etch Metal Prep for Filler, Primer & Convertible Top Tack Strip. 1950 Willys Jeepster Hot Rod.

The rear convertible top tack strip is dry and flaking and the body is rusty underneath. In this video I will fix these issues and clean and acid etch to prepare for filler and primer. I also found a tack strip that should work to replace the original one.

[@tomseibel439]

Thanks for the video on the tack strip. I saw a Jeepster this weekend and the top had been eliminated from the car. I believe the just cut the little hold down triangles off, smoothed it all down. After being painted, they used a weather strip product that was basically u shaped and put it all around the lip. Thanks again for the video, I enjoyed it a lot.

[@riderescue]

That's one way to fix the top, leave it off. I have heard from several people that say they have not put their top up in years. Glad to hear you enjoy the videos. Thanks for watching!

[@49willys]

I bought a tack strip from Kaiser or Jeepsterman. I haven't put it on yet (need to add those metal hinges that were removed prior to my purchase) but the tackstrip is a nice solid piece that has been bent and seems to like it will fit well. Edit: also wanted to say thank you for the videos. I'm not a mechanic (my buddy is who helps me) but your videos are great and have helped me a great deal!

[@riderescue]

I saw some photos on line of someone that used that wood tack strip and it looked good and he said it was hard to work with but in the end it was very good.

[@peashooterc9475]

I had started out with an orbital sander that gave me fits so I continued with a block. Guess I'm glad. Plastic tack strip looks good, the old dry stuff isn't worth messing with. I bought new wood from Jeepsterman. The rear tack strip was already bent and ready to go. Mine had a few sheet metal screws in addition to the rusty metal 'teeth' to hold it down. Naval Jelly is chemically similar to other acid rust treatments but with some filler to thicken it. If you get bored, you can look up SDS's for contents and the concentration. I like isopropyl alcohol for final cleaning for reasons you described. Solvents flash off right away, just like water in your high desert!